{"id":13008,"date":"2022-01-09T10:53:54","date_gmt":"2022-01-09T09:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=13008"},"modified":"2022-01-09T10:53:54","modified_gmt":"2022-01-09T09:53:54","slug":"idling-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2022\/01\/09\/idling-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reduce Drivers’ Idling Behavior"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ron Zima<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Ron Zima (far right) – aka IDLE FREE Guy\u2122 stands with utility fleet graduates and GoGreen\u2019s IDLE FREE Pace Car.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. government estimates 6 billion gallons of fuel are wasted annually by drivers who idle their light- and heavy-duty vehicles. At today\u2019s $3-$4\/gallon fuel costs, that\u2019s a whopping $18-$24 billion cost to consumers and businesses each year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, idling contaminates the air with some 30 million tons of CO2 and other harmful pollutants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Idling results in still more damage and fleet expense through engine wear and associated maintenance costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ron<\/span>
Ron Zima founded GoGreen Communications and IDLE FREE for Our Kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

GoGreen Communications<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How can fleets reduce idling? How can fleet managers change drivers\u2019 unconscious idling behavior?<\/span><\/p>\n

Ron Zima, former self-admitted idler and CEO of GoGreen Communications, believes his eLearning program can be a game-changer in modifying fleet drivers\u2019 unnecessary idling behavior.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Building a Movement<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cI used to be the North American Idler. I had no idea what harm idling added up to,\u201d says Zima. \u201cToday, however, we\u2019re building a movement led by corporate fleets that can save millions of dollars in fuel and emissions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2006, realizing the fuel waste and emissions dangers posed by idling vehicles in his kids\u2019 school parking lot, Zima began \u201cIDLE FREE for Our Kids\u201d idle reduction campaigns for schools and businesses as well as public awareness-building events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The non-profit activities led Zima to found GoGreen Communications, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to fund and expand the mission of reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality, and to address North American fleets\u2019 enormous costs resulting from non-operational idling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Idling \u2018By Choice\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Zima identifies non-operational driver idling behavior as mostly avoidable idle time performed for minimal personal or business benefit: \u201cby choice\u201d idling.\u00a0Examples of \u201cby choice\u201d idling include: waiting in a running car to pick someone up; completing paperwork or having lunch in a stationary vehicle with the engine running; idling while drivers make deliveries; even idling when in the coffee shop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zima points out, however, that unless the weather is \u201creally hot or really cold, the vehicle operator isn\u2019t idling on purpose. It\u2019s an unconscious belief and automatic behavior.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

GoGreen research reveals individual fleets across all sectors spend an average 40% of engine hours at idle \u201cby choice\u201d by the driver. The lion\u2019s share of this idling is avoidable while in traffic or performing a business function, such as running power take-off (PTO) to run a bucket on a utility truck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing Behavior<\/span><\/h2>\n

Changing driver behavior by exclusively using idle reduction technologies can help reduce idling. It\u2019s difficult to build or promote any type of fleet culture, however, without winning the hearts and minds of the drivers.<\/span><\/p>\n

While some fleet managers are highly skeptical of attempts to alter driver behavior, Zima believes those managers \u201cunderestimate how enthusiastic their drivers will become with an effective, up-to-date coaching program on how to idle 21st century engine technology, which requires virtually no idling at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The GoGreen \u201cIDLE FREE for our Kids\u201d curriculum features auto experts, physicians, educators, and school children providing \u201ccredible, updated information from sources drivers can trust and who will inspire them to change,\u201d Zima explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The program\u2019s five online modules take under three hours to complete and offer 42 engaging short videos, interactive quizzes, multimedia, and idling belief before-and-after surveys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The program is designed to be taken over a period of 4-6 weeks. Drivers absorb and apply the lessons, steadily building their awareness of North America\u2019s 6.6 billion gallons-per-year idling habits (U.S. and Canada), while adjusting their own real-world driving beliefs and behaviors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon completion of the program, participants receive \u201cIDLE FREE for Our Kids\u201d certification, which includes an individual fuel and CO2 savings forecast provided by the IDLE FREE calculator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Zima, the program shows \u00a0that the most effective idle reduction habits begin at home. Many drivers begin exhibiting their updated idling beliefs and behaviors at work, and most are thankful to management for providing the program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe educational and entertaining content is designed to hook drivers and engage them with messaging and images that speak directly to the three values they care most about: \u2018How does my idling affect my kids, my car, and my cash?\u2019 \u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When shown a direct cause and effect between their idling behaviors and these \u201chot button\u201d values, drivers \u201ctypically become emotionally engaged and highly receptive to receiving and acquiring up-to-date idle reduction beliefs and behaviors,\u201d says Zima.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Changing Outdated Beliefs\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The \u201cIDLE FREE for Our Kids\u201d curriculum tackles three 1960s-era myths that drive idling behaviors today:<\/span><\/p>\n