JOPLIN, MO - It's no secret high gas prices hit truckers hard and the impact touches us all.  If you think your tank is expensive to fill, talk to Don Harris.  He drives a big rig for a living. 

He says his truck uses an average of 120 gallons a day, making fuel costs anywhere from 500 to 600 dollars.  Those numbers are forcing truckers to reduce consumption.  Many keep costs down by slowing down.  The result is better mileage. 

Financial necessity has forced the trucking industry to go green.  And it's not limited to driving slower and burning less fuel.  The next time you pass a big rig, look at all those double tires.  They're not long for this world. 

The shift is to single, wide-base tires on the tractors and trailers.  Single tires mean less rubber and less weight.  Less weight means less fuel.  Today trucks are losing more than tires to keep the weight down.  They're being stripped to the basics. 

The bottom line is clear.  Truckers have gone green not by choice but by necessity.  It there's a silver lining it's this.  The change is good for our environment and one of our most important industries. 

Switching to single tires can lighten a truck by 700 pounds.  To learn more about these new tires go to www.michelintruck.com or www.epa.gov/otaq/hd-hwy.htm