Idle Free Kentucky Fleet Program

Inspired by the extraordinary environmental impact that Kentucky fleets have made through idle reduction policies and technologies, the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition created the Idle Free Kentucky Fleet Program. Reducing idling decreases fuel use, vehicle emissions, fleet costs, and engine wear.

The Idle Free Kentucky Fleet Program is a voluntary education and recognition program designed to acknowledge the accomplishments of Kentucky fleets while providing education and resources for other fleets interested in idle reduction.

The program is structured to provide flexibility for diverse fleets across the Commonwealth to pursue best practices in idle reduction while achieving recognition for successes along the way. Participating fleet managers complete an online survey or contact Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition staff to describe fleet activities.

Criteria

Participating fleets are evaluated on three criteria areas:

  1. Policy – Established idle reduction policy
  2. Training – Effective training for drivers
  3. Technology – Use of technologies to support idle reduction and fleet sustainability

Fleet Ratings

Fleets are recognized for their achievements in idle reduction on a three-tier scale:

 

ONE STAR – Fleet has an established and enforced idle reduction policy.

 

 

TWO STARS – Idle reduction policy supported with driver training and awareness campaigns.

 

 

THREE STARS – Idle reduction technologies used to support idle reduction policy.

 

Please Click Here To See Participating Idle Free Kentucky Fleets!

 

Annual Awards

Participating fleets in the Idle Free Kentucky Fleet Program are eligible for awards through the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Annual Award Program.

Eligibility

Any centralized fleet operating in Kentucky with at least ten vehicles is eligible for participation in the Idle Free Kentucky Fleet Program. All vehicles are eligible for participation including passenger cars, light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty trucks, freight, forklifts, tractors, watercraft, street sweepers, and other off road vehicles.

Fleets from entities across all sectors are encouraged to participate including companies, manufacturers, municipalities, educational institutions, nonprofits, and others.

Benefits

All participating fleets receive recognition on the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition website, an annual rating through the Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Program and are eligible to earn a Green Fleets award.  There is no fee for participating in Idle Free Kentucky.

Program Entry

Fleets can enter the program through an online survey or by contacting Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition staff.

Idle Reduction

Idle reduction describes technologies and practices that reduce the amount of time drivers idle their engines unnecessarily. Reducing idling time has many benefits including reductions in fuel costs, engine wear, emissions, and noise.

Drivers idle for a variety of reasons, such as to keep vehicles warm, operate radios, or power equipment. Each year, U.S. passenger cars, light trucks, medium-duty trucks, and heavy-duty vehicles consume more than 6 billion gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline — without even moving.

Idling – Why We Should Care?

Idling is expensive – Idling uses up to a gallon of fuel per hour depending on vehicle size/model. According to Argonne National Laboratory, Idling a medium-duty truck wastes 0.4 to 0.6 gallons of fuel per hour. Idling a heavy-duty truck consumes about 0.8 gallon of fuel per hour.
Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) estimates that, in the U.S., rest-period truck idling consumes up to 1 billion gallons of fuel annually at a cost of around $3 billion.Idling uses more fuel than does restarting your car — Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more CO2than does stopping and restarting your engine. See Which is Greener? Idle, or Stop and Restart? from Argonne National Lab.Idling increases the amount of harmful emissions a vehicle produces, including greenhouse gases and ground-level ozone — Particulate matter and ozone irritate eyes, nose, throat, and lungs and can inflame and damage airways and aggravate lung diseases. (sources: EPA’s Particulate Matter (PM) Health and Health Effects of Ozone Pollution)

Fleet drivers are becoming increasingly aware of their fleet’s impact on the environment and there is a broad and growing interest across the Bluegrass to implement plans that will reduce the output of harmful emissions in Kentucky.

 

Program Initiatives

  •   Spreading Educational Awareness:

Demonstrate and explain real life situations where idle reduction does not cost a substantial amount to get started and its savings over time. Educate fleet managers and fleet drivers on the benefits of idle reduction and aware of reasons not to idle. Explain benefits of idle reduction and the opportunities to implement technologies and procedures to eliminate unnecessary idling.

  • Adopt Idle Reduction Policies at Your Workplace:

Downloadable fact sheets, posters, presentations, pledge forms and more are available at the US Dept. of Energy’s IdleBox Tookit.

  • Data to demonstrate Idle Reduction Benefits:

Provide industry publications addressing idle reduction. Use quantitative data and descriptions of fleet activities to show benefits. Provide and demonstrate research on idle reduction, provide a variety of technical resources to help fleets and individuals reduce idling and help fleets increase savings. Provide a Savings Calculator based on personal known information. Analyze technology needs and help make cost-effective technology available for implementation. The results of the analyses enable a systematic comparison of potential strategies, positive incentives, and regulations to install appropriate idle reduction technology.

  • Recognizing Participating Fleets:

Provide Fleet Ratings on new participates, current members, and recognize highest achievements. This program is an introduction into Green Fleets of the Bluegrass program and to provide recognition for successes along the way.

 

IdleBox: A Toolkit for Idle Reduction Education and Outreach

IdleBox is an electronic education and outreach toolkit on vehicle idle reduction. The low-hanging fruit of fuel economy, idle reduction is a simple way to use less fuel and m

inimize engine wear, reducing costs along with pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Use IdleBox to:

  • Learn more about the benefits of idle reduction for your organization, fleet, or community.
  • Engage and educate others—including drivers, fleet managers, policymakers, and sustainability managers—on the value of idle reduction.
  • Launch an idle reduction campaign for your organization, fleet, or community.
Resources:

Idle Free KY Infographic

Idle Free KY Benefits of Idle Reduction

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Organizational Pledge Sample

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Outreach Letter

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Policy Sample

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction for School

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Professional Drivers

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Resources for Transportation Fleets

Idle Free KY Idle Reduction Trucking Industry

 

 

Social Media Resources:

Idle Free KY Social Media Material

 

 

 

 

 

See these idle reduction strategies for different types of vehicles: