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During a press conference in Omaha, Neb., U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta praised Union Pacific Railroad’s fuel conservation program, which last year reduced diesel usage by more than 16 million gallons and saved the Class I $30 million in fuel costs.

Launched in April 2004, the “Fuel Masters” program analyzes diesel usage by comparing locomotive engineers’ fuel consumption performance against their peers in the same territory. UP managers use a two-month snapshot of each engineer’s fuel performance to calculate individual average consumption rates. Every month, engineers whose rates are in the top 15 percent to 20 percent of each territory are awarded $100 gift cards they can use to purchase gasoline for their personal vehicles.

“What is most impressive about the program is that the company and its employees have found a way to cut fuel consumption and save money,” Mineta said in a prepared statement.