April 22 is Earth Day—a day when we all stop for a moment to consider our impact on the environment. Earth Day organizers encourage us to use reusable grocery bags and to turn off unnecessary lights to conserve energy. But for truckers, being green has benefits above and beyond the environmental impact. By adopting environment-friendly strategies, we can not only help the environment, but also save money. And, let’s be honest, that’s the green that we really care about.

Advanced aerodynamic features, proper maintenance, techniques and technologies to reduce idling time, and other fuel-saving techniques can save real money. Combined with tax credits for SmartWay certified equipment, truckers everywhere can see an improvement to the bottom line.

With wind resistance accounting for about a third of a truck’s fuel economy, aerodynamic improvements can increase fuel efficiency by up to 20%. The latest SmartWay certified vehicles utilize advanced aerodynamics to greatly improve fuel efficiency. The good news is that even without running out to buy a new rig, you can make aftermarket modifications to improve your mileage. A full roof fairing alone can increase fuel economy by 5 to 10%. A fully streamlined tractor can reduce fuel costs by more than $800 a year.

Reducing your speed also reduces the impact of wind resistance: each mile per hour increase in speed reduces fuel efficiency by 2%. And at speeds over 60 MPH, the fuel economy lost outweighs the time saved.

As with passenger cars, proper maintenance is key to maintaining fuel efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of heavy trucks. Ensuring that your engine is well cared for and that your tires are properly inflated will help you maintain your MPG, extend the life of your equipment and reduce carbon emissions, all while saving you money on fuel and long-term maintenance costs.

Fuel burned during long-duration idling can cost $6,000 or more per year for a single truck. Long-duration idling also results in more engine wear and increased maintenance costs. The EPA’s SmartWay site has a list of technologies to help reduce idling time while maintaining driver comfort, some of which are eligible for federal excise tax exemption.

Another area of fuel waste is time spent at weigh stations. PrePass can not only save the time and hassle of stopping at weigh stations but also conserve fuel, reducing emissions and saving you money.

Green trucking strategies not only help you do your part for the environment, but they also save you real money. What environmentally friendly money saving techniques do you use?