Paradise Island Foods Envirotruck Fleet

The first on Vancouver Island to purchase Class VIII Envirotrucks and Envirotrailers, making Paradise Island Foods Inc. a leader in Green Food Production and Distribution.

We operate a fleet of new 2008 Low Emission Kenworth T660 day cab tractors, pulling refrigerated trailers. Paradise Island Foods has also purchased new Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles for its Sales Staff, in addition to working on alternative energy projects in the plant and distribution centre.

In 2001, we installed onboard computers (OBC’s) into our fleet of tractors as a test project. As part of our OBC project, we also implemented a corporate speed limit of 90 kph, an idle limit of 3 minutes and progressive shifting limits to avoid over-revving. The end result of this technology upgrade was a 21% increase in fuel efficiency within 30 days. The results were amazing. We now have state of the art XATANET onboard computer systems (GPS tracking, Elec Logs, Idle Monitoring, Speed Monitoring, Black box & Accident recording) in all of our tractors. These provide up to the minute information on deliveries, locations, regulatory compliance and driver communications. Some folks may think that they cannot afford onboard truck computers… Our experience has proven that you can’t afford not to have them!

Paradise Island Foods Hybrid reefers by Carrier – huge fuel savers!

We have also put all of our drivers through the Environment Canada “Fleet Smart” driver training program. One of our drivers took the instructor course and has coached our other drivers through the program. You may wonder how we got buy-in from our drivers on these programs – we shared our savings with them! Half of the fuel savings is kept by the company and the other half is paid out to the drivers quarterly. Money in their back pocket certainly gave them incentive to try it out … and they stuck with it.

Our newest GREEN initiative involves upgrading our entire refrigerated trailer fleet to the new Carrier Vector Hybrid refrigeration units. The trailers can now be plugged into building power whenever loading, unloading or waiting to dispatch at our facility. Final test results showed a net fuel reduction of approx 60% using this new technology. During the 6 months test period, 6 hybrid trailers reduced Green House Gas emissions by 85 tons!! Our results have been verified and published by Transport Canada.

Many people wonder about what they can do to help the environment. We found a new technology that not only works, it makes a significant impact in the reduction of green house gases, reduces noise, burns less fuel and works more efficiently than the previously available reefer technology.

The Paradise Island Foods EnviroTruck & Trailer project demonstrated the benefits of being environmentally responsible through:

• Improving fuel economy on tractors by 21% and reefers by 60%
• Reducing emissions from tractors and reefer trailers
• Reducing noise of reefer trailers
• Reducing paperwork for drivers and landfills
• Reducing tire wear, tire costs and landfill usage
• Reducing brake wear, brake costs and vehicle downtime

All Paradise Island Food's Kenworth T660 Envirotrucks feature…

• Kenworth’s Multi-function highline display for the driver. This provides real-time information on truck performance. The touch of a button displays up-to-the-second readouts on cumulative trip fuel economy and optimum RPM for maximizing fuel economy. Live feedback lets the driver adjust his fuel economy instantly.
• Kenworth’s in dash GPS system. This provides accurate directions and route information to allow the drivers to reduce “out of route km’s”.

All tractors have XATANET onboard computer systems by the Xata Corp, which provide:

• Full electronic driver logs, paperless
• Speed monitoring
• Idle monitoring
• Fuel economy monitoring
• Progressive shifting monitoring
• GPS tracking and route reconciliation to reduce out of route km’s and track on-time performance
• Accident & Infraction monitoring
• Full reporting capability on all measured performance indicators

Paradise Island Food's EnviroTrailers Feature:

• Fuel Efficient Duals: Bandag SST recap tires (High wear & High scrub)
• Carrier Deltek “Hybrid” Reefers
• Uses electricity while at the dock
• Reduces diesel consumption (proven through Paradise Island Foods actual trials)
• Reduces Emissions
• Reduces Noise

Extra Mile publication featuring Paradise Island Cheese

Paradise Island Foods - First on Vancouver Island with EnviroTrucks and EnviroTrailers

Fleet Owner - Dec 2009 article

Green Fleets - Paradise Island Foods Article

Many people wonder about what they can do to help the environment. We found a new technology that not only works, it makes a significant impact in the reduction of green house gases, reduces noise, burns less fuel and works more efficiently than the previously available reefer technology.