Wegmans Converting to New Fuel-Efficient Trucks

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans Food Markets here said yesterday that it is just starting to receive the first of 101 fuel-efficient trucks that will make up 60% of its next-generation truck fleet. The new trucks will use a 15-liter ISX 500-horsepower diesel engine from Cummins, Jamestown, N.Y., that will reduce emissions by 90% compared with the engine used in the last generation of trucks. In addition, the 71-store chain plans to cut fuel consumption with the new fleet by 92,000 gallons annually. The new trucks’ drivelines feature 10 different gears to let the driver control the torque, or pulling power, of the truck across different driving conditions; they are also equipped with a diesel particulate filter to reduce emissions, and they run on an ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. “We had our drivers test four tractors from four different manufacturers,” said Tim Murphy, Wegmans’ senior transportation manager, in a statement. “Based on their feedback, we developed the specs for our tractor of the future.” In addition to the initial 110 trucks, and an additional 20 coming before the end of the year, Wegmans plans to replace its remaining older trucks with the new models by 2010.

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