Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-22-2014

Abstract

In early 2014 Elizabeth Fretheim, Director, Business Strategy and Sustainability for Logistics with Walmart, was reviewing with other members of the transportation team data on the fuel efficiency of their private fleet, which included over 6,000 trucks and 61,000 trailers operated by over 7,000 drivers. The logistics and transportation groups were vigilant in their basic goals of (1) loading trucks efficiently, (2) driving fewer miles, and (3) investing in fuel efficient equipment. But this issue concerned the drivers’ impact on mpg. In particular, the data showed that idling had increased over the past calendar year (2013) compared to the year before. Although some months showed small decreases, increases predominated. Given the company’s sustainability goal of doubling fleet efficiency over 2005 baselines by 2015, this was an issue of some concern.

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