Trucks at Work Blog

Simple, yet effective

Sean Kilcarr August 5th, 2008

“The real problem with the attacks on [Barack Obama‘s] tire-gauge plan is that efforts to improve conservation and efficiency happen to be the best approaches to dealing with the energy crisis — the cheapest, cleanest, quickest and easiest ways to ease our addiction to oil, reduce our pain at the pump and address global warming. It‘s a pretty simple concept: if our use of fossil fuels is increasing our reliance on Middle Eastern dictators while destroying the planet, maybe we ought to use less.” -Michael Grunwald, Time magazine

Whether you agree with the slant Time magazine brings to journalism or not, the recent article penned by Michael Grunwald about Senator Barack Obama‘s plan to beef up conservation efforts hits on many MANY tactics the trucking industry has championed for years to reduce petroleum consumption.

(Senator and Presidential Hopeful Barack Obama’s fuel conservation pointers make plenty of sense.)

Grunwald‘s column - entitled “The Tire Gauge Solution: No Joke” - is illuminating not so much for the concept that properly inflated tires and regular, preventive maintenance both improve car and light truck fuel economy (some 3% to 4%, respectively) but that so many people blow this kind of stuff off as a worthless waste of time. Yes, since Obama is promoting it, it‘s going to get hammered in the political arena, but let‘s face it - these very concepts are promoted heavily in trucking (by the Technology & Maintenance Council no less) to achieve substantial fuel savings - and thus cut operating costs.

“The tire gauge is really a symbol of a very serious piece of good news: we can use significantly less energy without significantly changing our lifestyle,” Grunwald says in his article. “The energy guru Amory Lovins has shown that investment in ‘nega-watts‘ — reduced electricity use through efficiency improvements — is much more cost-effective than investment in new megawatts, and the same is clearly true of ‘nega-barrels.‘”

He adds that, while we‘re at it, we can cut down on idling, which can improve fuel economy another 5%, and cut down on speeding and unnecessary acceleration, which can increase mileage as much as 20%. Of course, Grunwald then starts melding these tips with larger policy and political issues - some that many won‘t agree with.

“That‘s just the low hanging fruit,” he says. “There are other ways to reduce demand for oil — more public transportation, more carpooling, more telecommuting, more recycling, less exurban sprawl, fewer unnecessary car trips, buying less stuff and eating less meat.”

From there, he goes on to slam President Bush, Vice President Cheney, John McCain, the Republican Party as a whole … you get the idea. It‘s personal opinion and he‘s certainly welcome to it, but no one must agree with him (that includes me.)

The important thing, though, is that it‘s the simple yet effective stuff that is finally - FINALLY!!! - getting some attention. I mean, for years, I‘ve watched cars in all states of disrepair passing me on the highway, many times spewing white smoke - a clear sign that engine oil is burning in the crankcase.

After the recent gasoline and diesel price spike, though, people are finally beginning to wise up. Let‘s hope that trend continues despite any continued slide in prices at the pump.

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2 Comments to “Simple, yet effective”

1. COL. A.M.Khajawall Ret Says:
   

   August 5th, 2008 at 9:50 am

   Dear American Citizens and the Press

   As a concerned citizen, I consider it is my duty to bring following message to you all.

   “We the citizens of the United States of America have the ultimate responsibility to elect the ” Right Candidate” to lead our nation, out of our huge present and future internal and external challenges as well as opportunities. This is to prevent depression and isolation in-spite of being the only superpower in the world morally, democratically, economically, and militarily.

   We need to consider the “critical qualities and characteristics” of our presumptive presidential nominees at the time we vote.

   In my personal and professional opinion the critical considerations are as under:

   1. Calm, cool, and collected ” temper ” [ Presidential Temperament ].
   2. Sound and sustained “Judgment and Caliber”.
   3. “Thought-fullness and togetherness” of purpose and positions.
   4. Minimum “ex-poser and exploitation” around “Washington and Washington insiders”.
   5. Renewed ” Vigor and Vision ” for our Greatgrand Nation.
   6. Foreign policy based on ” American Values, Virtuous, Vastness”.

   Stay informed, stay involved, and stay engaged. Do not allow some partisan media, pundits, pollsters, and perpetual political opinion makers effect your vote in the wrong direction.

   Don’t be effected and duped by “Psychological Terrorism” that is directed at common American people without their full consent and awareness.

   Long live U.S.A and its diverse but democratic people.

   Col. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., ABFM., ABDA.
   Chief Consultant: World Wide Porfessional Consultants[WWPC]
   Colonel, USAR/MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Freedom team.
   Consultant Psychiatrist: CA State, Medical Board of California, and Los Angeles Mental Health Department
   Address: 7642 Eaglehelm Court Las Vegas NV 89123
   PS: Yes, simple but effective. Tell that to McCain and his surrogates.

2. Steven Grantham Says:
   

   August 6th, 2008 at 5:04 am

   …and now back to the subject matter.

   3%??, well maybe .03% depending on a lot of conditions. There is no doubt that conservation is going to play a big part in our path to energy independence. Time is our enemy. The thought of limited drilling, turning our noses up to nuke power, and stopping development of shale oil really makes no sense. While I grudgingly agree with the people who oppose these things that it will make no difference at the pumps tomorrow, I shudder to think of what is going to happen 5yrs from now if we do nothing.

   Probably 75% of American people cannot afford to buy one of these highly touted green cars, that limits the effectiveness of that idea. When the wind is not blowing, the fans “ain’t generatin’”, that limits that idea. When the sun’s not shining the solar panels are worthless. Back to my first line. How many folks can afford to hang 20-30k off their roof in todays economy.

   This, of course is a blog whose subject matter is deeply involved in trucking. While the travelling public has done fairly well on conserving of late, how do the trucks limit/conserve their mileage/useage? Limit idling, of course. More efficient engines? They are at the mercy of the mfg for that one, then you are talking bigger dollars for equip. The bigs may be able to afford them but who else?

   It all comes back to oil….oil is what made this country great and we have become a mobile society because of it. I am not stupid or ignorant, as Sen Obama says. I am concerned. If we follow the path of the “oil is evil” crowd we will be looking at $10.00 a gallon in five years.

   If we begin construction on four nuclear plants, four refineries, ten floaters, ten drill ships and begin drilling where they are sure to hit rich sweet crude today. How will things look in five years. How many people will be put to work. Lets continue to conserve and develope new sources of energy. Thousands of jobs and a path to energy independence. Sounds like a win/win to me.

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