Building a truck is a complicated process. Specifying the right truck requires hundreds of decisions and choices – and each choice potentially impacts another. The tricky part is finding the balance between over-spec’ing and under-spec’ing a vehicle, each with its own unique set of consequences.
The best way to optimize truck productivity is to spec the right vehicle for the fleet application. This may sound like I am stating the obvious, but, as many truck professionals will attest, it is often not the case. While fleet managers understand how their trucks are intended to be used in the field, intended usage often does not match real-world usage.
Many fleet managers know they should be doing something to “green” their fleet, but they do nothing, rationalizing (and justifying) their inaction due to budget constraints or lack of management support. To me, this is a self-fulfilling mindset that guarantees your fleet will remain in a status quo situation. Fleet managers need to break free from this defeatist mindset and here's how to do it.
Traditionally, executive and sales vehicles have been used by corporations as an employee recruitment and retention tool. Could service vehicles be used the same way? For example, could the type of service vehicles you have in operation also be used to lure qualified employees or retain current employees? I believe they can, if marketed correctly.
Since launching the Cox Conserves sustainability program seven years ago, Cox Enterprises has shifted from spec’ing its traditional work vans to the Mercedes Benz Sprinter — citing a big jump in miles per gallon — and has made other changes in how the fleet approaches efficiency.
While many commercial truck fleets may have qualms about going “green,” the process can make a statement and add to the bottom line.
Vehicle fleets are key contributors to a company’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but they do offer a way to make quick emissions reductions. Since most companies replace approximately one-third of their fleet vehicles each year, they can structure selectors to favor more fuel-efficient models; however, there is a limit to this strategy. The reality is that there is no single silver bullet to fleet emissions reduction — it requires a multi-pronged approach.
A one-size-fits-all approach to truck specifications is an ergonomic minefield, which could have litigious consequences. In addition, there are increased field complaints about “less-than-ergonomic” upfit decisions. Besides health issues, poor ergonomics is also a key contributor to preventable accidents. Proactively resolving ergonomic issues can have a significant impact in reducing workers’ comp costs, improving productivity, and decreasing fatigue-induced driver errors.
Fleet managers need to view work trucks as earning assets. To maximize truck productivity, it is necessary to optimize specifications, operating procedures, and replacement strategies. When spec’ing vehicles, past history is important, but one outcome to using last model-year specs is repeating past inefficiencies. Fleet managers need to adopt a “clean sheet” approach to how they manage their truck fleets.
Can you green your fleet and not break your budget? You can, by spec’ing for function, price and gas mileage.
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