A program that has helped transportation companies to become more competitive is being supported with an additional $250,000, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton announced.
“The GrEEEn Trucking program is off to a very good start with last year’s $225,000 in funding leveraging about $13 million in upgrades by local transportation companies,” said Ashton. “We are also pleased the Manitoba Trucking Association and University of Manitoba Transport Institute are continuing to partner with us to help the province’s trucking industry become world leaders not only in reducing their operating costs, but in also reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.”
Under the GrEEEn Trucking program, which stands for economically and environmentally efficient, the province provides incentives to Manitoba trucking companies to upgrade their fleet in environmentally friendly ways, Ashton said, adding last year, 38 trucking companies were provided funding for technology upgrades which represents over 100 truck units and 38 trailers.
Companies are eligible for rebates of up to 25 per cent, to a maximum of $2,500 per tractor or trailer. Eligible upgrades include aerodynamics for tractor and trailer units such as side skirts and front fairings, low-rolling resistance tires, automatic tire-inflation devices and anti-idling technologies.
“We are pleased to continue to partner with the Manitoba government and appreciate the new support that will bring fuel-efficient options to more of the trucking industry,” said Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. “The GrEEEn Trucking program has been a success in supporting our industry’s objective to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and this benefits not only the trucking industry, but also the community at large.”
Ashton said the GrEEEn Trucking program:
• supports job growth and contributes to a healthy provincial economy,
• promotes technology and innovation as a way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the transportation industry, and
• helps the private sector implement greenhouse-gas emission reduction technologies.
“It is good to see GrEEEn Trucking participants improving Manitoba’s competitive advantage while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions with verified technologies,” said Jairo Viafara, research associate of the University of Manitoba Transport Institute. “In addition, some trucking firms are also implementing best management practices into their fleet operations that further reduce emissions and improve efficiencies.”
For more information on the GrEEEn Trucking program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/mit.
