These days, there are more opportunities than ever to implement "green" into your fleet. And while these green technologies have their advantages and disadvantages, the most important thing, especially in these economic times, is to find the green solutions that provide a return on investment, said Pat Quinn, president and co-chairman of U.S. Xpress Enterprises.

During a recent webinar hosted by the Trucking Industry Mobility & Technology Coalition, trucking industry executives discussed "Green Trucks

: The View From the Road." Quinn encouraged listeners to test and evaluate green technologies to find the best fit for a particular fleet or business model.

Fuel Consumption

According to Glen Kedzie, vice president of environmental affairs and assistant general counsel of the American Trucking Associations, the trucking industry has achieved nearly zero emissions of nitrogen oxide as of Jan. 1, 2010, and zero emissions of particulate matter as of Jan. 1, 2007.

"We have made incredible progress, but there's still pressure to do more," Quinn said.

Now that we have tackled the emissions issue, the next step in going green is to reduce the amount of fuel we're consuming, he added. This seems to be playing out among fleets that have been exploring tire design and aerodynamics, the next big green technologies, Quinn said.

According to Quinn, switching to wide-base tires can cut fuel consumption by as much 10 percent, or 2 percent for each axle. U.S. Xpress is currently testing side fairings on its trailers. The technology has already resulted in a 7 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. In addition, such fluid dynamics technology reduces wind resistance and closes the gap between the tractor and the trailer, Quinn said.

Finding the Right Technology

But not all green technology works for every type of fleet. Duke Drinkard, vice president of maintenance (retired) at Southeastern Freight Lines, told listeners that the technology varies greatly depending on the fleet's duty cycle.

For long haul carriers that run trucks a lot, expect great things from aerodynamic solutions, Drinkard said. If you run trucks above 30 mph on average, you'll see the benefits of it, and if you're running them over 55 mph, you'll see an even bigger payback, he said. The technology doesn't make sense for shorter hauls.

"Aerodynamics doesn't work very well on a garbage hauler," he said.

U.S. Xpress also tried auxiliary power units, or APUs. The truckload carrier found that the solution provided a payback time of about 40 months, which was not acceptable for them, Quinn said. However, the company did find an acceptable payback with onboard communication technology. Through the mapping capabilities and improved directions, the company was able to reduce its out-of-route miles, saving fuel.

"You have to invest wisely, or you'll miss the next green development," Quinn said.