Most of a Scania vehicle’s total environmental effect is estimated to occur during its active lifetime, that is to say while it is being used. High fuel consumption gives high emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates; exhaust components that, among other things, contribute to global warming, soil and water acidification, and health problems.
 
By altering his driving style, the driver can reduce fuel consumption and at the same time promote immense environmental gains. One step in this direction is Scania’s international driver-training scheme known as the Scania Driver Programme, which provides both theoretical and practical training in economical driving. The driver also learns to handle the vehicle in the most suitable way, thus reducing the need for service and avoiding the risk of unnecessary wear.

Scania has been conducting this training programme since 1998 and in 2004, about 6,400 drivers underwent the course.
 
Experience shows that a long-distance rig driver can reduce fuel consumption by 10% after one day of driver training. For a long-haul rig covering 200,000 km a year, the driver’s improved driving style means not only considerable environmental gains, but considerable savings in fuel costs too. Reduced fuel costs are a vital parameter for a haulage company since fuel accounts for about 30 percent of the company’s total turnover. If we estimate an average fuel consumption of 35 litres per 100 km, emissions of carbon dioxide can be reduced by 18.9 tonnes, nitrogen oxides by 133 kg and particulates by 2.5 kg. And in addition, the annual fuel bill can be cut by EUR 5600 per truck.