Driver News 
Environmental sustainability
Long before it was required by law, Ruan was actively developing environmentally-friendly technologies such as longer-lasting, lower-emitting tractors.
Today, Ruan's environmental program provides guidelines and measures for reducing fuel consumption, reducing or eliminating materials for disposal, preventing pollution and effectively addressing unauthorized releases. We strive to continuously examine our processes to ensure that we minimize our impact on the environment while achieving efficiency, responsiveness and cost savings for our customers.
SmartWay Transport Partnership
Ruan is an official partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership. SmartWay is a collaboration between the EPA and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
E-SMART
Ruan has partnered with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and is the co-chair of the organization's Environmentally Sustainable Methods for Achieving Responsible Transportation (E-SMART) project. The E-SMART program is developing dairy-specific transportation guidelines to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 165,000 metric tons annually, potentially saving 16.5 million gallons of diesel fuel.
Reducing Highway Speeds
Roughly 60 percent of consumed fuel is used to overcome air resistance on the vehicle when driving at increased highway speeds. Ruan has implemented a company-wide policy of governing tractors at 62 miles per hour.
Low-viscosity Lubricants
Ruan has a long history of utilizing new technology and additive blends, and has used low viscosity, synthetic lubricants for 23 years.
Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Usage and Idle Reduction
As the result of extensive testing and a return on investment (ROI) analysis, Ruan has begun to add APUs to sleeper cabs. They have the ability to heat or cool the cab for driver comfort without needing to idle the engine. Ruan tractors automatically shut down after a two minute idle period.
Aerodynamics
The base tractor specification used by Ruan matches the EPA's recommended tractor for best fuel consumption. Trailer skirts aerodynamics offer additional MPG gains.
Engine Technology and Design
Ruan continually works with engine manufacturers to develop longer-lasting, lower-emitting engines with improved performance and lower fuel consumption.
Biodiesel
Among the alternative fuels Ruan is investigating, biodiesel shows promise for its ability to reduce engine wear and to produce less harmful emissions.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Research and Development
Ruan has several fleets using CNG and continues to investigate opportunities-particularly in urban settings-where this alternative fuel can be effective.
Coordination With National Spill Response Partners
Ruan can respond to accidents in a timely and safe manner while minimizing damage to human health and to the environment. As a result of our ongoing and intensive driver training efforts, the number and cost of accidents resulting in loss of product have been reduced more than 60 percent since 2005.
Driver Training
Because drivers have the largest impact on vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption, Ruan places tremendous emphasis on driver training, including Smith System safety training techniques.
Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Initiatives
Ruan facilities and corporate offices place a high priority on the reduction, reuse and recycling of all materials. Through policy changes and the use of various technologies, Ruan has experienced a 99 percent reduction in the use of paper to communicate among our corporate and field offices.
Environment and Community Mindedness
At Ruan, we are committed to the environment as well as the communities within our environment. Our dedication to these principles was recently demonstrated through our response to the hurricanes in the Gulf region, our response to the California wildfire and our assistance with the tornadoes and flooding that devastated the Midwest. In these instances, Ruan provided food, aid, clothing and refrigerated storage and cooling stations.