Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Partnership

PPRC, Interstate Distributor Co., and Freight Wing Inc., are working together with funding from an EPA grant to reduce diesel emissions for the over 2,000 trucks in Interstate's fleet by using Freight Wing's aerodynamic truck "skirts."

twilight truck freight wing IntD IntD2

 

DERA By the Numbers

As of December 31 , 2011 this DERA project has:

-outfitted 1,369 trucks with Aeroflex fairings

-saved 2,751,587 gallons of diesel fuel

-prevented 2,148 tons of GHG emissions from reaching the atmosphere

The Challenge

Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the United States. In 2009, diesel emissions from mobile sources accounted for approximately 300,000 tons of directly emitted particulate matter and 6.4 million tons of nitrogen dioxide, coming from approximately 20 million operating diesel engines. And according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the transportation sector directly accounted for about 28 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2006, making it the second largest source of GHG emissions, behind only electricity generation (34 percent). According to the Clean Air Task Force, these emissions will cause an estimated 21,000 premature adult deaths and 2.4 million loss work days.

The Project

To help meet the challenge of reducing pollutants from diesel engines, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). This campaign comprises of regulatory programs that offer support to innovative technologies that can help address the 20 million operating diesel engines. One such program--the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)-- began in 2005 and offers funding assistance for projects that significantly reduce diesel emissions.

This project will achieve significant reduction in diesel emissions by installing aerodynamic side skirts for over 2,000 truck trailers. Specifically, the grant will enable Tacoma’s Interstate Distributor Co. to implement one of the trucking industry's largest installations of aerodynamic trailer side skirts to date – using an innovative new product engineered by Freight Wing Inc. in Seattle. Interstate selected the Freight Wing "Aeroflex" product through a rigorous testing program that evaluated several emerging efficiency technologies verified by the EPA Smartway Transport initiative.

Video

Len Davis of Pangeality Productions produced this short clip while on assignment for PPRC at Interstate Distributor Co. headquarters in Tacoma, Washington. Lee Owens, VP of Fleet Operations, gives a tour of the installation bay where the sideskirts are being installed on trailers and talks about the savings to his company and the community as a result of our partnership.

Media

PPRC MEDIA RELEASE (August 2010):

General: $875,000 regional EPA grant targets truck emissions with Washington technology

Industry-specific: Interstate Distributor Co. Expects Fuel Cost Savings While Promoting a Cleaner Environment Following the Installation of Freight Wing Trailer Side Skirts

READ WHAT THE MEDIA IS SAYING HERE.

LISTEN TO THE AUGUST 19, 2010 MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL WITH THE PPRC DERA TEAM HERE

The Results

What will this project accomplish? The EPA and PPRC predict a seven percent reduction of diesel fuel consumption and emissions for over 2,000 trailers in the Interstate fleet, resulting in estimated annual savings of 1.1 million gallons of diesel. Over the product life-span, this will result a total savings of approximately 16 million gallons of fuel, $45 million, and prevent 182,633 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, this significant reduction will improve the air quality in Puget Sound communities by minimizing the toxins found in diesel emissions that are associated with cancer, pulmonary and cardiovascular health issues, and others.

The project is one of the largest implementations of the EPA’s SmartWay-verified aerodynamic technologies on heavy-duty Class 8 trucks and will provide additional jobs for local Puget Sound communities. This partnership will help to establish EPA Region 10 as a global leader in the development and use of the new technology.

 

What They're Saying...

"These aerodynamic upgrades reduce fuel consumption and save money. By helping truckers update their vehicles, PPRC provides much-needed assistance to the transportation industry, while reducing diesel pollution health risks in the communities they serve.”

- Dennis McLerran , Regional Administrator, Region 10, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

“We greatly appreciate this opportunity presented to us by the EPA, and to work with PPRC and Freight Wing. This project has a quality mix of people that will help see the project through with immense success.”

- Lee Owens , Senior Vice President of Maintenance and Facilities, Interstate Distributor Company

 

“Freight Wing is truly grateful to work with PPRC and Interstate, and get involved with emission reductions on a community level. This is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate and improve aerodynamic trailer technology, help the environment, and create local jobs.”

- Sean Graham , President, Freight Wing Inc.

 

Additional Information Resources

Calculating Emission Reductions