Meijer, Grand Rapids, Mich., says its fleet utilized innovative technology to improve fuel efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint by nearly 60 percent since it first began implementing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 near-zero emissions standards three years ago.

Meijer operates 203 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Its fleet implemented federal clean emissions standards that feature near-zero emissions technology, and today the retailer’s fleet of 170 semi-trucks meets or exceeds those stringent requirements, the company says in a statement issued Oct. 28.

As a result of that commitment, Meijer says its fleet realized a:

  • 47 percent reduction in particulate matter
  • 55 percent reduction in – or 525 U.S. tons of – nitrogen oxide
  • 3 percent reduction in – or 9,300 U.S. tons of – carbon dioxide
  • 5 percent increase in fuel economy, saving 105,570 gallons of fuel each year. In 5 years, that equals a savings of 527,850 gallons of fuel – or 52,785 barrels of oil.

It takes 47 of the new 2010 compliant trucks to equal the same emissions as one of the older trucks they replaced, said David Hoover, director of outbound logistics.

“I’m very pleased to say that Meijer is able to cut that down and continue to be environmentally conscious,” Hoover said. “The impact is tremendous because the Meijer fleet makes deliveries to our stores 26 times each week.”

The Meijer fleet comprises 170 Freightliner Cascadia trucks that are equipped with new fuel efficient, reduced-emissions engines. They feature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology that treats nitrogen oxides emissions downstream in the exhaust so the engine can be tuned to run more efficiently and economically. SCR technology consists of an after-treatment catalyst system that allows engine exhaust to be treated with a non-hazardous fluid known as diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) that reduces harmful nitrogen oxides into simple nitrogen and water.

To view a video highlighting the Meijer fleet’s achievement in clean technology, click here.