UNESCO sponsored conference OF ENERGY, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM September 27- October 3, 2015, Dubrovnik, Croatia 10th CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Environmental energy efficiency of LHVs in timber transportation through increasing maximum vehicle weight in Finland Teijo Palander Introduction Results Changes in maximum weights and axles of the vehicle combinations in Finland. (*temporary weight increase which is in force until the end of April 2018. Standards of vehicle exhaust emission in EU for new heavy-duty diesel engines, g/kWh. CO = carbon monoxide, HC = hydrocarbons, NOx = nitrogen oxides and PM = particulates. Maximum payloads in 60 and 76t vehicle combinations (photo: Metsähallitus). Total environmental costs of timber transportation for vehicle combinations during study period. Trucks are equipped without (–C) or with removable timber crane (+C). Aim of the study Conclusions It is hypothesised that, “responsible regulation is a process: the regulatory authority should do the best prior analysis possible, but once regulations have been changed, the consequences must be systematically observed and adjustments made where necessary”. Since the operational impact of the maximum weight limits depends finally on the transport entrepreneurs’ desire to use and buy the new trucks and trailers, our calculation method is a procedure of the synchronized system. In the method, the load constraints impact on LHVs’ environmental benefits. In present study, we analyze the environmental benefits that the LHVs (64, 68 and 76tonnes) may offer in early phase of the adaptation process, highlighting the impacts on the energy efficiency and environmental costs. The research reported in this paper has used the developed synchronized method and operational data from the road freight study of Metsähallitus to determine what has actually happened during the first year of the new weight limit. This investigation of the issue suggested that energy efficiency of CO2 emission (measured in relation to trip) increased 9.2% (for legal loads). Little statistical evidence has so far emerged to show that the weight increase of the road transportation of timber has accelerated the rate of road or rail freight traffic growth. This study therefore confirms that, even after allowing for environmental cost effects, 150€ per trip, the increase in maximum weight to 76t has yielded significant benefits in the timber transportation in Finland. Migration of loads to heavier vehicles generates environmental benefits of the maximum weight increase in the synchronized system. Results References OECD, Moving Freight with Better Trucks: Improving Safety, Productivity and Sustainability, 2011. Available at: http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/kttav/index_en.html Statistics of Finland, Goods transport by road, ISSN=2342-3617. Statistics Finland, Helsinki, 2013. Available at: http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/kttav/index_en.html Finnish Transport Agency, Finnish road statistics 2013. Statistics from the Finnish Transport Agency. Helsinki, 2014. Available at: http://www2.liikennevirasto.fi/julkaisut/pdf8/lti_2014-04_tietilasto_2013_web.pdf Palander, T., Vainikka, M. and Yletyinen, A., Potential Mechanisms for Co-operation between Transportation Entrepreneurs and Customers: a Case Study of Regional Entrepreneurship in Finland, Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol. 33. No. 1, 89-103, 2012. Palander, T., Säynäjärvi, T. and Högnäs, T., New organizing models of timber truck transportation, Metsätieteen aikakauskirja, No. 1, 5-22, 2006. Malinen, J., Nousiainen, V., Palojärvi, K. and Palander, T., Prospects and Challenges of Timber Trucking in a Changing Operational Environment in Finland, Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol. 35. No. 1, 91-101, 2014. McKinnon, A. C. and Piecyk, M., Measurement of CO2 Emissions from Road Freight Transport: A Review of UK Experience, Energy Policy, Vol. 37. No. 10, 3733-3742, 2009. McKinnon, A., The economic and environmental benefits of increasing maximum truck weight: the British experience, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Vol. 10. No. 1, 77-95, 2005. Correspondence to T. Palander Faculty of Science and Forestry University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland email: Teijo.s.Palander@uef.fi CO2 emissions of road freight transportation for vehicle-km and vehicle-weight. A = forest roads, B = highways. Vehicle weights of laden 76tonnes are 68, 76 and 80t. Emissions of timber transportation for fuel consumption (diesel, l/tkm). Vehicle weights of laden 76tonnes are 68, 76 and 80t. A = forest roads, B = highways and C = all roads.