Among the goals it has set for 2010, Holman Transportation Services Inc. is firmly focused on continuing its long-standing efforts to enhance the fuel efficiency of its fleet. “We have always been very proactive when it comes to the environment, along with becoming much more fuel efficient,” says Bob Holman. “Our focus on getting the best fuel economy possible has led to a constant updating of our equipment.”
Based in Caldwell, Idaho, Holman Transportation Services is run by Bob and Sherry Holman, who started the company in 1997 with five trucks. Today, the refrigerated truckload carrier operates 85 Peterbilt Model 387 tractors, hauling mostly frozen food out of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest and a mix of refrigerated, frozen and dry freight on return runs. With an average haul length of 1,725 miles, the carrier serves customers in 38 states.
One challenge Holman has been addressing is the need to simultaneously improve fuel efficiency while vehicle weights have increased. “Along with steadily rising tractor weights,” Holman explains, “shippers have expected refrigerated carriers to haul heavier loads. Where 42,000-lb. loads were the norm, it is now very common for us to haul 45,000-lb. loads.
“Over the past few years, we have had to make major changes in our equipment specifications to stay competitive and still get the fuel efficiency we were striving to achieve,” Holman continues. “Our goal was to lighten tractor and trailer combinations by 1,000 lbs., and by making several changes, we have been able to accomplish it.”
No sacrifice
Every engine model change, for example, had added weight for emissions systems. “With the help of Peterbilt and its dealer, Boise Peterbilt,” Holman relates, “we decided to switch from a 475-HP Caterpillar C-15 engine to a 470-HP C-13 engine. This change made our tractors lighter without sacrificing power and performance.”
The engine changes, however, presented Holman with another problem. “The last several years have been very difficult,” Holman says. “New engines since 2007 have had a number of problems related to the emissions systems so we have relied heavily on Peterbilt to work with us and our engine manufacturers to resolve them. This kind of support is the main reason our fleet has been made up entirely of Peterbilt Model 387s since 2002.
The Holman tractor fleet is replaced regularly, with units seeing between 42 and 45 months of service in the operation. Over the years, the carrier has spec’ed Caterpillar C-15 and Cummins ISX engines, as well as Caterpillar C-13 models in its latest order.
In addition, since 2004, all Holman tractors have been equipped with RigMaster Power and Blackrock Systems auxiliary power units. The APUs are generally moved to new units and kept in service for a second tractor before being replaced.
Reducing idling time
“With all of the engine emissions changes over the past seven years, it has been difficult to maintain fuel economy, let alone increase it,” Holman says. “While the APUs add 450 lbs. to a tractor, they have made a difference by reducing our idling time to 10% or less.”
The Holman trailer fleet of 53-ft. Utility 3000R models with Carrier 2500 Stealth refrigeration units is also relatively new. Supplied by Utility Trailer Sales of Boise, Idaho, the trailers are traded every five-and-a-half to six years.
“With the help of our dealer,” Holman says, “we recently made some major changes to our trailer specifications to improve fuel efficiency and save weight. One thing we did was to test several trailers with Freight Wing AeroFlex side fairings.
“While this added 150 lbs. to the trailers,” Holman adds, “it became apparent over several months of testing with different combinations that the units with the fairings were getting the best fuel mileage—and they are more stable. All of our new trailers will now be fitted with the side fairings.”
To offset the weight gains on its equipment and further improve fuel efficiency, Holman also began switching its trailers and tractor drive axles to wide-base single tires. “We have always used fuel efficient tires,” Holman says. “Changing from duals to Michelin X One wide-base singles, however, has saved another 400 lbs., which brought the overall weight savings on tractors to 775 lbs. At the same time, we are still able to spec’ the XDN2 design. That tire has worked well for us and seeing that it was available in a wide single made the change easier.
“As we trade tractors and trailers,” Holman continues, “we are going to switch the fleet completely over to wide single tires. While this may not make sense for everyone, the weight savings and the fuel efficiency gains make it very worthwhile for us. We’ve seen a 3/10ths MPG increase with our latest spec’s, and the fleet’s fuel economy is now averaging over 7 MPG. Before, 6.2 MPG was more the norm.”
Drastic decrease
For specifications as well as maintenance and parts needs, Holman works very closely with its main suppliers. In addition to its tractor and trailer dealers, for example, the company now relies on its Michelin dealer, Jack’s Tire of Boise, Idaho, to handle all of its tire needs. That move, Holman says, “has helped drastically decrease cost per mile since changing brands and suppliers three years ago.”
In most other cases, Holman’s goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible. Its maintenance operation, headed by Shop Manager Will Gomez and staffed with five technicians, handles most maintenance and minor warranty repairs.
The crew operates in a 15,000-sq. ft. shop built in 2005 with four drive-through service bays––one with a Rotary hydraulic lift instead of a pit to make routine maintenance easier and safer—and a drive-through truck wash.
“Every one of our technicians has a different specialty,” Holman relates. “That helps create a very capable team. For example, one tech is a specialist in trailer fabrication and repair, which is a huge advantage when it comes to getting equipment back in service quickly. We also have two technicians that are certified to work on our reefer units. Carrier’s training allows us to do many repairs in house, saving both time and money.”
Other areas of expertise found in the Holman shop include technicians trained in windshield repair and replacement. The entire staff is also capable of using the shop’s Hunter alignment machine on both tractors and trailers, and its Coats truck tire balancer. “Fuel mileage and tire life have increased because of these capabilities,” Holman states.
Fine-tuning
In 2010, Holman plans to continue to fine-tune its spec’s and maintenance programs, and work to reach its goal of a fleet average 7.5 MPG. The company also is striving to become a SmartWay Transport Partnership Certified Carrier. One of its long-range goals is to operate 100 tractors by the end of 2011.
“When we built our new shop, terminal, office and warehouse in 2005,” Holman says, “everything was larger than needed so we could continue to expand. All of the major customers that started with us in 1997 are still with us today. We’ve kept those customers, and our business has grown because of the hard work of our employees and the support of our suppliers. All we have to offer is top-notch service at a fair rate. When you go the extra mile for customers it shows in their ongoing support, especially during these challenging times.”
