D.M. Bowman recently announced that it has made significant efficiency gains as a SmartWay Transport Partner. The partnership is a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
D.M. Bowman says it reduced its CO2 emissions by more than 5 percent from 2005 to 2006. It also achieved a 14 percent decrease in emissions of nitrogen oxides and a 16 percent reduction in particulate matter emissions. The company says it also saved significant fuel during its first year in the partnership; average fuel efficiency of Bowman’s trucks increased 4 percent during the year.
To achieve such efficiency gains, D.M. Bowman started to use bunk heaters to reduce idle time, low-friction engine and transmission lubricants, and some wide-based tires. Bunk heaters provide heat to the cabin while a truck is stationary without idling the engine, and a single wide-base tire has less rolling resistance than comparable dual tires. Using tools provided to SmartWay Transport Partners, D.M. Bowman says it determined that the costs of the singlewide tires were recouped in just 1.5 years of use, due to increased fuel savings; and purchase costs for the bunk heaters were recouped in less than nine months.
“The Webasto cab warmers were easy enough to install, have proven to be low maintenance and have helped our company significantly reduce emissions and save fuel,” says Mike Boarman, director of maintenance for Williamsport, Md.-based D.M. Bowman.
D.M. Bowman’s actions have contributed to the partnership’s goal to reduce 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012. “D.M. Bowman Inc. is proud to partner with the SmartWay Transport Partnership in our efforts to operate an environmentally responsible modern transportation fleet,” says Jim Ward, the company’s president and chief executive officer. “We consider this as important as operating in a safe and courteous manner on our nation’s highways. It’s good business.”
Launched in February 2004, the SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to achieve fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of fuel per year. The partnership brings together major freight shippers, trucking companies, railroads, logistics companies and trade/professional associations to pursue mutually beneficial efficiencies that result in emissions reductions and other environmental improvements, as well as cost savings to the companies. There are currently about 500 partners participating in the SmartWay Transport Partnership. For more information, go to www.epa.gov/smartway.
