Onboard oil refining for AAFES

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which replenishes supplies for military families and active-duty soldiers at more than 174 PX stores and 1,300 restaurants at over 3,100 bases worldwide, has announced plans to equip their freight trucks with OPS-1 onboard oil refining systems produced by Oil Purification System, Inc. (OPS). According to OPS, the oil filtration system can extend oil change intervals to over 200,000 miles. Each truck is expected to use 70 fewer gallons of oil per year, providing a projected two-year savings of some $882,000.

Alan French, chief of transportation operations for AAFES, noted that the company learned of the OPS product after discussions with Cascade Sierra Solutions (CSS), a non-profit organization committed to helping heavy-duty diesel truck operations reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

"CSS has worked with OPS for the past three years, representing the OPS-1 in our Outreach Centers that feature some of the largest permanent displays of clean diesel upgrade equipment for truckers," said Dave Orton, communications mgr. for CSS.

"We are continuously evaluating our operations, looking for new ways to protect our environment and reduce our carbon footprint," noted Major General Keith Thurgood, commanding general of AAFES.

Among other green initiatives, the AAFES fleet has adopted auxiliary power units (APUs), automatic tire inflation systems, and driver training to improve overall fuel efficiency. Bio-diesel is also used as an alternative fuel at 42 of the fleet's U.S. military installations and AAFES is now evaluating the use of single-wide low rolling resistance tires and trailer side skirts as a way to further reduce costs. In recognition of their sustainability efforts, Fleet Owner Magazine named AAFES the Green Fleet of the Month for June 2009.