Background Information
Heavy and medium-duty trucks play crucial roes in the economy of any nation. Trucking provides employment; influences usage of land; impacts commercial activities; and affects the prices of land as well as other commodities. According to research, the trucking industry in some countries is worth billions. The trucking industry also employs hundreds of thousands of drivers and provides livelihood to other parties that are not directly associated with the trucks (Abate & Road, 2014). Normally, trucking firms are made up of smaller companies that include carriers. There are varying levels of players in the industry from micro-trucking firms that employ from 1 to 4 employees to large motor carriers that employ more than 500 employees. In between these extremes, there are medium carriers. All these have a significant contribution to the carbon footprint.
Whilst the trucking industry bears significant amount of burden to the environment, it is a critical sector that holds the economy and livelihood of many. The industry involves many players from the drivers themselves to policy makers, support services, and government agencies. Striking an equilibrium in the industry core players at any given time determines how the industry runs and its key outcomes. One tough concern that has pervaded the industry over the years has been fuel economy and environmental management issues. Yet the number of goods required to be transported across borders and from one coast of a country to another has been increasing over the years. That means there is need for more trucks on the road igniting myriad environmental and climatic consequences. Ideally, safety, security, sustainability, and stresslessness should drive the trucking sector (O’Rourke, 2012). But with the current situation, it is only with a robust environmental friendly intervention that this can occur.
Over the years, pressures on the transport and logistic industry have been mounting. There has been pressure over environmental concerns so much so that governmental awareness on the same has led to increased pressure on key players in the industry. In addition consumers have also become more aware of the harms that logistics companies cause to the environment. As such, consumers have become demanding regarding green technologies and clean energy initiatives in the transport and logistic industry. In tandem with this change, it has become commonplace to have rising interest for streamlining operations for logistic companies. Firms that adopt greener technologies stand better chances of increasing their competitive edge (O’Rourke, 2012). Introduction of new structures for the logistics industry presents great benefits that may lead to better management of the environment.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe different factors that can influence the carbon footprint generated by the trucking company. The adoption of green initiatives by trucking industry can be mirrored in service offering. This subsumes highlighting different forms of drivers, triggers, and barriers, as well as characteristics of the firms, and describing how all these can impact the adoption of green technologies, initiatives, or processes. As such, this paper provides three significant options that can move the industry to be more efficient whilst conserving the environment. Ways in which the trucking industry can adopt the green initiative are, therefore, exemplified in order to answer the growing concern of environmental management.
Sources and Methods
This project will proposes three technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint of the trucking sector while maintaining its efficiency. This particular section highlights initiatives to promote fleet efficiency, fuel economy, and minimize on the overall greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions attributed to the trucking sector. The initiatives include promotion of innovative practices, advancements in vehicle design, driver education, and the application of onboard technologies.
Fuel Economy
Some studies have focused on regulation of fuel usage through manufacturing of light-duty vehicles while others have focused on regulation of carbon dioxide emissions per mile. In the first rationale, studies on fuel economy have focused on automakers and the designs they use to make vehicles more efficient or to move sales towards models that are more efficient (Anderson, Parry, Sallee, & Fischer, 2011). These studies also stress the lowering of CO2 emissions and the dependency on oil markets that are subject to political and economic uncertainties.
In the second rationale, studies address a market failure that arises out of misperceptions of consumers on the benefits of enhanced energy efficiency. Studies focusing on this rationale find that consumers, in different settings, appear not to pursue efficient models to improve efficiency to the levels that they should, but the findings are not universal (Harrington et al., 2011; Viafara & D.Larson, 2013).
Redesigning logistic network
A number of studies have dwelt on supply chain networks and how enhancing the network leads to positive effect on fuel usage, freight cost, and greenhouse gas emissions. Findings from these studies show that redesigning logistic networks requires extensive efforts to gather data on consumers, suppliers, and inventory. Researchers focusing on this area highlight myriad ways reorganizing the logistic network can have positive impact on transport costs, business growth, and expense reduction. Studies also highlight on the requirements of key players in the sector such as vendors, transporters, and merchandisers (Viafara & D.Larson, 2013).
Cleaner practices and equipment
Emissions from the trucking industry can contribute to unhealthy air significantly. The principal emissions that raise concern involve diesel engines, which lead to respiratory illnesses such as asthma and nitrogen oxides. Researchers on this are immense and the health impacts relating to use of equipment that produce diesel particulate matter in high quantities are rife (Isaksson, 2012; Mathers, Norsworthy, & Wolfe, n.d.). As such, cleaner practices and equipment are promoted by various studies.
Methods
A review of literature will be conducted on the most significant and efficient method to regulate the trucking industry. Sources that focus on cleaner practices and equipment will be highlighted and a systematic review conducted. Findings will be presented with recommendations that can chart the way forward as far as clean energy and reduction of emissions in the trucking industry is concerned will be presented.
Report Organization
This report includes introduction or background to the problem, the literature review, and the methodology. After systematic review of literature, the paper will also include findings and recommendations that will highlight on key methods the trucking industry can improve on to conserve the environment.
References
Abate, M., & Road, S. N. (2014). Does Fuel Price Affect Trucking Industry ’ s Network Characteristics ? Evidence from Denmark.
Anderson, S. T., Parry, I. W. H., Sallee, J. M., & Fischer, C. (2011). Automobile fuel economy standards: Impacts, efficiency, and alternatives. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 5(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.1093/reep/req021
Harrington, A. R., Warholak, T. L., Hines, L. E., Taylor, A. M., Sherrill, D., & Malone, D. C. (2011). Healthcare Professional Students’ Knowledge of Drug-Drug Interactions. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 75(10). https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7510199
Isaksson, K. (2012). Logistics Service Providers going green – insights from the Swedish market, (1518), 1–133.
Mathers, J., Norsworthy, M., & Wolfe, C. (n.d.). The Green Freight Handbook.
O’Rourke, L. (2012). Handbook on Applying Environmental Benchmarking in Freight Transportation. Transportation Research Board.
Viafara, J., & D.Larson, P. (2013). A Comparison of Five Green Trucking Programs across Canada, 19.
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