Schneider National plans to transform a substantial portion of its fleet by the end of 2012. The company has invested in 3,000 new 2012 and 2013 tractors, primarily manufactured by Freightliner.

Schneider is replacing one-third of its 10,000-plus trucks at a rate of 75 per week. The most significant safety upgrade is the OnGuard collision mitigation system, which assists drivers in recognizing and responding to potentially dangerous driving scenarios that could lead to a rear-end collision.

"Safety first and always is our number-one core value, which means we always look for new ways to prevent crashes that could endanger our drivers and the motoring public," says Don Osterberg, senior vice president of safety and security.

Increased reliability will be another benefit Schneider will reap from the influx of new trucks. Schneider says drivers can expect fewer performance and maintenance issues, translating into less wait time and more driving time.

On the sustainability front, the engine inside each new tractor meets the Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 emission requirements. In addition, the tractors will have aerodynamic features that reduce drag, including wheel covers. Most will have farings that have been redesigned to optimize fuel efficiency and improve mileage per gallon, as well as Predictive Cruise Control.

Annually, the new trucks will save almost 2 million gallons of fuel and over 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

For more information, go to visit www.schneider.com/.