However, using electric vehicles can markedly lower the costs of a fleet of delivery trucks. That’s the conclusion of a new MIT study showing that electric vehicles are not just environmentally friendly, but also have a potential economic upside for many kinds of businesses.

The study, conducted by researchers at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL), finds that electric vehicles can cost 9 to 12 percent less to operate than trucks powered by diesel engines, when used to make deliveries on an everyday basis in big cities.

“There has to be a good business case if there is going to be more adoption of electric vehicles,” says Jarrod Goentzel, director of the Renewable Energy Delivery Project at CTL and one of four co-authors of the new study. “We think it’s already a viable economic model, and as battery costs continue to drop, the case will only get better.”

Another of the paper’s co-authors, Clayton Siegert, a 2009 graduate of the CTL’s master’s of engineering in logistics program and a member of the Renewable Energy Delivery Project, presented the results in January at the IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, in Washington. The paper will be published in a volume of the conference’s proceedings. It originated in a thesis project by two researchers who received the master’s of engineering in logistics from CTL in 2011, Andre De Los Rios and Kristen Nordstrom.

New MIT research suggests that electric delivery trucks, like this one, can help both the environment and the business bottom line. Photo courtesy of Staples

Electric vehicles: A staple of the truck fleet?

The CTL study was conducted using data collected by the international office supplier Staples, as well as ISO New England, the nonprofit firm that runs New England’s electric power grid. Using that data, the researchers modeled the costs for a fleet of 250 delivery trucks, and examined alternate scenarios in which the whole fleet used one of three kinds of motors: purely electric engines, hybrid gas-electric engines and conventional diesel engines.

Based on the Staples data, the researchers modeled what would happen if diesel gasoline cost $4 per gallon. Trucks with internal-combustion engines averaged 10.14 miles per gallon, compared to 11.56 miles per gallon for hybrid trucks, while the electric-only trucks averaged 0.8 kilowatt-hours per mile. Staples currently has 53 all-electric trucks, manufactured by Missouri-based Smith Electric Vehicles, in use in several American cities.

The study added one new component to the projections often made by industry fleet managers: The researchers looked at what would happen if the fleets of trucks were part of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system in which their batteries could be plugged into the electricity grid for 12 hours overnight, as an additional resource for providing reliable electricity to consumers. In such a setup, truck owners would be paid by utility firms for the power services they provide. V2G systems are currently being tested by multiple utility companies.

After running the numbers for various scenarios in which trucks are parked at slightly different times overnight, the MIT team found that businesses could earn roughly $900 to $1,400 per truck per year in V2G revenues in current energy markets, representing a reduction of 7 to 11 percent in vehicle operating costs. Firms would also save money on fuel, and on maintenance, because electric trucks induce less wear and tear on brakes.

All told, the operational cost per mile — the basic metric all fleet managers use — would drop from 75 cents per mile to 68 cents per mile when V2G-enabled electric trucks are substituted for internal-combustion trucks. Moreover, as Goentzel notes, “almost all these costs scale down to the individual vehicle.” Firms do not need fleets as big as 250 trucks to realize savings.

Michael Payette, director of fleet equipment at Staples, suggests that the MIT analysis corresponds with his firm’s results so far — although “it is still early in our post-deployment analysis,” he notes. In reviewing the performance of electric trucks, Payette adds, there have been “no real surprises from a reliability perspective, but I was surprised by the drivers’ acceptance, to the point where they do not ever want to drive a diesel [truck] again.”

In cities, ‘almost any truck you see is a candidate’

As Goentzel acknowledges, one limitation of the concept is that it only applies to urban truck fleets; electric vehicles do not have the range to make many kinds of rural or interstate deliveries. On the other hand, he notes, opportunities abound to use midsize electric trucks in cities.

“If you’re in an urban environment, almost any truck you see is a candidate,” Goentzel says. “If there’s a commercial truck in a city, it’s likely to be part of a fleet, whether it’s a service vehicle for a cable company, an electric utility truck, a mail package-delivery truck or part of a government fleet.”

And if the V2G concept is brought to market, commercial fleets would likely be among the first vehicles to be used, partly for logistical reasons: They would provide power resources that could be connected to the grid at regular times in the same locations.

“The initial opportunities for V2G are likely to be for fleets, because they can be managed and controlled,” Goentzel says. Knowing that, say, Staples would have 250 trucks plugged into the grid at certain overnight hours would help utilities smooth out the flow of electricity to consumers. That delivery would be harder to manage, he notes, if it depended on individual consumers plugging their autos into the grid at more random times. “There is some work to be done before the average person is able to plug in their car and get paid by the grid,” Goentzel acknowledges.

