Following fuel consumption tests conducted at its facilities in Georgia, U.S. Xpress has become a member of the Pit Group, an organization specializing in truck related technology implementation through testing and fleet advisory services.

U.S. Xpress signed up for the Pit Group’s membership program following the success of in-service fuel consumption tests that were carried out in Nov. 2016. The tests were carried out on U.S. Xpress trucks in a variety of different tractor and trailer combinations with equivalent loads.

Evaluations included 2016 and 2017 vehicles and testing covered a 52-mile test route on highways and local roads that represented the fleet’s day-to-day operations. Using this test, PIT group determined which tractor turned in the best fuel economy numbers for U.S. Xpress’s specific needs. Vehicles included in the U.S. Xpress tests included Peterbilt Model 579s, Kenworth T680s, Navistar LTs and Freightliner Cascadias.

"By collaborating with the Pit Group, we will be able to quickly obtain reliable results about fuel-saving technologies," said Gerry Mead, senior vice president of maintenance at U.S. Xpress. “We take fuel economy very seriously and we believe that Pit Group membership will help validate the decisions we make about our equipment.”

Pit Group consists of engineers, technicians, eco-driving trainers and fleet management specialists that promote efficient energy use in commercial transportation, municipal and transit industries in North America. Pit Group is a division of FPInnovations.

Other U.S.-based carriers that have joined the Pit Group include, Praxair, Experior Transport, Skyline Transportation, and Keller Logistics.

"The fact that such a major carrier as U.S. Xpress has joined our membership program and that it has done so immediately after the tests were carried out at its facilities emphasizes the valuable contribution that the PIT Group can make to all types of fleets in the North American transportation industry,” said Yves Provencher, PIT Group manager.