Con-way to lower truck fleet speed

Con-way to lower truck fleet speed Con-way Inc.'s trucking subsidiary said Wednesday it has lowered the maximum governed speed in its fleet from 70 miles per hour to 65 mph, citing fuel costs and concerns over diesel emissions.
   The move by the Joplin, Mo.-based Con-way Truckload is part of a firm-wide sustainability program by parent Con-way Inc., the San Mateo, Calif.-based freight transportation and logistics company.
   Con-way expects the speed reduction to save 2.8 million gallons of diesel fuel annually and cut diesel emissions from each truck by nearly 2,300 pounds per year, the equivalent of removing 6,300 average automobiles from the nation's highways according to Con-way estimates.
   'Lowering our speed governors is a major step for us, and one of many that we’re taking toward conserving fuel and supporting Con-way’s enterprise-wide sustainability initiative,” said Con-way Truckload President Herb Schmidt.
   Con-way Truckload is also switching its fleet to fuel-efficient tires, using new lubricants to increase fuel efficiency, lowering curb weight on each truck by more than 600 pounds, and installing aerodynamic panels to cut drag.
   On Thursday, Schneider National, the nation's largest privately owned truckload carrier, took similar actions, voluntarily lowering the maximum speed of its fleet of 10,200 trucks to 60 miles per hour.