Moving forward

DURHAM -- After nearly 75 years in the business, a local trucking company is taking up the call for greater environmental responsibility.

Mackie Moving Systems, an Oshawa-based company, is incorporating eight new smog-free trucks into its growing fleet. The trucks, which hit the market earlier this year, meet tough new government standards that will virtually eliminate smog-causing emissions from trucks between now and 2010.

“We feel that as good corporate citizens, this is the right thing to do,” says Norm Mackie, a director of the family-run company. “Everyone is concerned about global warming and we want to do our part in reducing the impact on our environment.”

The new 2007 model trucks are equipped with a device known as a particulate trap, which filters out microscopic particulate matter known to be harmful to human health.

“Basically, the air coming out of the smoke stack, or whatever you want to call it, is as clean as the air going in, sometimes even better,” Mr. Mackie said.

The engines also use ultra low sulphur diesel fuel and have been designed to meet new government standards that mandate all new engines from 2007 onward must reduce smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

But being environmentally-friendly doesn’t always come cheap. The trucks cost about $8,000 more than last year’s model without the environmental package and are a big investment for any company.

“It has significant environmental benefits, but it also carries a cost,” says Doug Switzer, the manager of government relations for the Ontario Trucking Association. “Mackie’s is one of the first companies in Ontario to get them.”

Mr. Switzer was on hand in Oshawa on Wednesday to present the company, which employs 400 people in the region, with a plaque of environmental stewardship and highlight the company’s dedication to the greening of the industry. He hopes that other trucking companies will follow in Mackie’s footsteps and trade in the older trucks for those of the new generation.

The trucks are part of the enviroTruck movement -- a strategy by the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), of which the Ontario Trucking Association is a part, to address both smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

“The industry is taking this seriously,” Mr. Switzer said. “We want to be good corporate citizens, but also, because the environmental impact comes from burning fossil fuels, if we can eliminate that it is better for us, too.”

Although fuel costs have now stabilized, the industry has been through a rough few years during which rising energy prices made it nearly impossible to maintain a healthy bottom line. So by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, the sector can also increase profits, Mr. Switzer said.

But new trucks are just part of the CTA’s strategy for a greener trucking industry. Mr. Switzer says he has been advocating for greater government assistance to help implement speed limits for trucks -- which would maximize fuel efficiency -- and add a component to the truck that gives it greater efficiency by increasing aerodynamics. Both issues, he says, need government approval.

As for the new trucks, Mr. Switzer would like to see a government incentive to help companies pay for the added cost in order to encourage more companies to take the leap.

Just last week, the CTA submitted a pre-budget request to the federal government -- for the 2008 budget -- asking for a program of financial incentives for the new smog-free trucks and add-on fuel efficiency devices and equipment.

David Bradley, the CEO of the CTA, says he is happy with the response so far.

“We have already pitched the idea to the Minister of Finance and to the other key departments in Ottawa and there appears to be genuine interest,” he said in a release. “But, there is a lot of work to do between now and the next budget for this to become a reality.”

With an industry that transports 90 per cent of Canada’s goods and has thousands of trucks on the road, Mr. Switzer says the government needs to listen.

“If we can make every truck even a little more efficient, that’s going to be a lot of savings for the environment,” he said.