Con-way Truckload announced Friday, March 27, that it has received the highest fuel efficiency and environmental performance score for 2008 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. For the second consecutive year, Con-way Truckload received a Shipper Index Factor (SIF) of 1.25, the highest possible score awarded under the EPA program.
The rating signifies that Con-way Truckload is utilizing the largest number of commercially available fuel-savings strategies, while continuing to actively evaluate and consider promising new savings methods and emerging technologies. High SIF scores make carriers and logistics companies more attractive to freight shippers wanting to better manage their carbon emissions reduction strategies. Companies achieving the highest score also are granted exclusive rights to use the trademarked SmartWay logo.
Con-way Truckload, which operates a fleet of more than 2,800 heavy-duty diesel tractors, joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership in 2005 and in 2007 received its second consecutive SmartWay Excellence Award for its innovative work toward reducing emissions and fuel consumption. To date, Con-way Truckload says it is exceeding its three-year improvement commitment; with single wide-base tires, no-idling strategies, aerodynamic equipment and speed management initiatives, among others, the company in 2008 reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 340,872 tons, which equates to an overall fuel mileage improvement in excess of 3 percent.
“With EPA’s SmartWay Transport program, we not only outline specific strategies aimed at reducing our carbon footprint, but we also track our progress against specific targets,” says Herb Schmidt, president of Joplin, Mo.-based Con-way Truckload. “The program has played an integral role in our ability to maintain a solid sustainability program and consistently exceed goals for improvement. Our efforts demonstrate our commitment to the environment, our customers and to improving our bottom line, and we look forward to continuing to improve the way we run our business.”
Through EPA’s program, more than 1,000 SmartWay trucking and logistics companies commit to measuring and improving the efficiency of their freight operations using the EPA-developed F.L.E.E.T. (Fleet Logistics Energy and Environmental Tracking) Performance Model. Carriers and logistics companies must agree to improve their performance within three years and also must sign the SmartWay Transport Partnership Agreement.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to address the environmental and economic challenges surrounding growth in the freight industry. Through the program, EPA now is working with more than 1,000 businesses to improve both their bottom line and the environment by offering technical assistance, tools for evaluating opportunities to lower fuel use and emissions, and help in locating financing for the purchase of fuel-saving equipment and technology.
