Long-haul truckers stand to benefit significantly from the $21.3 million Commercial Transportation Energy Efficiency Rebate Program, commonly known as the Fleetsmart Rebate,announced by Minister of Natural Resources Herb Dhaliwal in Richmond, British Columbia, last week.

The program will provide rebates to the transportation industry to encourage the use of equipment that reduces engine idling and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.

The announcement was made in the Richmond manufacturing facility of Teleflex Canada, a leading manufacturer of auxiliary power generators and heatersfor the long-haul trucking and bus industries.

“This program will help our partners in the trucking industry to do their part and contribute to addressing climate change,” says Dhaliwal. “The rebates that the program offers will help truck drivers reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that result from doing their jobs, while improving their comfort and saving money.”

“All Canadians rely on the hard work that truck drivers put into their jobs. But we rarely stop to consider the long hours they spent in their trucks as they deliver food and products to the stores we visit each day.”

The program will provide rebates between $350 and $1,400 on the purchase of diesel-fired heaters and auxiliary power generators. Rebates at these levels can reduce the return on investment significantly. In many cases, cost savings are recouped within two years.

According to Dhaliwal, “By necessity, truck drivers spend many hours using the truck cab as a bedroom, as a kitchen and as an office. That means hours and hours of engine idling.”

The average truck idles about 1,800 hours a year producing 20.5 metric tons of emissions annually. Diesel-fired heaters and auxiliary power generators reduce idling time and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent to 90 percent.

An average truck or bus engine consumes approximately four liters – about 1 gallon – of diesel fuel an hour when idling at a speed of 900 rpm. Each liter produces 2.8 kilograms – about 6 pounds – of greenhouse gases. One hour of idling produces 11.2 kilograms – or a little less than 25 pounds – of greenhouse gases. This is equal to 20.5 metric tons – about 22.5 short tons – of greenhouse gases annually.

“Reducing the amount of time that truck drivers leave their engines idling is one of the options that we have to consider. This program will help truckers change the way they do business, to save money, save fuel and to do their part to address climate change.”

Dhaliwal also remarked that with no similar program in place in the United States, Canadian companies such as Teleflex Canada that are developing this technology can make significant inroads into a burgeoning market.

“This shows what Canadians can do,” Dhaliwal said. “That they can lead the way, and also create jobs and opportunities.”