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Idling increases fuel consumption and maintenance costs, impacting the operational efficiency of fleets
Efficiency in diesel truck fleet management is crucial in the world of transportation and logistics to maintain low costs and promote corporate sustainability. Truck idling, that is, the time they are running without moving, represents a significant factor in operating costs.
Idling can occur for various reasons, from traffic lights to extended use of climate control and appliances while the truck is stationary. This behavior increases fuel consumption and maintenance costs, negatively impacting operational efficiency and the company’s sustainability goals.
How does truck idling affect your business?
Regardless of the cause, truck idling is one of the least ideal aspects of freight transportation operations, as it involves significant fuel expenditure, component wear, and downtime. The main issues include:
Fuel consumption
According to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, an idling engine notably increases fuel consumption, using approximately 1 gallon per hour. On average, a heavy-duty truck consumes 1 gallon of fuel per hour when idling, with an estimated cost of $4 per gallon of fuel, meaning the annual fuel expense for a fleet of 100 trucks would amount to $720,000.
Idling during rest periods in the United States alone consumes nearly one billion gallons of fuel per year, according to the Argonne National Laboratory, costing carriers and owners around $3 billion. The time and money spent on idling could be better used for relevant investments as well as transporting more cargo and generating higher revenues. In conclusion, carriers incur a significant opportunity cost for every minute of idling.
Engine wear and increased maintenance
According to the American Trucking Associations, idling can cause wear equivalent to between three and six hours of highway driving due to incomplete fuel combustion, resulting in carbon residue buildup. This affects engine performance and reduces its lifespan. Additionally, idling causes inadequate oil circulation, accelerating wear on internal engine components, increasing the need for costly and frequent maintenance. According to the National Research Council, the estimated cost is $0.15 per hour of maintenance for every hour of idling.
Environmental impacts
As mentioned earlier, idling leads to incomplete combustion, which can generate more harmful greenhouse gasses escaping into the atmosphere. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the road transportation sector generates nearly 11 tons of carbon dioxide, 55,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, and 400 tons of particles. Minimizing idling time could reduce emissions by up to 16%.
Techniques to reduce idling time
Automatic shut-off
Automatic engine shut-off and start-up systems (AESS) in modern trucks, and retrofit versions in older models, manage idling through timers to prevent unnecessary prolongation. Their function is to maintain cabin temperature and battery charge, thereby reducing emissions, fuel consumption, and engine damage.
Auxiliary power units
Auxiliary power units (APUs) provide power to maintain climate control and electronic devices in trucks. Traditional ones run on fuel but are less efficient for small devices. Modern ones are more environmentally friendly, allowing connection to the public electrical grid.
Awareness programs
These programs educate drivers about the importance of environmental conservation and energy security. In addition to addressing the negative impacts of idling on the environment, health, safety, and costs, these programs also establish guidelines on when to turn off trucks instead of letting them idle.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most U.S. states have implemented strict regulations on truck idling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. By implementing tactics to reduce idling, fleets can achieve significant cost savings.
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