EPA Presents SmartWay Excellence Awards to 43 Fleets
John Sommers II for Transport Topics Of the winners, 15 are members of American Trucking Associations.
“As the SmartWay program completes its 12th year, EPA recognizes its top Carrier Partners for their commitment to an efficient and environmentally responsible freight transportation supply chain,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation & Air Quality. “We all depend on the freight sector, and these award-winning SmartWay carriers have demonstrated that it is possible to compete in this space while placing an emphasis on environmental integrity, allowing for reduced fuel costs which increase revenue while also lowering greenhouse-gas emissions,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
Among the winners of the 12th annual award are: Challenger Motor Freight Inc., Heritage Transport, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Pitt Ohio, CRST Expedited Inc., Roehl Transport Inc., Doug Andrus Distributing, UPS Small Package, U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc., Bison Transport Inc., Cargo Transporters, Dedicated Transport, Mesilla Valley Transportation and OutWest Express.
“We hope that SmartWay will continue to be a tremendous example of how business and government can work together and how our industry can reduce fuel use and greenhouse emissions," ATA President Chris Spear said.
EPA SmartWay Program Manager Cheryl Bynum told the attendees that fuel-efficient and clean vehicles, along with emerging technology, will revolutionize the nation's transportation system and optimize freight delivery times.
"Why do we do what we do? It's not just our house, our car. It's because each of us, as parents, as citizens, as community leaders, and as business owners, know that people are depending on us to secure their future. And we see the impact of climate change impacting that future," she said.
Bynum added that she has confidence in the American spirit and ingenuity to find solutions to attack climate change, pointing to the recent Phase 2 greenhouse-gas rules on truck and trailer manufacturers. EPA officials said the new rules would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.1 billion metric tons, and save vehicle owners fuel costs of about $170 billion over 10 years.
Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have saved 170.3 million barrels of oil — the equivalent of eliminating annual energy use in over 6 million homes and $24.9 billion in fuel costs, according to the EPA.
