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Dramatic changes in travel and economic
patterns have put new pressure on all transportation industries.
ATRI's environmental research initiatives include studies of air
quality, alternative fuels, diesel exhaust, regulations and
ergonomics. ATRI builds close working partnerships between the
public and private sectors - with the goal of developing and
implementing practical solutions to short and long term
environmental challenges.
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Research |
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EPA
Idle Reduction Technology Demonstration Project
ATRI
received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to study idling reduction technologies as
part of EPA's efforts to conserve fuel and reduce
emissions. Through a request-for-proposal process, ATRI
was able to partner with three trucking companies to
conduct a year-long evaluation of four different types
of idle reduction technologies. These technologies
include two types of auxiliary power units, a
battery-powered air conditioning system, and a thermal
storage air conditioning system. This demonstration
project, which will be completed next year, is expected
to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the costs and
benefits associated with the use of these technologies.
Industry Involvement: Diversified Transfer and Storage,
National Freight, Inc., and Schneider National are
working directly with ATRI to provide operational data
comparing baseline data for a sample of trucks without
idle reduction technologies to a sample deployed with
these technologies. Data capturing percentage of engine
idle, fuel consumption, capital and maintenance costs as
well as other parameters has been provided. |
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Evaluation of Truck Idling Regulations
ATRI
staff monitors the enactment of idling regulations
throughout the country. This information has been
assembled into an online compendium which is updated as
new regulations are adopted. Carriers, state trucking
associations and state and local governments provide
notification of new regulations or changes to existing
regulations. The compendium includes information such
as maximum idle times, exemptions, fines, agency contact
information and links to idling regulations. A
condensed version of the compendium is also available as
a one-page (front and back) cab card. ATRI has compiled
and continually updates a list of state and local idling
regulations, which can be found
here.
Industry Involvement: Carriers, state trucking
associations, and state and local governments provide
notification of new regulations or changes to existing
regulations. |
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Diesel Fuel Testing
In May
2006, ATRI began collecting diesel fuel samples from
various locations throughout the country. This effort
occurred prior to the switch to ultra-low sulfur
diesel. Each sample was analyzed at a
nationally-recognized lab to determine specific fuel
properties such as energy content, sulfur level,
aromatic content and cetane level, as well as other
properties. In May 2007, ATRI began collecting
additional fuel samples from the same locations. These
samples are being analyzed at the same lab under the
same conditions and will be compared to the previously
collected samples to identify what fuel property changes
have occurred as a result of the switch to ultra-low
sulfur diesel fuel.
Industry Involvement: Several trucking companies have
donated diesel fuel samples for this project.
Measuring Energy Impacts of the 2006 Diesel Fuel Change
- Report (PDF) |
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Baltimore
“SmartWay” Technologies Survey
The
Baltimore Metropolitan Council selected ATRI to conduct
a survey of diesel truck owners operating in the
Baltimore area to identify the fuel saving/emissions
reducing technologies which are of interest to these
owners. The survey also investigated which types of
financial tools could facilitate purchasing of these
technologies. From March through April 2007, a survey
questionnaire was circulated to trucking companies
operating in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Responses
to this questionnaire have been collected and analyzed
and will be assembled into a final report detailing the
types of technologies and financial tools which are of
greatest interest to diesel truck owners in the
Baltimore region. A final report is expected to be
released in August.
Industry Involvement: ATRI worked with the Maryland
Motor Truck Association, as well as state trucking
associations in the adjacent states, to conduct outreach
to trucking companies operating in the Baltimore area. |
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Completed Research |
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Current Research
