Eco-friendly truck driving

Saving money and helping the environment are only a few reasons why you should make an effort to become an eco-friendly truck driver. Although it may seem difficult and you may have to break a few bad habits, becoming environmentally conscious is easier than you think.

Making a few small changes can make a big impact on the environment. Here are some ideas: 

How to become an eco-friendly truck driver

Drive smart 

Adopting smarter driving habits is one of the easiest ways you can become a more eco-friendly truck driver. When driving, your engine works harder if you are continuously stopping and going. Keep a constant speed as much as possible so your truck doesn’t burn as much fuel.

Idle time is another big culprit for harmful emissions. If you are at a stopping point or at a rest stop, simply turning off your truck can help tremendously. 

Plan your routes 

Planning your routes is one of the biggest ways to become more environmentally conscious. If you are scheduled for a long haul trip, take time during the week or the night before to plan your route and how you are going to get from one point to another.

If you are a trucker, you can utilize a GPS to ensure easy navigation during their drives. Having your route mapped out will help you get to your destination quicker and prevents aimlessly driving around, which will save you time and gas. 

If you know your route ahead of time you can also keep an eye on traffic. Avoiding traffic will help reduce idle time and ultimately it helps the environment because you are not burning extra, unneeded gas. 

Recycle 

As a trucker, you use many items that end up in the trash at the end of the day. From snacks and coffee cups to tires and plastics, almost everything you use can be recycled for another use. Recycling is simple as a trucker, yet it can make a positive impact on the environment.

If you pack meals, consider bringing reusable containers that can be cleaned out instead of thrown away after each meal. Using reusable coffee cups, cloth bags and recycling tires are just a few other ways that you can show you are making an effort to help the environment. 

Take care of your truck 

Maintaining your truck can help it become more environmentally stable. You can do this by regularly changing out the air filters, replacing spark plugs, making sure your tires are aired to the right pressure and regularly changing your oil.

Although these things may seem like normal maintenance routine checks, they can help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide emissions being released into the environment. 

At TransWood, we work tirelessly to keep our trucks in good shape. We are constantly updating and working to maintain our trucks so you rarely miss a load. TransWood is also committed to protecting the health, safety and security of our employees and independent contractors. For more information, visit our website or give us a call today.