Volvo touts Fuelwatch for better operational fuel economy
Volvo's Fuelwatch will allow customers to take the best specifications and use them most efficiently and most productively to drive success, Scott Kress, Volvo senior vice president — sales and marketing, explained. (The Trucker/Lyndon Finney)
The Trucker News Services
8/21/2008
DALLAS — Volvo Trucks North America on Thursday unveiled its Fuelwatch initiative to help fleet managers and truck operators achieve maximum fuel economy. Fuelwatch is designed to be a comprehensive approach to get the most out of each gallon of fuel, encompassing vehicle spec’ing, maintenance, performance monitoring and driver behavior. Volvo introduced Fuelwatch at the Great American Trucking Show here.
A major element of Fuelwatch will be driver training, the company said. Beginning in early 2009, Volvo will have driver trainers in each of its five sales regions to work directly with fleets and their drivers to teach how to increase fuel economy.
“Our customers are telling us ‘I want Volvo to give me the most fuel efficient truck possible. We need every bit of help we can get’ to survive the escalation in diesel prices,” Scott Kress, Volvo senior vice president — sales and marketing, told trucking industry news media. “But we realized we can give them far more than the truck. Fuelwatch is our way to bring Volvo’s deep knowledge of fuel economy to customers in a way that delivers these benefits throughout the entire life and operation of their trucks. Today we roll out the basic platform for this initiative. We plan to introduce additional aspects of Fuelwatch moving forward.”
The program will allow customers to take the best specifications and use them most efficiently and most productively to drive success, Kress explained.
“We know from our experience, however, that even the best best-spec’d and maintained truck can deliver poor fuel economy if the driver lacks the knowledge and training to use it efficiently,” Kress said. “The driver has the biggest impact – good or bad – on fuel economy.”
Volvo offers drivers many aids, according to then company. Volvo’s Performance Guide is a ride-along “coach” that tells the driver how to operate the engine for maximum fuel economy. Performance Guide is visible in the Driver Instrument Display and uses icons to guide the driver on correct RPM, acceleration and staying in the engine’s “sweet spot”. This can be combined with Volvo’s Performance Bonus to provide the driver with incentives for maximizing time in the sweet spot.
“We think the days of inexpensive fuel are over, and the trucking industry must adapt to this new reality,” said Kress. “Fuelwatch is not a switch that fleets can throw or a part they can bolt on a truck. This is a partnership between Volvo, our customers and our dealers involving a comprehensive approach to improving fuel economy tailored to the individual customer. We’re confident the Fuelwatch process will play an important role in their success.”
Kress stressed this is only the initial phase of Fuelwatch.
“Volvo’s development of the Fuelwatch initiative, along with our decision to use Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to meet the 2010 emissions regulations due to SCR’s superior fuel economy, demonstrates that our customers should look to Volvo for leadership when it comes to maximizing fuel economy,” Kress said. “Our driver training program will take them further on each gallon, using the best driving techniques. We also plan to introduce fuel management programs for customers, so they can use our extended services to more efficiently manage how they use their trucks. In the end, it’s about standing side-by-side with our customers in squeezing every possible mile out of every gallon of fuel.”