Trucking is a $37-billion industry in Canada. The U.S. trucking industry is about ten times the size of Canada’s trucking industry.  In 1998, almost half of the industry's registered trucks in Canada were heavy-duty vehicles weighing more than 15 000 kg (33 000 lbs.) in gross vehicle weight (GVW). They were used primarily to transport freight between urban centres across Canada and to transport goods between Canada and the U.S. and Mexico.

The same study showed that forty-one percent of the energy consumed to transport freight in Canada was used by heavy-duty trucks, and the commercial road transportation sector produces 19 percent of the total emissions in Canada. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the principal greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to the global problem of climate change. A fuel-efficient truck fleet lessens negative impacts on the environment, improves a company’s image and, most importantly, boosts a its bottom line. A November 2012 Carbon War Room report found that purchasing new or retrofitting existing trucks with fuel-saving technologies can cut fuel costs by 30 percent and result in savings of up to $167,000 per vehicle over 10 years.  The long-term cost benefits of adopting fuel-efficient fleets are clear. But adding up the cost of a new tractor-trailer, top-of-the-line battery, aerodynamic fairings, advanced cruise control and a fuel-efficient transmission brings the price tag to nearly $130,000 per truck — a hefty upfront cost and a tough sell for buyers.

This report also found that employing a full suite of fuel-saving technologies generates annual fuel savings of $26,400 per tractor-trailer. When you consider that the upgrades pay for themselves in fuel savings in just 18 months, this is a powerful incentive to obtain and utilize these technologies.

The Canadian and U.S. governments recognize the importance of energy efficiency and the need for resources and subsidies to make it happen.

Types of Incentives