Manufacturer's Sustainability Drives the Future
Manufacturers who have been proactive in sustainability efforts are well-positioned to lead the industry into the future, especially with new regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Trucks Plan. The EPA's upcoming emissions limits focus on nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gasses, as the trucking industry aims to eventually have zero-emission commercial vehicles.
Utility Trailer is the largest producer of refrigerated trailers in North America and is committed to sustainability efforts. Their efforts to reduce energy consumption, emissions, and waste, while improving material sourcing, have been successful over the past two decades. For example, Utility Trailer has transitioned to using non-hydrofluorocarbon foams in the production of refrigerated trailers, which decreases foam use and waste while sourcing environmentally friendly materials.
Working with Dow, one of their partners, Utility has been able to optimize its foam insulation materials and practices. Utility and Dow estimate that switching to Dow's foam will produce an annual environmental impact equivalent to more than 889,000 acres of U.S. forests sequestering carbon. As a result, in just two and half years, the carbon sequestration will compare to the acreage of all of Yellowstone National Park.
Through strategic energy efficiency projects, Utility has cut greenhouse gas emissions across its six North America manufacturing facilities by 27%—or 984 pounds per trailer—since 2011. They have been recognized for their sustainability efforts by being named one of Food Logistics' 2021 Top Green Provider award winners.
Utility Trailer continues to pursue methods for reducing air emissions, and their manufacturing facilities are designated Minor Sources of Emissions under the EPA's Clean Air Act regulations. They have reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds by 62% and hazardous air pollutants by 97% since 1994 through upgrades and transitions to new coatings, sealants, solvents, adhesives, cleaning materials, and other alternatives.
With state and federal emission regulations guiding the trucking industry's near and long-term future, Utility Trailer is a model for sustainable trucking. For more information, Visit: UtilityTrailer.com.
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is America's oldest privately owned, family-operated trailer manufacturer. Founded in 1914, the company designs and manufactures dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans, Tautliner® curtainsided trailers, and aerodynamic technologies. Utility currently operates six trailer manufacturing facilities across North America. Utility’s 3000R® and the 3000R® multi-temp refrigerated trailers are manufactured at the Atkins, Virginia, Clearfield, Utah and Piedras Negras, Mexico plants. The 4000D-X Composite® series and 4000D® dry vans are manufactured at the Glade Spring, Virginia and Paragould, Arkansas plants. The 4000AE®, 4000S®, and 4000AE® Drop Deck flatbeds as well as the Tautliner® are all manufactured at the Enterprise, Alabama facility. Utility also has an extensive independent dealer network with over 100 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Visit: www.utilitytrailer.com for more information.
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