Fleet rightsizing is a management practice that can help vehicle fleet managers build and maintain sustainable, fuel-efficient fleets. Fleet inventories often grow over time to include vehicles that are highly specialized, rarely used, or unsuitable for current applications. By evaluating fleet size and composition, managers can optimize vehicle use, conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and save money on fuel and maintenance.
Evaluate Vehicle Needs and Use
Fleet managers should understand their fleet's daily vehicle use and needs. Most fleet managers already have a handle on their number and type of vehicles, average mileage, payloads, and fuel economy. Fleet rightsizing combines this information with a critical look at fleet operations to identify opportunities to reduce energy use. When rightsizing, fleet managers should evaluate how important each vehicle is to the fleet’s performance by asking themselves:
What tasks are accomplished by each vehicle? Or, what is the drive cycle?
What is the daily, weekly, or monthly mileage of each vehicle? Or, what is the duty cycle?
Are fleet vehicles the optimal vehicle type, class, and size for the job?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer cost effective to operate or are no longer fulfilling their purpose?
Are there any vehicles that are no longer being used or have experienced a lot of downtime?
What is the fuel consumption of each vehicle? Can any vehicles be replaced by lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles?
What is the age of the vehicles? Can any vehicles be replaced by newer, more efficient and reliable vehicles?
Are there any alternatives to owning or leasing a vehicle, such as shuttle bus services, motor pool vehicles, sharing vehicles with other offices/agencies, vehicle stipends, public transportation, or short-term rentals when needed?
Considering the answers to the previous questions, what is the optimal composition of the fleet required to properly support the fleet’s needs?
In addition to reviewing telematics or fleet analysis data, fleet managers should consider soliciting input from drivers when conducting a rightsizing review, as they can be very knowledgeable about how vehicles are being used to support operations. Gathering this input also gives drivers a stake in the development of rightsizing recommendations. Fleet managers can solicit input through driver surveys or face-to-face meetings to establish consensus.
A fleet rightsizing strategy should evaluate the business case of each vehicle to determine whether reassigning, replacing, or eliminating the vehicle would reduce fuel and maintenance costs without compromising fleet activities. Fleet managers often need to define evaluation criteria and rank vehicles to complete this analysis. A fleet dominated by sport utility vehicles, for example, may find that mid-size sedans can suffice with a significant reduction in fuel costs.
Fleet managers may develop their own analysis or use existing evaluation tools. The Vehicle Allocation Methodology developed by the U.S. General Services Administration is an evaluation framework that federal agency fleets use to ensure fleets are cost-effective and contain the appropriate number and type of vehicles. Learn more about this methodology in the Comprehensive Federal Fleet Management Handbook (PDF).
Make Smart Vehicle Purchases
Fleet managers may decide to replace older vehicles with more fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles. These purchasing strategies may help fleet managers make decisions that meet operational needs and conserve fuel:
Transition to Smaller, More Efficient Engines: Using smaller engines can help fleets meet operational needs without downgrading vehicle class. Some fleets choose to switch from 6-cylinder to 4-cylinder engines to help reduce fuel use and emissions. In many cases, the new, smaller engine can have nearly the same horsepower as a larger engine. Fleet managers can also improve fuel efficiency by selecting smaller engines with optional gearing for their application.
Choose Lighter Vehicles: When purchasing new vehicles, look for opportunities to reduce vehicle weight. Lightweight materials, such as aluminum frames, and smaller components can reduce rolling resistance and drag, thereby improving a vehicle’s fuel economy. For example, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can improve fuel economy by 6% to 8%. Also, try to avoid unnecessarily large body configurations and heavy accessories. For more information, refer to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency's Confidence Report.
Use Alternative Fuels and Vehicles: Alternative fuel and fuel-efficient advanced vehicles can reduce a fleet's fuel use, making them economical options for many fleets. Cost savings from vehicle maintenance, operation, and fuel use and price often offset higher purchase prices.
Source: https://afdc.energy.gov/conserve/rightsizing.html
7/04/19
Experience DiamondBack: Theft Protection
Check out how DiamondBack Truck Covers provide your bed with theft protection that's second to none. Peace of mind knowing your gear is safe is a great feeling.
