Green' is a word you'll hear a lot when it comes to transportation, from bicycles to buses - but you might be surprised it equally applies to truck drivers traversing the country on delivery work. While many people focus on the progress made for smaller vehicles, such as 'green' cars, it's easy to overlook the fact that larger vehicles can also be adapted to become more environmentally friendly, and that delivery drivers are just as concerned about the impact their work has on the environment. Read on to discover a little more about a few of the 'greenest' trucks on the roads today.

Garbage

While not technically a truck used for delivery work, the town of Huddersfield in Yorkshire is home to a garbage truck that is now powered solely by garbage. While this may seem like an exaggeration, it's more-or-less true: Huddersfield uses an 'energy-from-waste' incinerator that powers the electric truck (producing about 10 megawatts, so the truck has an effective range of about 100 miles and a 50mph top speed). While electricity is a good source of power for short-range local work such as garbage collection, it may not prove such a viable alternative yet for long range delivery work; though it's definitely one of the 'greener' trucks out there.

Truck Fleet

One American employer is known for its huge fleet of trucks engaged in delivery work. Wal-Mart have begun testing a new range of trucks in order to reduce the impact of their work on the environment. Fifteen trucks are being converted to run on reclaimed grease fuel, while five other trucks will run on liquid natural gas. In addition, Wal-Mart is also investigating the 'Arvin Meritor' hybrid, a dual-mode diesel/electric hybrid believed to be the first of its type. Though it may not seem like much compared to the vast numbers of trucks, Wal-Mart is also reducing its CO2 footprint by using better delivery routes, and loading their trailers more efficiently. Given the vastness of their operation, any measures taken to reduce CO2 emissions by even a small percentage will result in a much 'greener' company when applied to the whole organisation.

First in Line

Even small companies can take steps to improve their environmental awareness and begin setting trends for 'greener' delivery work. Australia's TNT Express has become the first such company in the country, replacing ten conventional trucks with diesel-hybrids, saving around 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions in a year.

On the Buses

For delivery work of a different kind, one more instance of 'green' transportation does deserve an honourable mention - the plans to replace three hundred single and double-decker buses in London with hybrids by 2011. Not only do they have lower CO2 emission rates, they're also significantly quieter, which should make living alongside a bus route, or even journeying on a bus, significantly more enjoyable!

For many drivers who have to spend long hours in their vehicle doing delivery work, it pays to become familiar with the vehicle's capabilities. Knowing that they are driving a 'green' vehicle can provide considerable peace of mind as they go about their deliveries.