DC Velocity - April 2019

16 DC VELOCITY APRIL 2019 www.dcvelocity.com newsworthy

Improving the nation’s highway infrastructure will help trucking compa-
nies conserve fuel and reduce emissions, according to a study released in
March by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).

Nationally, congestion is estimated to have increased the trucking industry’s fuel consumption by 6.87 billion gallons in 2016, adding $15.74 billion to its fuel bill, according to Arlington, Va.-based ATRI, which is the research arm of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Road improvements that ease congestion and raise average vehicle speeds can help alleviate the problem, the study authors said.

To illustrate the potential benefits of road improvements, ATRI researchers analyzed the fuel consumption and emissions impacts of congestion at one of the worst traffic bottlenecks in the country, the interchange of I-285 and I-85 in Atlanta, known locally as “Spaghetti Junction.” The study found that increasing average vehicle speeds to 55 mph at the interchange, where average speeds drop as low as 14 mph during evening commuting hours, could save 4. 5 million gallons of fuel annually—savings that benefit both local commuters and trucking companies. At the same time, emissions could be reduced by as much as 17 percent for fine particulate matter, 5. 5 percent for smog-forming NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions, and 8 percent for carbon dioxide emissions, the authors said.

For their analysis, the researchers used ATRI’s truck GPS database to determine vehicle speeds by time of day, daily trip counts collected by the Georgia Department of Transportation, and emissions factors derived from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s state-of-the-science emissions model, the organization said.

ATRI study: Easing traffic congestion
yields long-term gains

A. Duie Pyle, a provider of asset-and nonasset-based transportation and supply chain solutions in the Northeast, has expanded its Albany, N.Y., service center, increasing the number of dock doors to 84 from 40. … TSC Auto ID Technology, a manufacturer of auto-ID solutions for transportation, logistics, and other applications, has acquired Diversified Labeling Solutions Inc. of Itasca, Ill. … Global logistics solutions group WiseTech Global has acquired Containerchain, a container optimization solutions provider to the container shipping and landside container logistics communities in Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States. … Wirtz Manufacturing, a provider of equipment design and technology for the lead-acid battery market, has invested in Zaf Energy Systems Inc., a developer of next-generation battery technology. The investment will expand Zaf’s manufacturing capacity from hundreds of batteries per month to thousands of batteries per month. … Motion Industries Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operations replacement parts, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire automation and robotics company Axis New England of Danvers, Mass., and its Axis New York facility in Rochester, N.Y. … Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, has released its latest white paper, A fresh take on food distribution. The white paper explores the rising demands of food and beverage distribution, from managing stock-keeping unit proliferation and seasonal peaks to maintaining product freshness. The document can be downloaded at www.cim-corp.com. short takes

Supermarket chain The Kroger Co. and its automation partner Ocado plc plan to build two automated customer fulfillment centers (CFCs) on the East Coast, the companies said in February.

The high-tech warehouse facilities are part of Cincinnati-based Kroger’s plan to build 20 CFCs nationwide to accommodate a rise in online grocery shopping and omnichannel business. The two newest centers will be located in Central Florida and the Mid-Atlantic, and follow the company’s announcement last November that it will open its first such center in suburban Cincinnati.

Kroger’s CFCs incorporate mechanical handling equipment modules developed by Ocado, a British online grocery retailer and technology company. The automated warehouse facilities—known as “sheds”— feature digital and robotic capabilities, and operate on Ocado’s proprietary software for online grocery operations.