Clean Truck Fleet Workshop

Date: 16 January 2012 - 17 January 2012

Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

 

Description

 

This two-day workshop was organized by the Mekong Institute with support from the GMS Environment Operations Center and featured experts from the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia). Attended by 30 representatives of freight transport companies and government agencies in Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, the aim of the training was to test the use of the Green Freight Toolkit to help freight operators manage their fuel consumption and fuel costs. The toolkit has been developed by CAI-Asia for companies in these countries, and will be available for download from the EOC website soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Representatives from 13 transport companies tested the toolkit on a sample of their own fleet data and presented the results of the analysis to the group. Some interventions like the training vehicle drivers in eco-driving techniques and increasing the frequency and coverage of preventative maintenance was seen to have very low payback periods, whereas retrofitting vehicles with better tyres and aerodynamic equipment were seen to show longer payback periods, but equally significant cost and carbon savings.

 

Responsible for 40 – 60% of overall operating costs for transport companies in Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, fuel costs are one of the main factors defining high logistics costs in these countries. Reducing the amount of fuel used by the road freight sector helps reduce the cost of logistics and increases the competitiveness of the sector. It also reduces the environmental impact of freight activities. The EOC is working to develop low carbon freight pilot projects for transport companies working in the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC).