Wal-Mart Slashes Fuel use

Wal-Mart says it has improved the fuel efficiency of its huge truck fleet by more than 25 percent by adopting gasoline-saving measures employed by courier companies, improving loading techniques, and reducing packaging. The company said it is now using special tracking software, already employed by companies such as UPS, to optimize — and dictate — drivers’ routes. The company also has altered delivery schedules and taken other measures that last year led to its tractor-trailers driving 7 percent less — 90 fewer million miles — while shipping 150 million more cases of goods. In addition, Wal-Mart is now testing alternative fuels and has re-tooled 15 Phoenix-based trucks to run on cooking grease from Wal-Mart delicatessens. While generally lauding Wal-Mart’s efforts, environmentalists say the world’s largest retailer still has a long way to go to reduce packaging and waste in the thousands of products it sells.