PLANO, TEXAS – Frito-Lay North America is adding more than 1,200 fuel-efficient Sprinter vehicles to its nationwide fleet, which will help the company improve miles per gallon, continue to cut energy costs, and reduce emissions. The new additions make up 10 percent of the vehicles transporting snack food products across the country on a daily basis and are the latest step taken to meet the company's goals to help reduce greenhouse emissions and improve overall productivity of its fleet.

The new Sprinter vehicles improve gas mileage to 17 mpg, more than 50 percent over current route trucks, according to the company. These new vehicles offer additional product and safety features, including larger cargo capacity and advanced driver and front passenger air bags. The improved MPG and more efficient 3.0L diesel engines translate into a 28-percent reduction of CO₂ emissions per vehicle, according to Frito-Lay.

Over the last five years, Frito-Lay's fleet team has implemented a number of programs to improve the company's fleet performance. Key areas of focus include aerodynamics, light weight materials, driver behavior, advanced technology and strategic partnerships.  Frito-Lay has been a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program since 2005, which allows the company to save fuel, costs, and the environment by identifying products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions.

"Lowering fuel consumption is one approach to reduce costs and our environmental impact, but in the future, new emerging technologies and advances in hybrids, fuel cells, and hydrogen might move us away from gasoline all together," said Mike O'Connell, director, fleet, Frito-Lay North America.

The Sprinters will roll out across the country, with major deployments in California (165), New York/Northeast (200) and Texas (116). All vehicles should be in market by March of 2009.