Reduce Fuel Waste and Unnecessary Idling
Reduce Fuel Waste and Unnecessary Idling
Why Fuel Waste and Excessive Idling Remain a Costly Problem
Fuel is one of the largest operating expenses in rail. Locomotives often idle for hours at terminals or during dwell periods. The most common reasons why locomotives are left idling:
Rail operators need to meet evolving environmental standards while controlling costs—but they can't sacrifice readiness or performance.
Why?
1
Locomotives left running between assignments waste fuel even during non-operational hours.
2
Cold Weather Operations
Idling to prevent engine freezing can be minimized with smarter condition-based controls.
3
Yard Switching
Yard switchers often run for long durations with minimal motion, creating opportunities to reduce runtime.
4
Remote Locations
In areas with no on-site personnel, automatic shutdown/startup logic ensures reliability and readiness.
- Poor fleet utilization and higher operating costs
- Missed opportunities for backhauls or efficient routing
- Inaccurate billing and disputes
- Customer dissatisfaction from poor service visibility
The ZTR Solution
In most fleets, this engine would keep running—burning fuel, generating emissions, and adding wear to the engine.
With SmartStart® AESS on board, the locomotive is automatically monitored in real time. When engine coolant temperature, air pressure, and battery voltage meet the right thresholds, SmartStart shuts the engine down—safely and intelligently—eliminating hours of unnecessary idling.
The result? Instant fuel savings and reduced emissions. And no crew intervention needed.
But what about extreme weather and restarts?
Freezing temperatures or remote locations make automatic restarts risky. That’s why this locomotive is also equipped with KickStart, ZTR’s starting assist and battery management technology.
KickStart stores and delivers a powerful energy boost during cranking, ensuring every restart is reliable, even in the harshest conditions. It also relieves stress on batteries, extends their lifespan, and reduces the need for idling solely to charge them.
Now the engine starts only when it has to—and it always starts when it needs to.
For larger fleets, SmartStart is just the beginning.
Railroads looking for deeper automation and control choose NexSys, ZTR’s advanced locomotive control system. It includes SmartStart by default, but goes much further—offering intelligent engine management, customizable idle rules, performance optimization, and support for KickStart integration.
With NexSys, railroads gain fine-tuned control over how and when each unit shuts down, restarts, and consumes fuel—while also preparing older locomotives for modern, efficient operations.
Whether you manage tank cars, boxcars, or flatcars—real-time impact data helps you protect your assets and the cargo they carry.
And behind the scenes, Vision connects it all.
As locomotives operate, ZTR’s Vision platform collects and analyzes critical data—idle durations, restart events, location patterns, and fuel use. With easy-to-read dashboards and fleet-wide reports, operators gain real visibility into:
- How much fuel is being saved
- Which locomotives idle more than others
- When and where SmartStart engages
- Opportunities to optimize further
Vision turns automation into insight-driven fleet management—so improvements don’t stop at installation. They evolve with your operation.
The result?
Smarter shutdowns. Reliable restarts. Better battery health. Real-time insight. Lower fuel bills. And fewer emissions.
This is the ZTR approach to idle and fuel management—designed for efficient rail operations and proven across thousands of locomotives worldwide.
ZTR Technologies at Work
Automatic engine shutdown and restart system—trusted by Class I, shortlines, and lessors.
Battery management and starting assist technology that ensures reliable restarts and reduces idle charging.
Advanced control system with SmartStart, remote diagnostics, and idle rule customization.
Ready to Reduce Fuel Costs & Emissions?
Maximize savings with a system that pays for itself in less than a year.
Contact us today to learn how SmartStart can optimize your locomotive operations.
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