1. Perspectives on Sustainable Transport – Truck Productivity –
Presented to
Swedish House Seminar Series
Moving the World: The Future of Freight Transportation
John Woodrooffe
December 1, 2010

2. Sustainable Transport
Safety
Efficiency
*Policy*
Sustainable Transport

3. Contributions to sustainable transport
Time
Sustainability Index
Present time
Safety
Policy
Federal, State, Company, Individual
Operational Efficiency

4. OECD Truck Benchmarking Study “Moving freight in better trucks”
Compared the most common “workhorse” trucks and various high and very capacity vehicles from participating countries in terms of:
Road wear performance
Impact on road structures
Safety performance (with a focus on vehicle design)
Productivity (in terms of mass and volume)
Environmental impacts (emissions, energy consumption)

5. Defining truck productivity
Productivity – how much freight can be hauled in a particular vehicle
Note: Truck cargo capacity is limited by weight or volume (depends on freight density)

6. Steady State Energy Balance
Total energy used per hour (90 km/h, 44 tonne, level road for one hour) kWh
Engine losses 200 kWh
Auxiliary loads 15 kWh
Drive train 10 kWh
Rolling Resistance 65 kWh
Aerodynamic Losses 53 kWh

7. Towards sustainable productivity
Move as much freight as possible per power unit more safely than the current fleet with less infrastructure consumption

8. Productivity advantage
Workhorse vehicle
Country
Steer
Drive
Tridem
GVW
Productivity advantage
(lbs)
South Africa
16,060
39,600
52,800
108,460
39%
Mexico
14,300
42,900
49,500
106,700
35%
Denmark
17,600
35,200
105,600
33%
Canada
12,100
37,400
102,300
27%
Australia
13,200
100,100
23% UK
13,970
35,310
47,500
96,800
17%
USA
12,000
34,000
42,000
88,000
----
Assumed empty weight 35,000 lbs

9. Productivity advantage
Workhorse vehicle
North American context
Country
GVW
Payload
Productivity advantage
(lbs)
Mexico
106,700
71,700
35%
Canada
102,300
67,300
27%
USA
88,000
53,000 --
Assumed empty weight 35,000 lbs

10. Truck productivity is limited by policy not technology
Key Message
Truck productivity is limited by policy not technology

11. LCV Progressive operations policy can yield substantial societal benefit
53 ft standard trailer

12. What can advanced LCV policy do (on a per vehicle basis)
System category
Benefit Estimate
Improved productivity
YES
44%
Improved safety
2.5 to 5 times*
Reduced fuel consumption
32%
Reduced emissions
Reduced infrastructure consumption
40%
Reduced VMT
Reduced shipper cost
29%
Source: Assessments of Alberta LCV Program- Montufar et.al 2007, Woodrooffe et.al. (2001)

13. Size and weight policy is frozen by politics To the extent possible let science guide policy

14. Suggested policy changes for improved productivity and sustainability
Bring tandem and tridem axle loads more in line with international limits
Tandem from 34,000 lbs to 37,000 lbs
Tridem from 42,000 lbs to 50,000 lbs
Remove the arbitrary 80,000 lb cap on the Federal Bridge Formula
Update the bridge formula – it is antiquated

15. Conclusions Truck productivity is limited by policy not technology
Truck size and weight regulations directly influence transport productivity, efficiency, fuel use and emissions output
Such regulations represent a tool that not only protects the infrastructure but also encourage vehicles that provide significant societal benefits

16. Thank You