Green Energy Oilfield Services, located in Fairfield, Texas, will use the trucks to service XTO Energy, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil and major producer in the Freestone play oilfield in Freestone County, Texas. Green Energy Oilfield Services will operate 50 trucks as vacuum trucks, used to remove and dispose of formation water, and 10 as winch trucks, used to transport frac tanks. The trucks are expected to enter operation in April. Clean Energy will provide the LNG fuel for the vehicles.

“We are very excited to be reviewing the first of our 60 truck Peterbilt LNG fleet,” said Roger Nevill, President and COO of Green Energy Oilfield Services, LLC. “We believe that Peterbilt is a leader in alternate fuel technology. These vehicles offer us the quality and reliability we need for rugged oilfield operation, while enabling us to honor our commitment to operate alternate fuel powered trucks in the field.”

“Because the trucks are LNG-powered, we will not bill a diesel surcharge, allowing us to pass on an estimated $5 million in savings annually to XTO Energy,” Nevill continued. Even further, we can return support for our customer’s business by powering our trucks with LNG fuel.”

The trucks were sold to Green Energy by Rush Truck Center — Austin and will be supported in the field by Rush Truck Center — Waco through aftermarket parts and mobile service operations with LNG-certified technicians.

“I have been thrilled with the responsiveness of the Rush Truck Centers operations in both Austin and Waco. Rush is a leader in service and sales of alternate fuel vehicles. Based on my experience to-date, I know we will get the support we need in the field to keep our trucks running, helping ensure our customer is operating efficiently as well,” added Nevill.

“We are committed to providing solutions both in truck sales and support after the sale for our natural gas customers,” said W. M. “Rusty” Rush, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rush Enterprises, Inc. We have made significant investments to help ensure our truck sales professionals are skilled in alternate fuel technology. We offer a range of aftermarket parts and our LNG-certified technicians and fleet of mobile service units help ensure our customers are well supported. We expect to have 100 natural gas-certified technicians around the country by late 2012 and have plans to designate and equip about 10 locations as natural gas support dealerships.”

The Peterbilt Model 388 tractors are equipped with a Westport HD 15-liter natural gas engine, Eaton 13-speed transmission, 40,000 lbs. Dana Spicer rear axles and a Peterbilt Airtrac suspension.

Rush Truck Financing helped secure the financing for the 60 truck deal. The LNG truck deal is one of the largest of its kind in Texas for Rush Truck Centers, although Rush Truck Centers has been involved in sales and service of alternate fuel vehicles for more than a decade in other parts of the country. Rush Truck Centers has provided over 200 Peterbilt LNG refuse trucks to the City of Los Angeles, California and Peterbilt LNG Day Cabs to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The pilot review was conducted at Peterbilt Motors Company’s Denton, Texas manufacturing facility and included executives from Green Energy Oilfield Services, Lone Star Investment Advisors, Peterbilt Motors Company, Rush Truck Centers, Westport Innovations., Clean Energy and XTO Energy.

Chattanooga, TN. (January 3, 2012) — Heil Environmental announces that Big Truck Rental of  Tampa, Florida has chosen Heil to be the new single provider for their nationwide fleet of refuse rental equipment.

Renting is a viable option for many haulers, especially for municipalities. Renting enables haulers to easily start a new collection contract or pick up an additional route without the typical upfront investment of purchasing, among other benefits.

If a fleet unit is in for service, a rental truck can help maintain
productivity and service levels. Rentals are also an ideal solution for managingemergency storm cleanup, seasonal demands, or other sudden situations where time is of the essence and expansion of service may be temporary.

According to Randy Brown, vice president of sales and marketing for Environmental Solutions Group, of which Heil is a part, the rental market segment for refuse equipment is underserved and growing.

“We are pleased and proud that Big Truck Rental has chosen Heil refuse collection vehicles for their rental offering,” says Brown. “We work closely with our customers to engineer products that meet their specific needs. We are confident that our front loaders, rear loaders, automated side loaders, and roll-off units will deliver the productivity and performance that rental customers demand.”

Big Truck Rental is the only nationally recognized refuse truck rental company in the solid waste industry. They offer various rental contract options, ranging from one week to twelve months or more. By maintaining a rental offering of the newest, most productive collection vehicles, Big Truck Rental has the volume to meet multiple customer needs and can deliver rental units directly to customers quickly, within
24 hours in most cases.

“We are very excited about transitioning our fleet to Heil products,” says Robert Mecchi, vice president of business development for Big Truck Rental. “The Heil brand is well-known and respected in the industry, and the company has built strong relationships within the public, private, and municipal market segments. Because of that we will be able to leverage Heil’s extensive national dealer network to meet
customer needs more quickly and efficiently than ever before.”

