PrivateFleets.com

As I mentioned in a previous post, several private fleets–the leader among them being Wal-Mart–are increasing the value of their company’s brand by making significant achievements in emissions reduction. The other day, Sean Kilcarr, who writes a blog for Fleet Owner Magazine, had this to say about Wal-Mart.  

One HUGE thing that gets overlooked by almost everyone is how Wal-Mart is changing the game: Not so much in retailing and logistics anymore — they’re past masters in those areas — but in their role as motivator for innovation in trucking, specifically in terms of boosting tractor trailer fuel economy while lowering pollution. They are also putting a richly deserved emphasis on the role their drivers play not only in terms of company and vehicle performance but in the community at large.

In his blog post, Kilcarr quotes a Wal-Mart executive as saying that originally, Wal-Mart wanted to improve fleet efficiency by 25% within three years, largely measured by gains in fuel economy. But by getting suggestions from its drivers, switching to new tractor specs, and making operational to its trucking operations pattern, those targets were met within just one year.

Wal-Mart went on to say that the fleet’s average fleet fuel economy is 7.1 mpg. By 2015, the company plans to achieve 100% fuel efficiency gains for its fleet. The changes will come not only from further improvements to the trucks and operating patterns, but from changes in packaging to lighten shipment weights. For the entire post, click here.

At any American Trucking Association meeting I’ve attended, Wal-Mart is always a gigantic presence, even if only a few transportation managers are at the show. Everyone recognizes them as the 800 pound gorilla in the room, but not just because they operate one of the largest fleets in the country. When I attended last year’s management conference in Dallas, for example, Wal-Mart presented its fuel economy gains and testing programs, drawing a standing-room-only crowd. The company is changing the transportation industry, and everyone is taking note.

My goal for this blog is to find more examples of how private fleets–especially those with for-hire authority–are changing the transportation industry, by stepping up and doing things better than ”common” carriers. It is becoming more apparent to me that private fleets are a largely untapped resource in this industry, who are often hesitant to share their successes because what they do provide is seen by their parent company as a competitive advantage.