7/03/19
U.S. Senators press for speed limiters on trucks
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario and Quebec introduced a speed-limiter
program for trucks 10 years ago, setting the maximum speed for
heavy-duty vehicles at 105 km/h, or 65 mph.
Now the United States wants to follow suit amid a sharp rise in fatal accidents involving large trucks. Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would require trucks to be equipped with speed limiters, also set at a maximum speed of 105 km/h.
Road-safety advocates such as Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition have been lobbying Congress for months to pass such a legislation.
“The majority of trucks on our roads already have speed-limiting technology built in, and the rest of the technologically advanced world has already put them to use to ensure drivers follow safe speeds,” said Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who sponsored the bill with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.
“This legislation would officially enforce a long-awaited speed limit of 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the number of preventable fatalities on our busy roadways.”
The senators noted that the Department of Transportation delayed action on speed limiters for more than 20 times since it was first proposed in 2011.
The Trucking Alliance, a safety coalition of transportation and logistics companies, said it was hopeful Congress would pass the legislation.
More than 140,000 people were killed or injured in large truck accidents last year alone, the group said.
Safety advocates also point out that the speed limiters won’t cost extra money because most trucks already have the technology in place.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation study revealed that speed-related, at-fault collisions involving large commercial vehicles fell by 73% after the legislation took effect, according to the Ontario Trucking Association.
The study compared data from 2006-08 to 2010-12, the association said in a report published in 2017.
Source: http://www.trucknews.com/transportation/u-s-senators-press-for-speed-limiters-on-trucks/1003092258/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newcom&utm_campaign=TruckNewsDaily&utm_content=2019070380754
Now the United States wants to follow suit amid a sharp rise in fatal accidents involving large trucks. Two U.S. senators have introduced a bill that would require trucks to be equipped with speed limiters, also set at a maximum speed of 105 km/h.
Road-safety advocates such as Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition have been lobbying Congress for months to pass such a legislation.
“The majority of trucks on our roads already have speed-limiting technology built in, and the rest of the technologically advanced world has already put them to use to ensure drivers follow safe speeds,” said Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, who sponsored the bill with Democratic Sen. Chris Coons.
“This legislation would officially enforce a long-awaited speed limit of 65 mph on large trucks and reduce the number of preventable fatalities on our busy roadways.”
The senators noted that the Department of Transportation delayed action on speed limiters for more than 20 times since it was first proposed in 2011.
The Trucking Alliance, a safety coalition of transportation and logistics companies, said it was hopeful Congress would pass the legislation.
More than 140,000 people were killed or injured in large truck accidents last year alone, the group said.
Safety advocates also point out that the speed limiters won’t cost extra money because most trucks already have the technology in place.
An Ontario Ministry of Transportation study revealed that speed-related, at-fault collisions involving large commercial vehicles fell by 73% after the legislation took effect, according to the Ontario Trucking Association.
The study compared data from 2006-08 to 2010-12, the association said in a report published in 2017.
Source: http://www.trucknews.com/transportation/u-s-senators-press-for-speed-limiters-on-trucks/1003092258/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newcom&utm_campaign=TruckNewsDaily&utm_content=2019070380754
6/30/19
COMING SOON - A New Way to Load and Unload Your Pickup - PowerLoader by MasterHaul
Coming
in 2020
PowerLoader
Loads and Unloads the Truck Automatically!
Masterhaul is a new company with
some new ideas of how to make far better use of a pickup truck or typical
service body. The product offerings include the ability to make use of a wide
range of optional modules that allow maximum use of a pickup truck bed or
service body. Here are some of the features and how they can benefit your
business.
The PowerLoader eliminates the need
for additional resources required by existing truck mounted lift gate products.
- No need for workers to transfer heavy cargo from a
liftgate into the truck bed.
- No need to purchase utility trailers to tow products
that don’t fit on a liftgate, e.g. large power equipment, construction
materials, pallets and many more.