For more information about the Heil rental units available through Big Truck Rental, visit www.bigtruckrental.com.

Heil Environmental, established in 1901, is the first ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer of refuse collection bodies in the United
States. Heil is the industry leader in automated waste collection technology and offers the broadest product line, including front loaders, rear loaders, side loaders, multi-compartment vehicles, and equipment for roll-off containers. OEM and aftermarket
replacement parts are available through Parts Central.

Heil is part of Environmental Solutions Group.
For more information, visit www.heil.com.
Environmental Solutions Group encompasses industry-leading brands—Heil, Marathon, NEXGEN, and Bayne—to create a premier,
fully integrated equipment group serving the solid waste and recycling industry. Through extensive voice-of-customer outreach, inhouse engineering and production manufacturing capabilities, a wide-reaching service network, and proven industry expertise, ESG is focused on solving customer problems through environmentally responsible products and providing world-class support.

For more information, visit www.doveresg.com.

Big Truck Rental, established in 2002, is the only nationally serviced and maintained garbage truck rental fleet in the solid waste industry. Their sole focus is to provide customers with the newest, highest quality garbage truck rentals available and superior customer service.

Big Truck Rental uses a national network of stocking locations enabling them to deliver most rental trucks within 24 hours.

For more information, visit www.bigtruckrental.com.

The vehicles are being serviced in the following U.S. markets: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Portland, Oregon.

“These electric trucks are part of our global sustainability program,” stated Mike Payette, Director of Fleet Equipment for Staples. “We found Penske to be a progressive partner, and they were willing to learn about this technology with us.”

Staples has introduced these all-electric trucks into their fleet with a goal of improving fleet fuel economy. The all-electric trucks can reach 55 mph and are most effective in large cities that require constant stop-and-go driving. A single overnight charge is sufficient to power an all-electric truck through a typical day of deliveries.

“We’re very pleased to serve as the exclusive contract maintenance provider for Staples all-electric delivery trucks,” stated Bob Douglas, Penske Truck Leasing Vice President of Field Maintenance – Northeast Region. “We will continue to support Staples and their efforts for sustainability. Penske is an interested partner in this reliable alternative for the transportation industry.”

Penske Truck Leasing provides Staples with contract maintenance services nationally on its standard diesel trucks. Its subsidiary Penske Logistics also provides dedicated contract carriage services in the Atlanta area.

For a limited time, Budget Truck customers can save up to 20 percent on rentals. For more information, including full terms and conditions, visit www.budgettruck.com/backtocampus .

“Moving the kids to school is never easy,” said Joe Ferraro, senior vice president of local market for Avis Budget Group, parent company of Budget Truck Rental. “Advance planning, including reserving a rental truck, is key to making the move easier.”

Budget Truck Rental also offers these simple guidelines to help make the back-to-school move more efficient, less stressful and safer:

          --  Pack like a pro: Students today are taking more than clothes and school
              supplies to campus; they're packing computers, printers, gaming systems
              and other electronics. Budget Truck Rental encourages customers to pack
              electronics in their original boxes, if available. If not, a strong box
              should be used and the components should be generously wrapped with
              plastic cushioning wrap. Packing peanuts or any shredded materials can
              get into the device and cause damage. Use caution with larger
              televisions. Many newer TVs need to be transported standing up or they
              could be damaged. The screen should also be protected.

        Whether boxes are filled with hangers, power strips/surge protectors,
              extra-long sheets or shower necessities, they should always be full. If
              there is space at the top and the box is already heavy, some light
              weight filler like plastic cushioning wrap, packing peanuts or crumpled
              paper should be added. Otherwise, if there is empty space at the top,
              stacking on top will cause the box to crush and tilt. Boxes should be
              labeled on the sides, not the tops, which may be covered by other boxes.
              For these tips and more, check out the Moving Guide available at

www.budgettruck.com                  variety of products to make moving easier. These include furniture pads
              and dollies, boxes, tape, plastic cushioning wrap and rope. For more

www.budgettruck.com
          --  Plan your truck needs ahead of time: To ensure truck availability,
              reservations should be made as far in advance as possible. Truck
              availability is best mid-week (Sunday through Thursday) and mid-month.
              Hand trucks and moving pads can help make moving easier and protect
              possessions. Budget Truck Rental locations have these available for
              rent.

