Union Pacific Fuel Masters Program Featured in New Online Audio Environmental Success Story Campaign

Omaha, Neb.– Union Pacific today announced that the Fuel Masters Program was the first project to be featured as part of the new partnership between the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center (P2RIC) and The Green Business Council of Omaha. Through the partnership, the organizations produce audio success stories highlighting examples of sustainable solutions that reduce waste.

The Fuel Masters Program was selected as the debut success story project and is part of Union Pacific’s effort to continually improve its fuel efficiency through better locomotive technology, engineer training and employee involvement. The program compares locomotive engineers’ fuel consumption performance against fellow engineers in the same territory. A two-month snapshot of each engineer’s fuel consumption performance is used to calculate individual average consumption rates. Each month, engineers in the top 15 to 20 percent of each territory where Union Pacific operates are awarded fuel cards. Engineers achieving the greatest savings are rewarded with $100 fuel cards that they can use to reduce their own fuel costs.

“Fuel Masters brilliantly demonstrates that if everyone does just a little to save, we all benefit. Not only does Union Pacific benefit from the bottom line, but we all benefit from a smaller demand on a tight resource, and there are reduced diesel emissions,” said Richard Yoder, director of the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center.

Over the last decade, Union Pacific has achieved a more than 13 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. In 2007, Union Pacific saved more than 20 million gallons of diesel fuel. The company has more fuel savings improvement opportunities ahead as the Fuel Masters program and other initiatives are refined and expanded throughout the organization.

“We are honored to have the Fuel Masters Program recognized by the Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center and The Green Business Council of Omaha,” said Dick McClish, senior vice president of continuous improvement at Union Pacific. “Our ability to implement the Fuel Masters program on such a broad scale throughout our organization reflects Union Pacific’s concentration and determination to drive safety, customer satisfaction and quality results.”