- Enhanced Productivity– a quicker job site process
equates to more jobs being completed per day, and more revenue being
generated per week, per month, per year! A great ROI
- Mobility – ability to take/deliver resources
to work place without having to transfer and / or utilize another form of
transport. Offload the truck in seconds when empty truck is needed
- Enhanced Safety – No human requirements for
lifting or moving loads into the bed
- Double + the load size capability – Load platform is
same size as truck bed, NOT the tailgate
- Optional and Unique Dump feature – Not offered by
others
- Optional conveyor belt feature – Automatically
drops the load off at destination
- Quick and easy to install - No drilling required
- Switch & utilize for multiple trucks - Unlike
Liftgates that are a permanent fixture once installed
- Safer Weight Distribution v Liftgate: The PowerLoader
allows easy positioning of the cargo forward in the cargo area. Cargo
loaded by liftgates must be re-handled to move it forward. Improper cargo
location may reduce steering and braking performance and increase rear
axle system fatigue.
- Remote Control– For all operational systems
- Reduced Injuries caused by getting in and out of the truck bed
- · Slipping
off the Liftgate
- · Injury by
Falling Cargo
- · Being
injured by Liftgate Mechanism
Please give us your thoughts on our product line, email us
at info@masterhaul.com.
Learn more at: www.masterhaul.com
2020 Chevy Silverado 3500 6.6-liter Duramax diesel
With best-in-class 35,500 pounds towing capability, Chevy’s 1-ton workhorse proved impressive at the company’s ride-n-drive event in Bend, Oregon. Sandor Piszar, Chevy truck marketing director, talks about the truck’s fleet appeal and Chevy lead development engineer Chris DePolo explains how a new Allison 10-speed transmission enabled an improved axle ratio of 3.42 (down from 3.73) and thus better fuel economy.
6/27/19
Roll Up Doors for the Knapheide Aluminum Service Body // NTEA 2019
New Roll Up Doors shown on our Aluminum Service Body at the 2019 Work Truck Show.
6/10/19
Maximize Safety On Your Next Upfit - by Knapheide
Safety is everywhere on jobsites. Regulations are put in place by government agencies to minimize the risk of injuries, equipment has a laundry list of safety features, and laborers protect themselves with safety glasses, ear plugs, hard hats, steel toed boots, high visibility clothing, among many other things. Work vehicles have safety features that Henry Ford couldn’t have imagined in his wildest dreams. Seat belts, air bags, back up cameras, lane and blind spot sensors, bluetooth, traction control, autonomous braking, adaptive headlights, parking assist, tire pressure monitors, the list goes on and on, all designed to keep the driver and occupants of the vehicle safe.
So why in 2013 were there over three million injuries on the jobsite, of which over half required missed work?* The current median age in the United States is 37 years old, by 2050 experts predict it will increase to 41 years of age.** An aging workforce is a great concern as it relates to jobsite safety and injury prevention. Baby boomer laborers that for decades put in hard work are now paying the price with their knees, hips, back, and many other musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Not all work injuries are related to the aging workforce, however for many businesses our aging workforce is a determining factor when purchasing equipment and vehicles.
‘Ergonomics’, a word not historically heard in the commercial vehicle industry, has been a hot topic for several years now. Business owners understand an aging workforce is highly susceptible to those revenue-losing injuries that require time off. In order to combat the jobsite injuries, many have turned their attention to the commercial vehicle they drive and the equipment they use, but many times end up either overlooking the body or downplaying its importance. The back of the commercial vehicle (cargo area or body) is commonly called the “business end” in the industry for a reason, much of the work day is spent there. Accessing tools and parts, utilizing vehicle mounted equipment, climbing in and out or on and off, goes on all day, every day. Climbing in and out of a truck body alone can wreak havoc on knees and backs if spec’d improperly, especially if a worker has been performing these repetitive movements for decades.
Review the Knapheide accessories and options at https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2016/07/maximize-safety-on-your-next-upfit?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nurture&utm_content=tof-4&elqTrackId=6e189d1618364636bb9ec8b76fae69d5&elq=7d3a6b49687f4380b09cacc98845767b&elqaid=1069&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=518
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