Idle-Reduction Programs

Reducing unnecessary engine idling improves air quality and the bottom-line. According to industry estimates, engine idling costs vehicle owners the price of almost one gallon of fuel each hour. Idling also increases engine wear and pollutes the air.

Here are some ways you can reduce idling for your fleet:

• Educate your drivers. Start an anti-idling campaign at your work site(s).
• Implement an anti-idling policy to change driver behavior.
• Install idle-reduction technology on fleet vehicles.

To learn more, email Joanna Cruse.

Fuel-Efficient Driving Practices

Drivers and operators are critical to successfully reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Fleet owners can reduce fuel consumption by training drivers and operators on fuel-efficient driving strategies (also known as green driver training), and creating rewards programs that offer incentives for conserving fuel. Such programs more than pay for themselves out of the resulting fuel savings.

Preventive Maintenance

Preventive maintenance programs are crucial to increasing vehicle life and efficiency, reducing downtime, cutting costs, and improving overall fleet safety. Preventive maintenance is also critical for the success of emission control technologies, both those installed by the original equipment manufacturer and those installed later as retrofits.

Recover, Reduce & Reuse Maintenance Products

Fleets can reduce the environmental impacts of vehicle and equipment maintenance by recovering, reusing and reducing maintenance products, when appropriate.

Vehicle Purchasing

When it is time to replace or purchase additional vehicles, fleet owners have the opportunity to consider the greenest options possible to help reduce air pollution and increase public demand for green vehicles. It is important to right-size your vehicles -- identify and purchase the most appropriate size and class of vehicle for the intended application. If smaller vehicles meet the fleet’s needs, the fleet will usually save money because smaller vehicles are typically less expensive and use less fuel than larger vehicles. For more information, visit EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide or Clean Cities’ alternative fuel vehicles.