          --  Plan your travel route: Trucks are prohibited on some roads. Budget
              Truck Rental recommends planning the proper route ahead of time to avoid
              police citations for driving on roads where trucks are prohibited or
              getting stuck beneath an overpass. Budget Truck Rental is the first and
              only major consumer truck rental company to offer Global Positioning
              System (GPS) units that include routes designated for trucks. With
              guidance by Garmin(R), where2 offers Budget Truck Rental customers an
              array of navigation features, including truck routes and local points of
              interest such as ATMs, hotels, restaurants and gas stations, a simple
              user interface, high-quality maps, audible turn-by-turn directions
              spoken in multiple languages and Bluetooth hands-free calling
              capability.

          --  Drive safely: Customers should take time to adjust the rental truck's
              mirrors. Caution should be used when backing up the truck and renters
              should never back up with towing equipment. Budget Truck Rental
              recommends that customers use extra caution on sharp turns. Trucks are
              longer and wider and need more turning area than cars. Renters should
              always use the turn signal and allow greater distance (at least five
              vehicle lengths) between the truck and the vehicle ahead. Customers
              should watch for overhead clearances, allow for at least 14 feet of
              overhead clearance, and beware of low canopies, overpasses, bridges,
              drive-through lanes, tree branches, parking garages and signs
              prohibiting truck traffic.

Budget Truck Rental’s fleet features cargo vans, 10-foot, 16-foot and 24-foot trucks with ramps or lift gates and is one of the cleanest and best-maintained rental truck fleets on the road. Every vehicle undergoes a 10-point quality inspection to ensure proper fluid levels, tire pressure and other necessary elements for a reliable, safe rental. All Budget trucks feature automatic transmissions and have free 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.

SOURCE: Avis Budget Group, Inc.

“The Quest for Quality Award reinforces that achieving excellence in supply chain execution is more important than ever in the logistics industry,” said Ryder’s President of Global Supply Chain Solutions John Williford. “As supply chains have grown more complex, and inventory-to-sales ratios have continued to decline, consistent reliable performance has become more important than ever. We are proud to receive this recognition for helping our clients operate leaner and continuously improve their operations.”

In the Quest for Quality Awards survey, third party logistics providers were evaluated on key performance criteria such as carrier selection and negotiation, order fulfillment, transportation and distribution, inventory management, and logistics information systems. Final recipients will be featured in the August issue of Logistics Management.

“Considering the challenging environment in which carriers and 3PLs found themselves operating over the past 12 months, the editorial staff of Logistics Management agrees that walking away with a Quest for Quality Award in 2011 is an extraordinary achievement,” said Michael Levans, Group Editorial Director of Peerless Media’s Supply Chain Group. “Winning a Quest for Quality in these times is the ultimate vote of confidence.”

“Moving is tough for everyone but moving while on active military duty is even tougher,” said Penske’s Don Mikes, Vice President of Rental. “We sincerely appreciate the service and dedication of our troops. We hope these additional savings and tools help make their next moves easier and more affordable.”

Penske Truck Rental now offers a 20 percent savings discount on one-way truck rentals for active military personnel and free unlimited miles on one-way moves. Simply reserve your truck online to save 10 percent and present your military identification at pick-up to enjoy an additional 10 percent off the rental.*

Penske Truck Rental has also unveiled a new competitor price-match program for one-way truck rentals exclusively for active military members. Find a better rate from a competitor? No worries. Simply show proof of the better rate when booking a truck rental reservation with Penske or when you pick up your Penske truck and Penske Truck Rental will match their price. Military identification is required.*

Finally, since military moves require troops to weigh their rental moving trucks for expense reimbursement full and empty, Penske Truck Rental has also created a new free online certified public scale locator tool to help assist troops in finding weigh stations.

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug 3, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) — The start of a new school year can be challenging for students and parents alike. Tuition, making new friends and hitting the books are just a few of the tests you have to face. Getting there does not have to be one of them and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

For a limited time, Budget Truck customers can save up to 20 percent on rentals. For more information, including full terms and conditions, visit www.budgettruck.com/backtocampus .

“Moving the kids to school is never easy,” said Joe Ferraro, senior vice president of local market for Avis Budget Group, parent company of Budget Truck Rental. “Advance planning, including reserving a rental truck, is key to making the move easier.”

Budget Truck Rental also offers these simple guidelines to help make the back-to-school move more efficient, less stressful and safer:

          --  Pack like a pro: Students today are taking more than clothes and school
              supplies to campus; they're packing computers, printers, gaming systems
              and other electronics. Budget Truck Rental encourages customers to pack
              electronics in their original boxes, if available. If not, a strong box
              should be used and the components should be generously wrapped with
              plastic cushioning wrap. Packing peanuts or any shredded materials can
              get into the device and cause damage. Use caution with larger
              televisions. Many newer TVs need to be transported standing up or they
              could be damaged. The screen should also be protected.

