National Trucking Week

10 NATIONAL TRUCKING WEEK In honour of National Trucking Week we are celebrating our Dispatchers, Mechanics, Drivers and all the people in the Trucking Industry that keep our freight moving. A salute to the Trucking Industry! NOW HIRING Based in or near Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Thunder Bay. Call 1-800-665-4302 x 251 Email orderdesk @ penneroil.ca Experienced Fuel Delivery Drivers for short-haul deliveries Thank you to all of the Drivers, Owner Operators, and Office Staff in the Transportation sector for their positivity, efforts and keeping our economy strong. For more information about Trappers contact 1-800-561-9696 ext. 7637 #YouBelongHere Thank you truckers for your essential service! Hon. Jim Carr MP, Winnipeg South Centre Hon. Daniel Vandal MP, Saint-Boniface- Saint-Vital Terry Duguid MP, Winnipeg South B Y P A T R E D I G E R W hen it comes to safer driving and enhanced green initiatives, the Manitoba Trucking Association (MTA) has been driving change in the industry. MTA Executive Director Terry Shaw says the association has been working on the GrEEEner Trucking Fuel Efficiency Initiative, which has been designed to increase fuel efficiency while at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Trucking has always been environmentally conscious, even before environmentally conscious had a name," he says. "We've always had a keen eye on fuel efficiency because fuel efficiency is economic efficiency." Shaw says the initiative is needed to create long-term change to make the industry more environmentally sustainable. The initiative would begin with retrofitting trucks to improve their efficiency and then move towards regulatory changes that would lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of new technologies and fuels, such as vehicle electrification. All measures would be reviewed by an advisory council, which would consist of academics, environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs), and trucking industry representatives. The initial step of retrofitting trucks would consist of projects such as installing anti-idling devices or auxiliary power units. Since commercial drivers basically live in their vehicles for long periods of time, they run their vehicles to provide heat or cool air, cook or use the entertainment systems. If you don't have an anti-idling device in the truck, then the truck has to remain on and it burns fuel even though it's not being driven. There are several barriers that make this shift challenging for truck owners and operators. One of the major obstacles is the cost to make the transition. Many individuals and corporations simply do not have the financial resources to retrofit their vehicles so Shaw says that the provincial government must provide transition funds to make it possible. "Government needs to provide financial incentives to utilize new technologies," he says. "It's good for the environment and provides supports for those who may be on the fence about these technologies or who want to use these technologies but don't have the dollars to do it." Another barrier is regulations that prevent the uptake of currently-available technologies. Shaw says that once a retrofit program is available, it will need to be analyzed for its uptake and the amount of greenhouse gas that has been reduced in order to fine tune its effectiveness and funding levels. There are also certain technologies, such as wide base tires, that would provide economic and environmental benefits but are currently not allowed in the province without weight penalties for the operator. Once funding and regulations have been addressed, Shaw says the final phase to a greener future is investigating and fostering promising new generation greenhouse gas reduction tools. One of the most interesting is truck electrification and Shaw says the association has been requesting A BETTER, GREENER TOMORROW New initiatives aimed at making trucking industry more sustainable We've always had a keen eye on fuel efficiency because fuel efficiency is economic efficiency. – Terry Shaw, MTA Executive Director " "

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