Green legislation is a wonderful thing. It encourages businesses to behave more responsibly so that the earth can remain safe and clean for the generations that follow ours. However, some of the changes that are required as a result of this legislation can be tough on businesses. For example, businesses that operate large fleets of vehicles have been greatly impacted by some of the green legislation that has been passed recently. Businesses should certainly follow the law but they need to understand how to manage its effects on their daily operations.

One piece of green legislation that has affected businesses with large vehicle fleets is the Presidential Memorandum that President Obama signed in May 2010. It directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation to create new fuel efficiency standards for large trucks. It also mandated that the trucks decrease their greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to meet these standards, businesses with fleets of large vehicles have needed to make some changes to their fleets. The first important thing was to have all vehicles serviced with up-to-date maintenance to make sure the vehicles are operating as efficiently as possible. Those vehicles that still couldn’t meet the new standards needed to look at putting their old trucks out to pasture in order to comply with the new legislation.

Another piece of green legislation that impacts businesses with vehicle fleets is The American Public Power Act. Sponsored by Senators Kerry and Lieberman, this act looks at the role that the transportation industry plays in climate change problems. It requires that all of America’s energy sources be as clean as possible, setting up programs to help make this happen including ideas for renewable energy resources to be used with increasing frequency.

This legislation strongly encourages businesses to take responsibility for the effects their fleets have on the nation’s health and wellbeing. It may offer incentives for businesses that want to reduce their fleet’s fuel waste. Businesses that are interested in switching their vehicles over to renewable resources energy (such as getting electric vehicles when possible) may benefit from this type of green legislation.

These two key pieces of green legislation are great examples of the two different approaches that the government is using to encourage less waste in the transportation industry. On one hand, they are punishing those businesses that do not comply with the requirements. On the other hand, they are offering incentives and rewards to businesses that want to be on the cutting edge of making their fleets greener. These same two approaches are used at the state level as well.

The bottom line is that businesses operating large fleets (and even small fleets comprised primarily of large vehicles) need to stay abreast of green legislation. They need to know what they are required to do to stay in compliance with changing laws as well as what benefits are available to them when they go green. They need to take action to make sure that their fleets are as up-to-date as possible with green standards.

Some businesses will take a financial hit when these changes are first implemented. For example, a business with out-of-date vehicles that need to be replaced will have to come up with out-of-pocket money for those replacements. However, in the long run, having a green fleet will save businesses money and help with fleet fuel management. It reduces their fuel and maintenance costs and increases their profit margin over time. In the long run, this green legislation should prove to be a beneficial thing even though not all businesses will feel like it as it is first introduced.

Technorati Tags: fleet fuel management, fleet management, fuel management, green