PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — PIT Group has announced the opening of a US office as it looks to boost its presence there.

The Quebec-based engineering and research group conducts the popular Energotest trials, which tests the effectiveness of products and techniques that are said to improve fuel economy. Fleet members gain access to the reports, helping them to make smart decisions about which technologies to deploy in their fleets.

“PIT Group has become the benchmark for precise, verified and unbiased data on the return on investment fleets can expect from green technologies in Canada,” said Yves Provencher, director of PIT Group, when announcing the US office at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition. “With the continual need to improve competitiveness and the increase in environmental compliance restrictions, the demand for green technologies has never been stronger. Our US office will enable us to offer the level of service and experience we’ve been providing Canadian fleets and that US fleets expect.”

PIT Group says it will now hold two Energotests in Canada and two in the US each year. Its US office will be based in Atlanta, Ga. The group has hired Mike Fielden, a transportation logistics executive with more than 35 years experience in the industry, to lead the US effort.

“PIT Group has had great success in Canada over the past seven years and I’m excited to be working with the team to bring that same success to U.S. fleets,” said Fielden.

Before deciding to expand in the US, PIT Group polled American fleets to ensure there’s demand for its services. Fielden said many small- and mid-sized carriers indicated they aren’t currently doing any of their own testing and agreed there’s a need for better testing.

He likened joining PIT to adding an engineering department with minimal investment for carriers that otherwise wouldn’t have the resources to do so. They gain access to the results of tests already conducted by PIT Group, the knowledge of engineers dedicated solely to providing the industry with accurate, unbiased test results on fuel-saving technologies and networking opportunities with like-minded fleets.

“Large and small carriers alike benefit tremendously from PIT Group membership,” explained Provencher. “Larger carriers view us as a seamless extension to their engineering teams whereas smaller carriers consider us their entire engineering department. Bottom line, we have no agenda other than to certify and implement the best and most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly technologies in North America.”