Trucking and Airline Industry:

1
Trucking and Airline Industry Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Potential
Valerie Thomas Georgia Institute of Technology
Impacts of High and Volatile Energy Costs on
Energy Intensive Industries Coping Strategies
and Future Research Needs West Virginia
University, Morgantown, WV. April 9-10, 2008
2
U.S. freight traffic forecasts (domestic and
international) in tons 1998, 2010,2020
20
18
16
14
12
10
Tons (Billions)
8
6
4
2
0
1998
2010
2020
Truck
Rail
Water
Air
Other
Source FHWA, Office of Freight Management and
Operations, FAF Project
F. Southworth, Georgia Tech
3
Product-Related Transportation
Mode Shifts Present a Significant Opportunity
Tim Riordan, Interface
4
COST OF DIESEL

• March 2007 2.80/gal
• March 2008 4.00/gal
• Capacity Reductions

5

• Energy Efficiency Truck Transport
• Fuel Savings
• Idle Reduction Systems 6
• Aluminum wheel sets 4
• Trailer Aerodynamics 5
• Tire Inflation 0.6
• Improved Routing
• Mode Shifts
• Truck to Rail
• Truck to Barge
• Air to Truck
• Transport Reduction
• Weight reduction

6

• Energy Efficiency Air Transport
• Modernized air traffic management
• More efficient aircraft (Boing 787 Dreamliner,
  prop planes)
• Reduce taxi fuel use
• Continuous Descent
• Fuller flights
• Mode Shift
• Air to Truck
• Air to Ship
• Transport Reduction
• Weight reduction

7
Alternative Fuels as a Strategy

• Has been achieved in other countries
• Cellulosic diesel, kerosene - low carbon
• F-T diesel, kerosene from coal or natural gas