JBS Carriers Named ‘2013 Green Fleet of the Year’ by WIX® Filters, Fleet Owner Magazine
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Greeley, Colo., Transportation Company Implements Fleet Greening Process to
Increase Fuel Efficiency, Improve Driver Retention
JBS Carriers, a 48-state, over-the-road truckload carrier handling both refrigerated and non-refrigerated freight, has been named the “2013 Green Fleet of the Year” by WIX® Filters and Fleet Owner magazine. The award recognizes companies that use green technologies to reduce energy consumption at every level, including truck fleets.
The Greeley, Colo.-based company was selected for implementing a fleet greening process that cut fuel consumption of its fleet by 16 percent in one year and boosted driver morale and retention. JBS Carriers was also cited for its commitment to additional fuel conservation over the long term.
“Our business goals are focused on how to optimize our fleet, improve our fleet and attract and retain drivers,” said Rodrigo Horvath, president of JBS Carriers, a division of JBS USA. “We developed our fleet greening process with these goals in mind, and after one year, our fuel consumption is down and we have record lows in driver turnover.”
WIX® Filters, a member of the Affinia Group family of brands, and Fleet Owner, a Penton Media publication for executives of commercial trucking fleets, will present the award to JBS Carriers at the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo in Washington, D.C., in June.
“JBS Carriers is proving that an interstate trucking fleet can see significant cost savings through the implementation of smart fuel consumption strategies,” said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters. “JBS has also created an incentive structure for its drivers with a goal of fuel savings over the long term, making them an excellent choice as our seventh annual green fleet winner.”
As part of the award, WIX will conduct a comprehensive fleet assessment designed to reduce business costs for JBS Carriers and also supply the company with its ecoLASTTM oil filters, a line of heavy duty oil filters designed for over-the-road applications.
Horvath cited the installation of APUs, or auxiliary power units, on its sleepers as a greening initiative that has paid dividends for both drivers and the company’s bottom line since they were installed in 2012.
“The heating and cooling units give our drivers an opportunity to have a better environment, both in cold and hot weather,” Horvath said. “As a result, the idle time of our sleeper fleet has dropped by more than 10 percent, and the units have created a positive experience for our drivers.”
JBS Carriers outfitted 16 tractors with APUs in 2012, resulting in a 16-percent drop in fuel consumption and increasing miles-per-gallon by almost a mile. These improvements in fuel economy produced savings of more than $9,400 per year per truck. Currently, 267 tractors of the company’s 760-tractor fleet have been outfitted with APUs – with more coming online in 2013.
“The APUs go to driver well-being, showing that you care about the driver as much as the cargo you’re shipping,” Cameron Bruett, director of sustainability and corporate communications for JBS Carriers, told Fleet Owner magazine.
In addition to achieving fuel economy savings through the use of APUs, JBS Carriers has also achieved savings by outfitting its fleet with side skirts and low-rolling resistance tires, both of which improve aerodynamics. The company has also improved fuel usage through a fuel optimization software program that chooses the best route based on mileage and fuel price, and the software allows JBS Carriers to offer drivers quarterly bonuses based on miles-per-gallon savings.
About WIX Filters
Since 1939, Wix® Filters has been an innovator in filtration products. WIX designs, manufactures and distributes products for automotive, diesel, agricultural, industrial and specialty filter markets. Its product line includes oil, air, cabin interior, fuel, coolant, transmission and hydraulic filters for automobiles, trucks, off-road equipment and manufacturing applications. For more information, visit www.wixfilters.com. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wixfilters, follow us on Twitter @WIXFilters and visit our YouTube page at youtube.com/TheWIXFilters
About Affinia Group Inc.
Affinia Group Inc. is an innovative global leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and marketing of industrial grade products and services, including extensive offerings of aftermarket products for automotive and heavy-duty vehicles. With approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue, Affinia has operations in North and South America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.
Wray Ward