Greener Drivers: Driver training services can boost fuel efficiency for corporate fleets

This is the third in a weekly series highlighting 15 green business innovations from Environmental Defense Fund's Innovations Review 2009

The corporate world has directed much attention and ambition of late to greening of fleets. While some companies have taken steps in the right direction, such as by purchasing hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles, they have often overlooked their least expensive and most immediate leverage over fleet fuel efficiency (and company carbon footprint): Employee education.

In other words, influencing how your drivers, well, drive.

Small, easy changes in driving behavior such as slowing down, avoiding idling and "jack rabbit starts" and planning routes in advance can reduce fuel consumption.

But how can an already over-worked fleet manager train a 1,000 or more personnel to drive differently?

Fulfilling that need, several companies are now offering fuel-smart driver training programs:

GreenDriver is a full-service e-learning and certification program focused solely on driver behavior. A visually appealing, interactive online course - based on industry best practices and fact-based studies - keeps fleet drivers engaged as they learn ways to reduce their CO2 emissions and manage their fuel costs.

Networkfleet, which provides telematics products, is also working with fleets to monitor driving habitats and encourage drivers to take steps to increase MPG.

Advanced Driver Training Services (ADTS), which helps fleets reduce crash rates through training and services, is now offering an online "Driving Green" course.

PHH Arval, a partner of EDF, added a driver-training component to its award-winning PHH GreenFleet program this year.

Wheels, a comprehensive fleet management services company, offers fuel-smart driving tips to fleet drivers through a variety of existing communications channels.

Novo Nordisk reduces costs, emissions

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is an early adopter. After undergoing a driver-training program, the company's 2,000+ sales people increased their average fuel economy by a half gallon last year. This change saved more than 80,000 gallons of fuel in just the first six months. That's 1.6 fewer metric tons of CO2 emitted, and at today's prices, savings of roughly $160,000.

Taken to scale, the impact of this type of program could be massive. Consider the status quo: there are more than three million vehicles in U.S. corporate fleets; in 2008, these vehicles emitted an average of 15 tons of CO2. Now, given that at least a 2% fuel avoidance appears achievable, driver training could keep one million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere and about $60 per vehicle on managers' balance sheets.

Also of social value (and shareholder interest), there is likely a correlation between fuel-smart driving and safe driving. The green driving tips reinforce many key safe driving mantra: don't speed, anticipate stops, speed up gradually, etc. Thus, these programs can reinforce key safety messages that help fleets avoid damage costs and injuries.

This seems like Business Administration 101. But of the 10 million vehicles in the corporate fleet, why does only a small fraction focus on green driver education?