Truck eco-driving programs: Current status in Latin America and international best practices

There is growing interest, especially in Latin America, in implementing and expanding voluntary green freight programs that include eco-driving as a key component. The term eco-driving refers to a wide range of driving techniques and practices that improve the fuel economy of vehicles, and eco-driving programs achieve reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. This leads to lower fuel and maintenance costs and co-benefits that include improved road safety. This report reviews the status of eco-driving programs for the on-road freight industry in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru—locations where there are tangible opportunities for the implementation or expansion of eco-driving programs.

For each market, the authors outline the current eco-driving policies and programs, and present stakeholders’ perspectives and insights regarding the barriers to and opportunities for success. The paper also draws from the experience of eco-driving programs embedded in green freight initiatives in North America and around the world to present best practices. As illustrated in the figure below, the authors identify the key components of a “gold standard” for designing and implementing an eco-driving program. These key lessons can serve as a starting point for regulators, fleet owners, and training institutions that plan to introduce permanent eco-driving training programs.

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