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Profile: Clinton's Ditch Cooperative Company, Inc.
Cicero, New York
Number of employees: 200
Clinton’s Ditch Co-op Co. Inc. was started as a bottling co-op by a group of 13 Independent Pepsi Bottlers. Today, the company’s fleet consists of 36 tractors, 106 trailers and 55 drivers servicing all of New York State (NYS), parts of Connecticut, Vermont, and Pennsylvania. Eighty-eight percent of Clinton’s Ditch’s business consists of operating turnpike doubles (two 48’ trailers) along the NYS Thruway.
Fuel consumption and waste has long been a concern of Clinton’s Ditch. In 1999, Clinton’s Ditch began specifying aerodynamic tractors and synthetic lubricants in drive trains. In 2000, the company committed to using Caterpillar engines — a strategy they believed to be the best solution for reducing tractor emissions without compromising fuel economy or performance. Clinton’s Ditch also began to limit road speed to further enhance fuel savings. In 2003, the company began using automatic tire inflation systems, and in 2005, began the use of wide-based tires.
Clinton’s Ditch continues to further reduce fuel consumption and pollution through numerous initiatives, including:
- Activating idle shut down timers on all units,
- Increasing the number of units on wide based tires,
- Enabling progressive shifting on all units,
- Continuing to install automatic tire inflation systems,
- Converting entire fleet to synthetic drive train lubes and extended life coolant,
- Using fuel efficient tires on units without wide base tires,
- Specifying engines, transmissions and drivelines for optimal fuel economy,
- Continuing to move as much freight as possible in tandems.
“It is obvious to all of us that the negative impact our industry has on the environment must be changed. It is only through aggressive measures can this destruction of our environment be stopped. It is also obvious that the measures to reduce this impact that have been imposed on our industry are having a profound effect on our operating costs. Therefore, it is imperative we all do our part to limit the impact we have on the environment. It will not only improve the environment, but our operating costs as well.”
Stephen Erwin
Transportation Manager