OTA Road Knights Encourage
Energy Efficient Truck Driving with
‘SmartDriver’
(September 3, 2008) – The Ontario Trucking
Association Road Knights are encouraging all transport drivers to maximize every
litre of diesel fuel by practicing fuel efficient truck driving practices. The
ten member team has now completed Natural Resources Canada’s fuel
efficiency program called SmartDriver for Highway Trucking and will weave
the skills they have learned into their public speaking
presentations.
The OTA Road Knights are a group of truck drivers who
step out of the cab several times a month to speak to the community and media
about the trucking industry and road safety. To truck drivers they deliver a
message of the importance of professionalism, the vital contribution the
industry makes to the economy and how driving practices can impact fuel
efficiency and operating costs.
“SmartDriver for Highway Trucking
promotes driving for fuel efficiency as a cost-effective and responsible way to
reduce costs and the environmental impact of fleet operations,” says
Rebecka Torn, OTA Communications Director.
“The Road Knights are ideally placed to promote
fuel efficient driving in their role as trucking industry ambassadors,”
says Torn. “Fuel cost is now the number one expense in fleet operations
and drivers have an important role to play in reducing those costs through fuel
efficient driving practices. The Road Knights are committed to doing their part
for environmental protection and conservation.”
“FleetSmart is pleased the OTA Road Knights have
added the SmartDriver for Highway Trucking to their inventory of tools
promoting professional drivers and their contributions to emissions reduction on
the road” stated Lynda Harvey, Senior Manager at Natural Resources
Canada.
The Road Knights have completed the ‘Train the
Trainer’ program and are qualified to deliver Natural Resources
Canada’s one day ‘SmartDriver for Highway Trucking’
workshop.
ecoENERGY for Fleets
is a program offered by Natural Resources Canada introducing fleets to
energy-efficient practices that can reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
FleetSmart is a component of this program offering free practical advice on how
energy-efficient vehicles and business practices can reduce fleet operating
costs, improve productivity and increase your competitiveness
The SmartDriver for Highway Trucking training
program covers Factors that Affect Fuel Efficiency, Vehicle Care and
Inspections, Driving Practices and Recommendations and SmartDriving for Fuel
Efficiency.
For more about the SmartDriver program and to book
training at your fleet, please contact: Tanya Contant or Nancy McEvoy at
fleetsmart@nrcan.gc.ca
For information about the Road Knights program, please
contact OTA’s Rebecka Torn at (416) 249-7401 x 224.
© 1995 -
2008, Ontario Trucking Association
555 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario
M9W
1H8
Tel: (416) 249-7401 | Fax: (416) 245-6152
Email:
info@ontruck.org