Not only does caring for the environment help the planet, learning how to reduce your emissions and utilize energy more efficiently will help defray costs and wear on your trucks. A big rig has more demands on it than a standard truck. Some of the same techniques that work on smaller trucks still apply when you’re trying to make your rigs more energy efficient, though. The nature of trucking means that massive amounts of fuel and paper are used, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to cut back. Here are some of the methods that you can employ in order to improve your fleet’s energy efficiency while they’re on the road.

Save the Trees

Even though the ELD mandate deadline hasn’t arrived yet, it’s still time to start having your drivers track their hours on the road on their phones instead of on paper. You can massively reduce the paper waste created by truckers by simply switching to electronic documentation. Also, you can encourage your drivers to carry a bag in their trucks to throw away paper and plastic products. These can be dropped off at gas stations and truck stops with recycling areas. Drivers should also be encouraged to bring reusable containers for your food. You’d be surprised at the amount of trash from snacks and waste products your fleet can go through in a year. You will also be eligible for tax breaks and discounts for recycling products, so it will be putting money back into your pocket as well.

Pay Attention to Mileage

Fuel prices and maintenance costs continue to climb in the industry, so finding ways to increase your fuel mileage is paramount. Selecting the right octane of fuel in order to maximize your engine’s efficiency is the first place to start. It can also help to look into the best and worst truck engines. This is what your big rigs are going to need to keep it going for all of those miles. Plan your routes in advance to maximize fuel efficiency, and have your drivers practice consistent acceleration. Braking and accelerating suddenly wastes more gas than maintaining a steady speed. And of course, keep careful tracks of fuel usage and expenses. What you find can help you determine where you can pinch to cut excess fuel usage.

Conserve electricity

All of the accessories and electricity used on engine startup can work to drain a truck’s battery. The problem with causing this level of stress to a truck battery is that it can wear down faster over time. This is definitely not good for the environment over the long run, or for your efficiency. Choose a battery that can last for as long as possible. Select a commercial battery supplier that sells top-rated brands so that you can find the right battery to keep your truck running. Try to reduce idling time and turn your trucks off when they don’t need to be running. If your routes are not too far, you can even consider integrating electric vehicles into your fleet, or another form of fuel-efficient rig.

Perform Maintenance

Keeping up with maintenance will also help to improve your fleet’s efficiency. Replacing air filters and changing the oil on a regular schedule ensures that your engines can operate at an optimal level. Regular tune-ups will need to be performed so that wear and tear doesn’t start to break down your engine’s ability to function properly over time. Make sure your drivers check the engines after each trip so that you can stay on top of any issues before they can develop into a problem.

Using some common-sense approaches will work to improve your fleet’s energy efficiency. Use these tips to help you navigate the green trucking world.