An innovative new truck design developed by the family-owned foodservice company, E.A. Sween Co., of Eden Prairie, MN, is improving fuel economy by nearly 50 percent while significantly increasing fleet sustainability, productivity and cost effectiveness.
The new, lighter-weight diesel truck design emits 700 pounds less carbon per month than a conventional truck, according to a sustainability study conducted by Automotive Resources International (ARI), a leading global fleet services provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets. Based on these results, E.A. Sween Co. leaders anticipate that the trucks will emit 4.2 tons less carbon dioxide annually.
Refrigeration in the innovative new truck is handled by Thermo King, a manufacturer of temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand.
In addition to Thermo King, the project team that developed the improvements with E.A. Sween Co. included Isuzu, which provided the diesel chassis; Johnson Truck Bodies, which produced the lightweight shell; and ARI, which provided truck expertise and analytical tools needed to calculate the design’s impact on cost and efficiency.
E.A. Sween Co. leaders pursued the more sustainable fleet option when they decided to expand from a traditionally all-frozen transportation fleet with cold-plate technology to one with multi-temperature capabilities. The updated solution reflects the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship through fleet sustainability.
