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Truckers driving toward environmental excellence

Release Date: 10/30/06
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or [email protected]

(Dallas, Texas – October 30, 2006) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized trucking companies that exemplify superior environmental excellence during an award ceremony today at the American Trucking Associations annual conference in Grapevine, Texas.

Under the SmartWay Transport Partnership, EPA joins with members of the freight industry to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by integrating innovative strategies and technologies into their fleet operations. The companies recognized by EPA today have been selected as national leaders in improving their environmental performance as part of the SmartWay program.

“The freight industry drives America's economy, and EPA's SmartWay partners are keeping more money in their pockets while helping us all breathe easier,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “These award winners are joining President Bush and EPA on our drive toward cleaner air, a healthier economy, and a secure energy future.”

SmartWay helps carriers and shippers improve their business and the environment by helping them access fuel- and emissions-saving technologies, such as engine idle reduction technology, low rolling resistance tires, improved aerodynamics and exhaust after-treatment devices, which can reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 15 percent, and help reduce pollution from carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions. SmartWay provides companies with technical assistance, tools for evaluating opportunities, and help locating financing to purchase these technologies.

More than 450 companies have joined the SmartWay partnership. EPA and its transport partners are on track to save over $1.2 billion on fuel costs and remove more than 4 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air by 2007. By 2012, the partnership will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 33 to 66 million metric tons per year, and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 200,000 tons per year. This is equivalent to removing up to 12 million cars off the road each year or the equivalent of saving up to 150 million barrels of oil per year.

SmartWay Excellence Awards were also presented to exemplary shipping companies at the Annual National Association of Environmental Management Conference in Savannah, Georgia, on October 25. EPA recently expanded the partnership’s focus to include SmartWay Grow & Go, which emphasizes the environmental benefits of renewable fuels.

For more information on the SmartWay Transport Partnership, go to www.epa.gov/smartway.

The SmartWay Excellence Awardees are (categorized by sector and size):

Large, For-Hire Carriers

Contract Freighters, Inc. of Joplin, Missouri
Roehl Transport, Inc. of Marshfield, Wisconsin
Schneider National, Inc. of Green Bay, Wisconsin
YRC Worldwide, Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas

Small-to-Mid-Size, For-Hire Carriers

Bison Transport, Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Langford Trucking, Inc. of St. Cloud, Minnesota
National Freight, Inc. of Vineland, New Jersey
New Century Transportation, Inc. of Westhampton, New Jersey
O & S Trucking, Inc. of Springfield, Missouri

Private Fleets

H-E-B of San Antonio, Texas
Smithfield Transportation Co., Inc. of Smithfield, Virginia
Quad Graphics, Inc. of Sussex, Wisconsin
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. of Bentonville, Arkansas

Shippers

IKEA Distribution Services, North America of Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
Interface, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia (Joint award with Meridian IQ)
Owens Corning of Toledo, Ohio
Sharp Electronics Corporation of Mahwah, New Jersey

Logistics Companies

APL Logistics of Jacksonville, Florida
Epes Logistics Services, Inc. of Greensboro, North Carolina
Meridian IQ of Overland Park, Kansas (Joint award with Interface, Inc.)

Affiliates

Minnesota Trucking Association of Roseville, Minnesota
New Jersey Motor Carrier Association of East Brunswick, NJ
Lane Regional Air Protection Agency and Cascade Sierra Solutions (Joint awardees) of
Springfield, Oregon and Brownville, Oregon