The trucking industry’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 35 per cent per billion tonne kilometres between 1990 and 2011, this report on the environmental credentials of the Australian trucking industry shows.
The ATA commissioned the report from the Centre for International Economics examine the industry’s track record on the environment and how it could reduce its environmental impact even further. The project was funded by the ATA Trust.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The improvement in the trucking industry’s greenhouse gas emissions was due to the increased use of larger truck combinations such as B-doubles and advances in engine technology.
It takes 77 three-axle rigid trucks to move a thousand tonnes of freight, but only 26 B-doubles. In moving the freight, these 26 B-doubles would produce 25 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than the vast fleet of smaller trucks needed to do the job.
Nitrogen oxides and particulates
The nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions from new trucks and engines are also falling dramatically.
The most recent design rules for truck diesel engines, introduced in 2010, require a 75 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to trucks manufactured in 1996, and a 92 per cent reduction in particulates.
The report contrasts the trucking industry’s performance with the rail industry, which is not subject to emission controls.
Future environmental gains
The report shows the industry could achieve further environmental gains by continuing its move towards using high productivity vehicles: larger, more efficient and safer trucks. The main impediments to getting these environmental gains are regulatory, such as access issues and high registration charges, but the potential gains are immense.
The report argues that further research into the aerodynamic performance of trucks and tyre resistance could provide some of the greatest improvements in fuel efficiency across the truck fleet.
The report also examines the role of alternative fuels like biodiesel, LNG, and CNG, and the importance of eco-drive training as a low cost way that businesses can achieve fuel efficiency improvements of up to 10 per cent.
Options for dealing with climate change
The report examines three options for dealing with climate change: an explicit carbon price through a carbon tax or emissions trading, carbon constraints such as regulatory measures or direct action, and demand side measures such as subsidies for green products.
Author
Centre for International Economics.
First published
30 June 2011, media release.
