Why are fleets reluctant to invest in technologies to reduce vehicle weight? That’s the question Trucking Efficiency tackles in its latest Confidence Report.
The Confidence Report, from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room, explores the benefits and challenges of lightweighting for Class 8 tractors and trailers. While the majority of bulk carriers have already invested in the lightweighting technologies that meet their upfront cost tolerances, current trends in the industry may make it worthwhile for greater numbers of reefer and dry van routes to invest in lightweighting. This is especially true if lightweighting is looked at not just based on fuel efficiency but also based on freight efficiency—moving the most tons of freight for least total gallons of fuel.
The report covers available lightweighting technologies across different cost ranges, and estimates the amount of weight that can be saved when using each of these technologies. The report also contains a Confidence Matrix that expresses the study team’s confidence in lightweighting across all categories of fleets from dry van units to refrigerator units to bulk carriers. For more information, visit the Trucking Efficiency website.