        Whether boxes are filled with hangers, power strips/surge protectors,
              extra-long sheets or shower necessities, they should always be full. If
              there is space at the top and the box is already heavy, some light
              weight filler like plastic cushioning wrap, packing peanuts or crumpled
              paper should be added. Otherwise, if there is empty space at the top,
              stacking on top will cause the box to crush and tilt. Boxes should be
              labeled on the sides, not the tops, which may be covered by other boxes.
              For these tips and more, check out the Moving Guide available at

www.budgettruck.com                  variety of products to make moving easier. These include furniture pads
              and dollies, boxes, tape, plastic cushioning wrap and rope. For more

www.budgettruck.com
          --  Plan your truck needs ahead of time: To ensure truck availability,
              reservations should be made as far in advance as possible. Truck
              availability is best mid-week (Sunday through Thursday) and mid-month.
              Hand trucks and moving pads can help make moving easier and protect
              possessions. Budget Truck Rental locations have these available for
              rent.

          --  Plan your travel route: Trucks are prohibited on some roads. Budget
              Truck Rental recommends planning the proper route ahead of time to avoid
              police citations for driving on roads where trucks are prohibited or
              getting stuck beneath an overpass. Budget Truck Rental is the first and
              only major consumer truck rental company to offer Global Positioning
              System (GPS) units that include routes designated for trucks. With
              guidance by Garmin(R), where2 offers Budget Truck Rental customers an
              array of navigation features, including truck routes and local points of
              interest such as ATMs, hotels, restaurants and gas stations, a simple
              user interface, high-quality maps, audible turn-by-turn directions
              spoken in multiple languages and Bluetooth hands-free calling
              capability.

          --  Drive safely: Customers should take time to adjust the rental truck's
              mirrors. Caution should be used when backing up the truck and renters
              should never back up with towing equipment. Budget Truck Rental
              recommends that customers use extra caution on sharp turns. Trucks are
              longer and wider and need more turning area than cars. Renters should
              always use the turn signal and allow greater distance (at least five
              vehicle lengths) between the truck and the vehicle ahead. Customers
              should watch for overhead clearances, allow for at least 14 feet of
              overhead clearance, and beware of low canopies, overpasses, bridges,
              drive-through lanes, tree branches, parking garages and signs
              prohibiting truck traffic.

Budget Truck Rental’s fleet features cargo vans, 10-foot, 16-foot and 24-foot trucks with ramps or lift gates and is one of the cleanest and best-maintained rental truck fleets on the road. Every vehicle undergoes a 10-point quality inspection to ensure proper fluid levels, tire pressure and other necessary elements for a reliable, safe rental. All Budget trucks feature automatic transmissions and have free 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.

SOURCE: Avis Budget Group, Inc.

St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) June 30, 2011

The last week in June is the busiest moving week of the year, and according to United Mayflower Container Services (UMC), an emerging leader in portable moving containers, an increasing number of the 15 million American households that move each year are using portable containers like United Mayflower Containers or PODS for their moves.

“More people are turning to containers for their move, because it allows them to take as much time as they need to pack and load their things,” said Tom McCormick, president of UMC. “They also know the exact day when their things will be delivered, and using a container is safer and easier than driving an unfamiliar rental truck.”

For those that are moving with a portable moving container, UMC offers the following tips:
Less is more- Decide which items you want to keep, which to donate and which to move. This is a great time to get rid of any items that you don’t use anymore or that don’t have a place in your new home.

Leave Plenty of Time For Packing
Packing always takes a little longer than you expect. A good rule is to leave one or two whole days to pack each room of your home.

Choose a Quality Moving Container
Look at moving containers from several different companies before you choose one. Ask how much each container holds, if it is reinforced with steel and if it has tie down rings and smooth walls. Not all moving containers are created equally. Compare UMC and PODS ®, and you will notice a number of differences. The container you choose will be holding all of your worldly processions; you want to make the right choice.

Carefully Review Your Pricing Options
When you get quotes from different moving container companies, make sure that everything is included in the quote. Some companies will give you the entire cost of the move upfront, while others will tack on charges at the end.

Properly Load the Container
Once you are packed and ready to load, make sure you are loading your container in a way that will keep your goods secure during the move. The heaviest items go on the bottom, and everything should be packed tightly to prevent movement as the container is transported to your new home. UMC offers a step-by-step moving container packing tips video to help you load your container the right way.

Ask For Help When You Need It
If you have very delicate items that you would like professionally packed or heavy items that you’d prefer not to lift and load yourself, call on the experts. Some companies offer services to help you pack and load the items you’d rather not handle yourself.