Acting Together, Trucking Can Make a Difference

The below op-ed from Mr. Robert Davidson, CEO of ABF Freight System, is available for immediate publication and distribution.

Everyone in North America is feeling the pinch at the pump and at the supermarket checkout as skyrocketing fuel prices drive up the cost of everyday living. Although we need to develop larger, more secure, economically viable sources of energy, those steps will take time to mature, and we need action today.

It is imperative for all of us to act intelligently, to act boldly, and to act quickly by cutting our consumption of fuel and reducing the emissions that we release into the atmosphere.

At ABF, we are no stranger to the need to minimize the fuel consumption of our fleet of trucks. It's something we have been focused on for more than 30 years.

Since 1976, ABF has voluntarily limited the maximum speed of its trucks. This reduces fuel consumption and emissions, partially offsets fuel economy degradation of the newer low-emission engines, and contributes to our impressive safety record. We are also proud members of the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay(3M) program that promotes fuel efficiency across the freight transport sector.

While we are proud of our record, we recognize the need to do more and to work together with the rest of the trucking industry to bring about sustainable results.
As part of this effort, ABF is making a new commitment to support an industry-wide sustainability program developed by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

This ATA initiative makes six recommendations - to establish a national speed limit of 65 miles per hour and require new trucks to be speed governed at 68 mph, reduce truck idling, increase participation in SmartWay(3M), reduce traffic congestion, use longer and larger trucks (to reduce the number of vehicles on the road), and support national fuel economy standards.

Together, these measures can reduce fuel consumption by 86 billion gallons and exhaust emissions of all vehicles by 900 million tons in the next 10 years.
ABF is leading the industry by going even further. Through the use of technology, we have been able to reduce transit times for our customers while voluntarily limiting the maximum speed of our fleet to 62 mph.

We also have a strict equipment maintenance schedule and an aggressive equipment replacement program. The average age of our road tractors is one and a half years, which means they are cleaner for the environment and use fuel more efficiently.

ABF is playing a leading role on these important issues as a company. Now, the industry is coming together to launch an unprecedented bold initiative on fuel and emissions.

It is now time for all of us to urge politicians in Washington, D.C., to help us implement this ambitious program by taking action on federal speed limits for all vehicles, fixing the nation's congestion bottlenecks, continuing to support the highway trust fund, and easing restrictions on the size and weight of trucks.

We can all do our own part as citizens to reduce the demand for fuel while our country develops additional supplies. These cost-effective steps will save you money and help the environment where we all live. Just as trucks are slowing down, so should you. Just as trucking companies are using cleaner vehicles, so should you. Just as truck drivers are driving sensibly rather than aggressively, so should you.

If we all work together, then we have the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on our nation's fuel consumption and our contribution to environmental sustainability.