Hey Truckers.

I am working for a small lighting company in Seattle, and we are trying to work out what the 'Carbon Footprint' of our light fixtures are. We know that the type of trucks are out of our control yet we are assessing the product life cycle and want to know the complete carbon footprint of our product.

The question that you guys / or ladie truckers is What is the average truck (pulling a 45ft trailer) With 5,000 Pounds of 'goods' inside it. I am looking for the 'average' truck, not necessarily the most modern fuel effienct truck.

If you could supply me the MPG, Carbon Emissions, or overall carbon footprint. It would be great.

Thank you in advance for your reply, I have been on the phone to Roadway and UPS all day. But no one knows!!!

I don't really understand your question. How about explaining why someone in the business of light fixtures would need to know about a truck's carbon emissions, or what that even has to do with light fixtures?

Or are you simply just curious?

__________________
Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

Not sure if I can give you exact numbers ,But.... If I was worried about CO emissions and I was only hauling 5000 pounds I would look into some kind of truck like an F450 Super Duty or the Dodge, Chevy or International equivalent. I would spec it out with some kind of spark ignition engine and then fuel it with CNG or propane. Then I would get a big fifth wheel trailer (hot shot) with a single axle and use that to pull around my low density loads. That is probably the way to get the smallest "carbon footprint"

If you really want to know the CO emissions of truck engines I would talk to Cat, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, International, and Mack. I think you are wasting your time talking to trucking companies.

I'll try to chip away at your problem. You are trying to figure out how mutch fuel a truck uses... the problem is not simple... you say you're shipping 5000lbs pounds, is it a windy day? with a lite load like that I could get 8-10 mpg if I had a tail wind and set my cruise controll at 60 mph and only went down hill. But then my truck weighs 35,000lbs empty and is allowed to weigh 80,000lbs when loaded so a 5000 sign is not a full load. If I have a normal "full" load (about 42,000 lbs) and drive in fair conditions I normaly get about 5.6 - 5.8mpg.

Worrying about a "Carbon footprint" is a true waste of time, just ship you're stuff and forget it.
Are you in business to make money? I would guess that the answer is YES! then do so... or, close the business, (which undoubtedly makes much more carbon emissions than just the shipping portion of it) and sit naked in the woods deeply concerned about the globe.

One of the things you could do is use a company that uses only the newer trucks that have the tougher emmisions standards, but your shipping costs might be more because the newer trucks/engines are more expensive and there is really no reliability data for them. Or your company can buy said trucks and hire a couple of drivers to deliver your loads, that way you will be helping the enviroment and the economy by keeping us valuable drivers working. (I might be available if the pay/benefits are good)

Exactly.... silly treehuggers....

HAHAHAHAHAHHAAA thats why the rest of the world laughs at us...

K

Here's a classic example of the need for carbon footprinting and other global warming problems. According to the scientists in this article, all these temp changes are the result of oceanic warming and currents. Is it true, who knows? But regardless, I wouldn't worry about making my product "carbon neutral" until the final assessment is in. For all you know, you could be making it worse.



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21636036-401,00.html

It's been awhile since I pulled a 45 foot trailer,but your MPG & Carbon Emissions will depend on the type of engine,truck,transmission,terrain thats why no one will answer your question. I will answer your MPG ,anywhere from 5.5 to 6.5 mpg if that helps hope so. You will just have to get whatever truck you buy checked out for emissions. NightShade a lady trucker

Put those fixtures on trains for long haul running. Trains are the best way to go coast-to-coast if you're worried about carbon emissions. Also, a train doesn't run on the highways, so that train you choose over the truck means one fewer vehicle on the highways.

I know I'll catch some flak from the drivers, but trains really are the wave of the future. Trucks idling overnight in truckstops while solo drivers get their beauty sleep is soon coming to an end. Mandatory teaming is coming, meaning the number of trucks on the roads will decline. This is because drivers will be quitting in droves, be they from the US or ol' Mexico. Drivers don't want to be forced to drive team and thus sleep in a moving bed. The freight will still have to be moved, though, and it's gonna move on the rails.

Another thing that is coming is Warren Buffet's winning his recent bet. Yeap, ol' Warren is betting the rails are gonna make a resurgence in the near future. I'm betting he's right for the above-mentioned reason. Go out and buy some stock in BNSF, UP, and Norfolk Southern. Warren is part of the elites, so he should know what the future holds for us.

Mandatory teaming and trains are the new wave, like it or not. Get used to it or get out. Warren knows what is going down, ladies and gents.

__________________
--Paved Dudley--

Yeah I drive a Swift truck
And that means one thing
It means she's slow
It's a typical company truck
It's just all show and no go

I'm gettin' passed by Yella
And even Overnite
I'm gettin' passed by ever' body in sight
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight

No, my hometown's nowhere in sight
And if you think I'm pissed off
You're right
46 days on the road
And I'm not gettin' home tonight


Love pissing off those trucking company insiders.