Fleets have been buffeted by the economic storm for the past three years. Historically, counties and cities have shown recovery from recessions as long as 18-24 months following the national economic recovery. This is due to the lag in tax revenue collection associated with an economy in recession.

Three key concerns that public sector fleets have faced the past few years have included zero-growth budgets, fuel prices and green fleet initiatives.

Making the right choice of truck equipment and accessories – particularly with regards to a vehicle-mounted air compressor – can assist fleets in addressing these issues. Fuel costs and alternative fuels continue to be a crucial issue for all fleets. Fuel volatility makes forecasting a fuel budget extremely difficult. As a result, fleets are budgeting tightly and looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption in the hope fuel prices will have less of an impact on their bottom line.

Despite budget constraints, ‘green initiatives’ continue to gain priority throughout the public works and utility fleet industry. Support for ‘green’ fleets is expected to continue despite increasing pressure to reduce costs. Reducing emissions and fuel consumption continue to lead the response to these initiatives. Fleet managers continue struggling to avoid the trap of making the wrong decision for what appears to be the right ‘green’ choice, and choosing the right air compressor system can be part of this challenge.

Regardless of location, fleets are expected to operate in extreme conditions. Finding an air compressor that is designed for these conditions can go a long way toward addressing budgetary and environmental concerns.

Not all air compressor systems have all the necessary features, or are reliable in those circumstances. The types of vehicle-mounted air compressors available that could manage these conditions include:

Gas/Diesel Drive

• Can be skid mounted, chassis mounted or trailer mounted
• Insulated enclosures
• Electric battery warmers
• Smaller engine reduces exhaust/fuel use

PTO Direct Drive and PTO Shaft

• Larger 100 CFM plus compressors
• Oversized cooler
• Powered by only one engine

PTO Hydraulic Underdeck

• Components are all mounted under the vehicle
• Hydraulic tank heater
• Powered by only one engine

Underhood

• Rotary screw system
• Fully contained under the hood
• Tied to the vehicle’s cooling system
• Decreased emissions
• Reduced fuel and insurance costs
• Reduced vehicle weight

Hydraulic Above Deck

• Mounted on truck deck in metal closure
• Auto cold-sensing
• Lower initial cost of bare compressor
• Throttle-Enable functions

When making the choice of a vehicle-mounted air compressor system, fleet managers need to take into account tight budgets and environmental impact – as well as the ability of the equipment to handle extreme weather conditions that are routine for a fleet. Longevity and reduced maintenance needs to contribute toward improved budgets, while proper equipment functioning reduces the environmental impact.

To learn more, visit www.vmacair.com.

  

Making Green Decisions:

Saving With Your Air Compressor System