Bison Transport recently announced that it will be reducing its corporate speed limit to 100 km/hr (62 mph) in order to reduce fuel consumption by its large fleet of trucks. Speed reduction is one part of Bison’s sustainable transportation strategy and moves in lock-step with its corporate goal of minimizing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.
“Safety and sustainability are the cornerstones of who we are,” says Don Streuber, president and chief executive officer of Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Bison Transport. “We have taken many steps in the past to ensure our fleet is running as efficiently as possible and reduce our carbon footprint. We have expanded our long combination vehicle (LCVs) operation, installed idle-reduction devices in all our tractors, purchased fuel-efficient components for our equipment and provide industry-leading training to our fleet of drivers. Today’s announcement is a continuation of our sustainable transportation strategy.”
Bison says the slowdown of 5 km/hr from its previous corporate speed limit will have a significant impact on the environment; the company projects that this initiative will reduce its diesel fuel consumption by more than 1 million litres, with a resulting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 2.7 million kilograms.
Bison Transport is a member of Natural Resources Canada’s FleetSmart Program and also was the first Canadian Carrier to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transportation Partnership. The Government of Canada recently awarded the company a grant of $500,000 toward a large-scale fleetwide demonstration of the effectiveness of aerodynamic trailer fairings. Trailer fairings attach to the undercarriage of a standard van semi-trailer and are designed to reduce fuel consumption by decreasing the aerodynamic drag caused by the trailer’s wheels and axle components.
“We play a critical role in the delivery of goods, and we are committed to aggressively managing our emissions as we deliver that important service,” Streuber says. “This project is another step in a long list of our initiatives that will reduce the environmental impact of the products our economy produces and consumes.” Bison plans to retrofit more than 800 trailers during the demonstration, resulting in an expected 4 percent to 5 percent reduction in fuel consumption.
