Scania Training Sveaskog Truckers in Eco-Driving

18 September 2008

Scania is now running a training course in fuel-efficient driving for trucking companies that haul timber in parts of central Sweden for the Sveaskog forest product company. Results indicate that after training, the drivers can reduce their fuel consumption by 9%. For these truckers alone, this would represent 8,000 tonnes less carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Scania’s driver training course is designed to meet the requirements of a new European Union directive on mandatory periodic training of professional drivers.

Our timber transports by truck total about 70 million kilometers a year. If their fuel consumption can be lowered by 9 percent, this will save more than 3 liters of diesel fuel and 8,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

—Olof Johansson, Senior Vice President Environment and Social Responsibility at Sveaskog

Sveaskog’s investment in driver training is one element of the State-owned company’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its silviculture operations. Sveaskog has signed an agreement with Scania Sweden which covers training in safe, fuel-efficient driving for about one hundred drivers employed by trucking companies responsible for hauling timber for Sveaskog in the Bergslagen and Södermanland regions of central Sweden.

The EU directive applies to bus and coach drivers starting in September 2008 and to truck drivers starting one year later. According to the directive, professional drivers must undergo 35 hours of periodic training within each five-year period. This training includes both theoretical and practical sessions that cover safe driving, fuel-efficient driving and load securing measures.

Scania is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. Sveaskog is Sweden’s largest forest owner, with 15% of the country’s productive forest land, and is a leading supplier of sawlogs, pulpwood and biofuel.