If there’s one thing new transport refrigeration unit (TRU) technology reveals, it’s that the trucking industry continues to go green. For several years, the trucking world has been moving increasingly towards better efficiency and lower emissions, inspired in no small part by required federal regulations. Today, those developments are in the form of new products from companies like Thermo King, Carrier Transicold, and Great Dane.
Thermo King’s new Precedent™ temperature control refrigeration platform not only offers operational savings, but also it gives California customers a way to extend use beyond seven years. Carrier Transicold’s new ecoFORWARD™ technology is designed to comply with Tier 4 emissions requirements for engines that are rated less than 25 HP, reduce fuel costs, operate more quickly, and run cleaner; what’s more, it makes it possible for products to comply with CARB regulations for seven years.
For the 2014 model year, Great Dane Everest reefers feature a ThermoGuard glass-reinforced thermoplastic liner with a ThermoGuard subpan in order to seal the trailer interior better, thereby reducing cooling unit run time, extending refrigeration unit lifespans, and reducing upkeep costs in the process.
What all of these new technologies show is that more efficient trucking is on many trucking businesses’ minds. While greener trucking may not get the attention of efficient personal vehicles and transit, the fact is that the freight industry has been and continues to be moving towards a smaller carbon footprint all the time. Since the federal government has made emissions regulations stricter and pushed for higher fuel efficiency, the trucking industry has begun to change.
What’s happening with TRU technology is happening in other aspects of trucking as well. Other examples of this shift can be found in all aspects of the supply chain, from biodegradable packing materials on the shipping end to reduced idling time on the driving end to an increase in alternative fuels on the carrier end.
What will the future hold for businesses in the trucking realm? Based on current trends, you can bet it will involve ever-increasing pushes toward sustainability, efficiency, and alternative fuels—within reason, of course. As fleet and safety director for Gulfeagle Supply, Joe Fiorelli told a session at the National Truck Equipment Association, “The most important colors in business are still red and black.”
Author Bio:
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Robert J. Hall is president of Track Your Truck, a leader in GPS vehicle tracking systems and software for small and midsized companies. |
To know more about this market, take a look at these research reports.
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