The introduction of the 2007 EPA-approved engines, coupled with the ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, has raised fuel economy concerns throughout the trucking industry. Minnesota-based Allstate Leasing is thinking green by specifying a tractor

to test and document real-world fuel performance.
"The industry was running scared," said Gary LeLoup, general manager at Allstate Leasing. "The engines and new ULSD fuel came out and nobody had solid data on performance that would help ease the apprehension. We decided to be proactive and create a tractor that would combine the top technology available today to give our customers, and the industry, some real information on fuel performance.
"We know cleaning up the environment is the right thing to do. We want to show the industry that there is a cost-effective way to do it. The technology is available today that will optimize the new engine and fuel performance. I'm anticipating that customers who test our Green Machine prototype will realize a .5 - 1 mpg improvement over the previous generation equipment."
Allstate Leasing chose a 2008 Peterbilt 387 tractor with a C15 Caterpillar engine and 13-speed Fuller transmission. It features Bridgestone tires and rear axle ratio of 3.25. And when it came to an APU, the company chose a Thermo King TriPac hybrid auxiliary idle reduction and temperature management system.
"Everyone has to run an APU. It's a must today," said LeLoup. "We've been using TriPac for 18-24 months now on several of our fleets, and it's become almost standard equipment. We know it reduces idle time, which improves fuel economy, and our customers who have used the TriPac, ask for it."
Allstate also installed top-of-the-line tools to help drivers and fleets manage and track fuel economy performance including satellite tracking (GPS) and instant, in dash mpg reporting. The company will be working with the component suppliers for developing the instruction manuals, and in some cases, actually training the drivers to ensure the equipment and technology are being operated correctly to experience the optimum results.
Allstate Leasing's Green Tractor just came off the assembly line and is ready for trials. The company has it scheduled out for several months already with a line of customers ready to gauge the results first-hand.
Established in 1968, AllState Leasing is a full-service leasing, renting and maintenance vendor of highway transportation equipment headquartered in Eagan, Minn. with branch locations throughout the upper Midwest. Allstate Leasing has a fleet of about 550 tractors, 200 trucks, 150 trailers and 150 refrigeration units - primarily Thermo King. It is a subsidiary of W.D. Larson Companies, Inc., which includes truck dealerships, transportation services and trailer rental.