Regulators analyse trucks’ engine idling in bid to cut costs and pollution
Leading truck driving training school HGV Express (http://www.hgvexpress.co.uk/) can reveal that UK government regulators are currently analysing the cost of engine idling, particularly the idling of trucks and heavy goods vehicles. It’s not just the cost of fuel incurred by the truck operators, but also the cost to the environment caused by excessive carbon emissions.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA), the UK body which represents road transport operators, reported in its National Campaigning Update of September 21st 2011 that regulators “are taking a fresh look at engine idling”. It goes on to explain that engine idling costs truck operators approximately £12 an hour in diesel based on current fuel prices, which is no small cost. According to the RHA piece, “Hauliers increasingly use truck computers to monitor and reduce excessive idling in their fleet”.
The UK government is taking a fresh look at this issue, particularly given the environmental repercussions. Cutting engine idling is a way to reduce pollution, particularly in populated, residential areas, and could help to cut carbon emissions, something the government is working hard to achieve. Engine idling is common, and not just by HGV drivers. The reasons vary from leaving the engine on when the vehicle is stationary to still get the benefit of air conditioning, to keeping the engine running having pulled off to the side of the road to take a telephone call. The government points to the fact that engine idling in most cases is not warranted and is wasteful of fuel and carbon emissions. The RHA is working closely with the government to help tackle the issue of engine idling within the HGV and road transport industry.
HGV Express is the HVG training provider which provides HGV courses up and down the UK. Keep checking in to the HGV Express news section of http://www.hgvexpress.co.uk/ for the latest industry information, as well as to find out more about lorry driver training.
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