Tuesday, 03 August 2021 09:55

Tanker drivers helping drive emissions down

Written by  Staff Reporters
The environment has been at the forefront of how the tanker team at Fonterra's Te Awamutu site has been operating, well before the Covid outbreak. The environment has been at the forefront of how the tanker team at Fonterra's Te Awamutu site has been operating, well before the Covid outbreak.

One of the (positive) side-effects of Covid-19 is the improved air and water quality.

Less travel and manufacturing activity has meant those in normally polluted cities have been able to breathe easier and the Venice canals have never been clearer.

But how do we make sure those gains are made permanent and aren't lost post-Covid?

The environment has been at the forefront of how the tanker team at Fonterra's Te Awamutu site has been operating, well before the outbreak. It's been reducing emissions, simply by adopting economical driving techniques.

Matt Roberts, depot manager at Te Awamutu, says the co-op's depots across New Zealand have been tasked with demonstrating how drivers can reduce fuel usage. He says Te Awamutu's drivers have risen to the challenge.

"We essentially showed our drivers the data of where we were, and where we needed to be to reach our sustainability targets.

"The presentation touched the hearts and minds of the drivers. When they realised the potential impact they could have on the environment and for our co-op, many of them felt a responsibility to improve."

Not only have the drivers from the Te Awamutu site collectively saved 16,615 litres of fuel and 46 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the past year, it's had a direct financial impact.

"When they see the fuel barrels, it really hits home the reality of the impact they have on the environment, just from changing their driving style - they were really chuffed."

Fonterra tanker driver Stephen Putt says he was inspired to change his driving technique in 2015, when Fonterra nominated him to compete in The Volvo Fuel Challenge.

"The only problem was they only told me about the event a month before! That was a steep learning curve, but it gave me the push I needed to change my driving style completely."

Stephen placed 5th in the New Zealand event, but he reckons if he got another chance, he'd win it. With his current performance, Stephen uses around 40 litres per 100km (the Te Awamutu driver average is 47.66 litres per 100km) but says there's a lot of concentration involved to reach this level of fuel efficiency.

"You've got to stay on your game, it's alway got to be on your mind. I mainly try to scan ahead and memorise the routes, to drive more efficiently."

Techniques include reduced engine braking, maintaining a steady speed, limiting the number of stop-starts and using the truck's momentum to coast around corners.

To remind Te Awamutu drivers of the impact they're having, there's a life-sized VPM (Visual Performance Metric) in the drivers' carpark in the form of fuel barrels.

Matt says, "when they see the fuel barrels, it really hits home the reality of the impact they have on the environment, just from changing their driving style - they were really chuffed."

More like this

Mixed legacy

OPINION: You're never as good as when you're dead, and with due respect to Theo Spierings' family, the Hound can't let the death of the former Fonterra CEO pass without mentioning the parlous state he left Fonterra in when he exited in 2018 - having pocketed well north of $30 million over seven years.

$500k for chair

OPINION: Fonterra's chair will be paid nearly $500,000 if shareholders approve a proposal by the directors' remuneration committee.

So very '90s!

OPINION: In a to the 1990s, our old mates at Greenpeace continued their crusade against affordable food by abseiling down the side of Fonterra’s Te Rapa factory and unfurling a big banner.

Featured

New ag degrees at Massey

Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.

The show is on!

It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.

National

'Quite a journey'

Former Synlait chief executive Grant Watson says the past two years have been quite the journey.

DairyNZ levy to increase?

Retiring chair Jim van der Poel has used his final AGM to announce the intention to increase the DairyNZ farmer…

Former Fonterra CEO dies

Former Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings passed away in the Netherlands over the weekend.

Machinery & Products

Milk Sustainability Centre launched

The recently announced Milk Sustainability Centre – a collaboration between global giant John Deere and milking and feed specialists De…

Data connection made easier

New Holland and Case IH are introducing new advancements in their precision technology stack to make farming easier and more…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Feed from farmers

OPINION: The country's dairy farmers will now also have a hand in providing free lunch for schools.

Brighter future

OPINION: The abrupt departure of Synlait chief executive Grant Watson could be a sign that Chinese company Bright Dairy, the…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter