10.2190/J0UA-P99A-U59F-MBMN J0UAP99AU59FMBMN 3 Reducing Fuel Consumption With Land Mobile Radio 43 50 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 J0UAP99AU59FMBMN.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=J0UAP99AU59FMBMN 1 Howard A. Plotkin Quantitative Management Science Department, University of Houston In a variety of situations the substitution of communication for transportation could be made, resulting in a reduction of fuel consumption. This paper examines the fuel savings that can be achieved when mobile radio communication is used to decrease the amount of driving by automobiles and trucks. Although this benefit is as varied as the operations which use radio, the general magnitude of the fuel savings is discussed. An indication of the way one might estimate the savings for a particular operation is provided. Reducing fuel consumption in this manner has a negative aspect which is briefly mentioned. Land mobile radio communication has become highly congested in recent years. Relief of the fuel consumption problem will increase radio congestion. C. K. Orski, The Potential for Fuel Conservation: The Case of the Automobile, <i>Transportation Research, 8</i>:4/5, 1974. R. Shinnar, The Effect of the Energy Crisis on the Private Car in the U. S., <i>Transportation Research, 9</i>:2/3, pp. 87-95, 1975. F. J. Cesario, Environment—Energy Policies and Automotive Pollution, <i>Journal of Environmental Systems, 5</i>:1, pp. 13-28, 1975. J. R. Brinkley, Future for Mobile Radio and Paging in Europe, <i>Telecommunications, 8</i>:8, pp. 27-29, 1974. J. Stover, Letter, <i>Communications, 44</i>, April 1974. Federal Communications Commission, <i>Report of the Advisory Committee for the Land Mobile Radio Services</i>, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1967. C. A. Taff, <i>Commercial Motor Transportation</i>, R. D. Irwin, Inc., 1969. P. S. Maxwell, Tune into Fuel Savings on Your Radio, <i>Communications, 10</i>, February 1974. H. A. Plotkin, Mobile Radio—A Pickup and Delivery Tool, <i>The Logistics and Transportation Review, 9</i>:4, pp. 357-366, 1973. F. Kelly, Who Owns the Air? Testimony Before the Federal Communications Commission, Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, 1968. H. Levin, <i>The Invisible Resource</i>, John Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Maryland, 1971. And Now, Electronic Pollution, <i>Time Magazine</i>, p. 96, October 26, 1970. A. Large, Spectrum Scramble, <i>The Wall Street Journal</i>, p. 1, December 5, 1969. Multiplying Users Fight for a Place in Radio Spectrum, <i>Business Week</i>, pp. 40-42, July 4, 1959. V. J. Williams, 1976—A Very Good Year If …, <i>Business Radio/Action, XII</i>:1, p.4, 1976. H. Levin, There is Always a Substitute for Spectrum, <i>Telecommunication Journal</i>, pp. 33-35, January 1969.