Slowing down trucks across the industry is one recommendation of a new American Trucking Associations fuel-saving and emissions-reducing campaign launched May 8 under the name Trucks Deliver a Cleaner Tomorrow.
Carriers supporting the program include Con-way Truckload, which announced it would reduce the maximum governed speed of its 2,700 tractors from 70 mph to 65 mph, and Schneider National, which announced its 10,600 company drivers would drive no faster than 60 mph — a pledge not binding on the truckload carrier’s 2,200 owner-operators.
The ATA’s recommendations for the industry and for government include:
More than 600 companies already have joined SmartWay, launched in 2004, including 373 motor carriers.
The ATA recommends a 20-year program to reduce congestion, focused initially on critical bottlenecks. Longer-range ideas include creating truck-only corridors that would enable larger and longer tractor-trailers.
Supporters of the ATA campaign among manufacturers include Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, International Truck & Engine, Volvo Trucks and the Engine Manufacturers Association.
More information is available on a new website, www.trucksdeliver.org.
