THE DEFINITIVE TRUCKING SITE

February 2008

Fleet owners can take a leaf out of the airline industry's book when it comes to reducing CO₂ emissions.

Although the aircraft industry claims to be at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to CO₂ emissions, companies such as Swiss International Airlines are nevertheless implementing new technological and economical measures to ensure cleaner air and less pollution by using more efficient aircraft and shorter, more direct routes.

Not only are these measures reducing CO₂ emissions from their fleet by almost 100 000 tonnes a year, but they are also working on reducing mass as a means of doing so. The company reckons that if every flight of the Swiss Airbus short-haul fleet can be made just one kilogram lighter, this will cut the fleet's annual CO₂ emissions by as much as 16 tonnes. That's something for truckers to think about before overloading on your next trip.

Economically, running an efficient fleet makes a lot of financial sense. Swissair has reduced its annual fuel consumption by 11% - a huge saving relayed to their customers making them more competitive in the market.

Every way you look at 'going green' makes sense. Comparing the aircraft industry with trucking might not be an 'apples with apples' scenario but the trucking industry can learn a lot from this transport sector about going green thereby ensuring a safer, cooler place for future generations to grow up in.