ATA Selected as One of Seven Award Winners of EPA’s 2013 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge
This story appears in the April 29 print edition of Transport Topics.
American Trucking Associations was honored last week as one of seven winners of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2013 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge awards.
The Colorado Motor Carriers Association and Penske Truck Leasing also received awards from EPA on April 22 — Earth Day.
EPA said the awards rewarded “strong and lasting contributions in support of our shared goals to reduce truck emissions and improve freight efficiency.” The agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages trucking fleets to lower their greenhouse-gas emissions and fuel consumption.
“Increasingly, companies are becoming cognizant of their carbon footprint and reducing greenhouse gases,” ATA President Bill Graves said in a statement. “However, fuel efficiency has always been of critical importance for trucking and ATA, which is why our participation in EPA SmartWay is a no-brainer.”
EPA said that, between March 2012 and March 2013, ATA gave presentations about SmartWay at more than a dozen events, hosted an awards ceremony for SmartWay carriers and shared data with the agency to help it refine the program.
“I commend American Trucking Associations for promoting sustainable transportation to their members through the SmartWay Transport Partnership,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
EPA said CMCA, an ATA affiliate, was honored for holding more than 10 SmartWay workshops and pushing for both carriers and shippers to use the program.
Penske dedicates a portion of its website to information about SmartWay and makes its SmartWay-certified trucks and trailers available to leasing customers, EPA said.
“We are proud of our partnership with SmartWay and we’re very pleased to win this award,” Drew Cullen, Penske’s vice president of energy and telecommunication services, said in a statement. “We take pride in assisting our customers with becoming more sustainable while incorporating best practices within our own truck rental, truck leasing and logistics operations.”
EPA also honored the Retail Industry Leaders Association for promoting the SmartWay program among its members. RILA also helped the agency make a video promoting SmartWay.
“RILA’s retail members value the tools and support provided by EPA SmartWay,” Adam Siegel, vice president of sustainability and retail operations, said in a statement. “And we appreciate every opportunity to share their work with our members.”
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Wisconsin Clean Cities also received awards from EPA.
