Driving more than 50 million miles each year, says Timothy James Lively, corporate fleet manager, a 0.2-MPG improvement for the Food Lion LLC fleet saves approximately 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year, and significantly reduces emissions in the environment. “For that reason,” he states, “we’re proudly working with our vendor partners like Great Dane to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.”
Founded in 1957, Food Lion is one of the largest supermarket chains in the U.S. The Salisbury, North Carolina-based company, a member of Brussels-based Delhaize Group, operates 1,300 stores in 11 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. A predominantly Great Dane fleet since the 1970s, the company fields Classic refrigerated trailers at seven distribution centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
The Food Lion fleet currently includes 927 Great Dane refrigerated trailers and more than 600 Great Dane dry vans. The reefers are equipped with a mix of Carrier Transicold and Thermo King refrigeration units. "Some of our trailers are as old as 1990 models," Lively says, "which speaks highly of the quality of trailer built by Great Dane."
"For 2008," Lively continues, "we’ve ordered 25 new Great Dane Classic reefers equipped with fuel saving technologies like the Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I., which monitors inflation to ensure that every tire is within 5 lbs of optimal pressure, reduces rolling resistance and increases MPG.
"The systems are also reducing road calls and increasing the life expectancy of our casings for retread purposes."
Food Lion is working with Great Dane to evaluate its reefers so it has the best model for its operation. "We are currently conducting tests to ensure that Food Lion is meeting its No. 1 priority, which is product integrity," according to Lively. "For example, we are testing interior linings with increased puncture resistance as well as thermal efficiency, and we are planning to put Great Dane’s Thermo Guard reefer lining in our new trailers."
"There is no substitute for doing all we can to prevent thermal loss," Lively continues. “We are also developing best practices for trailer maintenance that can help maintain thermal efficiency and peak operating performance."
Food Lion, Lively points out, has worked closely with Great Dane to make sure its trailers meet its needs today and after 14 to 18 years of service. "We look at our trailer assets with a total cost of ownership perspective," he says. "While we can find a less expensive trailer, we prefer to take a long term view and blend the best of quality and service with life expectancy."
"We also like to work with suppliers that provide more than just an effective product," Lively adds. "Great Dane, for example, has displayed trust – the foundation for any successful relationship – authenticity fostered by people with ideas who are committed to our mutual success, and good stewardship, which entails taking care of corporate as well as environmental resources."
"Food Lion and Great Dane have had a long standing relationship for many years," Lively concludes, "because we’ve been able to rely on the OEM to guide us as we strive to keep delivering the great service our customers expect. Great Dane has proven to be a partner we can depend on to help us with operational concerns, and to find ways to reduce our impact on the environment."
The Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I., an Automatic Tire Inflation System (ATIS) offered as an option on Great Dane Trailers, monitors and maintains air pressure at a constant and proper level, increasing fuel efficiency, enhancing safety, and adding life to
tires, which also helps maximize recap potential.
Tires represent the second largest operating costs for most fleets. Consider this: A 20 percent under-inflation of a trailer’s tires can cut their usable life by 25 percent. If they’re under-inflated by 30 percent, their life is cut by as much as 55 percent.
And that’s just the start. Fuel efficiency is lost because improperly inflated tires tend to scuff and drag. What’s more, loss of inflation can increase costly road service calls and create hazardous situations. Blowouts can also cause costly damage to the trailer undercarriage.
With the Meritor Tire Inflation System by P.S.I. under-inflation is
no longer a problem. Added up, its savings come from keeping trailers on the road to deliver loads on time, which translates into
lower costs.
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