How to Lower Diesel Fuel Emissions

For fleet managers, carbon emissions are a critical consideration. Whether you want to remain competitive in a marketplace that increasingly favors eco-consciousness, comply with future environmental regulations, or just save money on diesel, lowering your emissions should be top of mind. Though it can seem like a daunting challenge at first, there are many things, both big and small, that you can do to diminish your carbon emissions. Keep reading to learn how you can reduce your fleet’s diesel fuel emissions with driver training, truck repair in NJ, and more.

Plan Routes Strategically

One of the most effective ways to reduce diesel fuel emissions is through route optimization. Planning out an efficient route for your drivers can not only lower emissions but save your business time and money too, helping your fleet to run more efficiently as a whole. Route planning helps drivers avoid heavy traffic and excessive stoplights, reducing downtime spent idling and thus lowering emissions. According to one Australian study, optimized routes can reduce emissions in heavy vehicles by 62% per month. 

In addition to planning out routes before drivers hit the road, you should equip each vehicle with an updated GPS. This will allow dispatchers and drivers to optimize routes in real-time and avoid roadblocks that would otherwise waste time and fuel.

Reduce Inefficient Driving Behavior

The way your drivers act on the road can be a major contributor to your fuel emissions. Aggressive driving habits, like speeding, accelerating, and braking rapidly, reduce your gas mileage by 15% and 30% when traveling at highway speeds and by 10% to 40% while in stop-and-go traffic. This translates to a lot of wasted gas and higher emissions.

Emphasize the importance of safe, fuel-efficient driving techniques to your employees. Encourage your fleet to follow the posted speed limit and be gentle when accelerating and braking. Monitor your drivers’ habits on the road and continually train them to employ defensive driving techniques. By making your safe driving standards clear and keeping your staff accountable, you can not only improve your fuel efficiency but also keep your team safer on the road.

Preventative Maintenance and Truck Repair in NJ

To lower your diesel fuel emissions, you’ll need to keep your fleet in tip-top shape. Preventative maintenance and truck repair in NJ are essential to improving your vehicles’ efficiency. A vehicle with faulty parts, or one that hasn’t been maintained, will use more fuel and thus produce more emissions. This is why it’s vital to inspect your fleet regularly and stick to a schedule for preventative maintenance.

Small issues can have a big impact on your overall efficiency. For example, a faulty oxygen sensor can affect fuel economy by as much as 40%. Even simple problems like using the wrong motor oil or driving on improperly inflated tires can have an effect. While these may seem minor, correcting these simple problems can have a big impact when applied to your entire fleet. Schedule regular tune-ups with a trusted fleet services company to keep your vehicles running efficiently and lower your carbon emissions.

Switch to Eco-Friendly Alternatives

If you’re really committed to lowering your environmental impact, consider swapping your current equipment for low-emission alternatives. Upgrade your old vehicles to newer, more fuel-efficient ones. Electric vehicles (EVs) are the eco-friendliest option, producing zero carbon emissions. And while the upfront costs may be high, the savings on fuel and maintenance will make up for it in a matter of years.

However, EVs aren’t your only option. You could also upgrade to hybrid electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Even newer gasoline-burning vehicles have lower fuel emissions than older ones. One recent report found that upgrading from a 2016 model truck to a 2021 model would carbon emissions by 21 metric tons, translating to a savings of $16,856 per truck.

Switching to biofuels can be another eco-friendly alternative for your fleet. Biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel may not completely eliminate harmful gas emissions, but they can decrease them significantly. Additionally, these fuels can work in existing engines without the need for modifications, making them a cost-effective upgrade.

Lowering your fleet’s diesel fuel emissions can seem like a daunting process, but even small changes can make a big difference. By optimizing your routes, training drivers, performing preventative maintenance, and switching to eco-friendly alternatives, you can reduce your carbon emissions and save money in the process.

Looking for reliable truck repair in NJ? Whether you’re trying to make your fleet more eco-friendly or just looking for new ways to save money, you need a fleet services provider you can trust. Contact us at Garden State Fleet to learn more!