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Freight accounts for about 9% of all U.S. GHG emissions, and trucking is

the dominant mode. Over the last 2 decades, freight emissions grew twice

as fast as passenger emissions. (Total growth: 18%.)

Freight transportation is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy. As of 2012,

U.S. businesses spent $1 trillion to move $12 trillion worth of goods (8.5% of

GDP). There’s no end in sight for growth in freight transport, so the

question is: How can we reduce costs and reduce emissions at the same

time? Through innovation and widespread adoption of efficient technologies

and practices– in other words, SmartWay.

SmartWay was built with and for freight shippers and carriers, who help

grow and promote SmartWay. Because it reduces emissions, enjoys

industry support, and requires relatively few EPA resources, SmartWay

thrives.

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SmartWay has been going strong for 10 years now and racking up savings.

Here you see some results.

Among current partners are:

• 250 Shippers.

• 500 Logistics providers.

• 2000 Truck Carriers, who account for almost ¼ of all truck miles.

• 15 major Multimodal carriers.

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SmartWay dynamics are market-based and self-reinforcing.

Shippers are at the top of the SmartWay food chain. They respond to shareholder, customer, and

business partner demands for carbon accountability. To do so, they need to find fuel-efficient carriers,

and figure out ways to make their whole transportation supply chain more efficient. SmartWay helps

shippers choose the most efficient modes & carriers, which results in lower overall

costs, greater system stability, and emissions savings.

Carriers are the meat and potatoes of SmartWay. They want to save money and earn shippers’

business. EPA teaches carriers how to save fuel– and since fuel costs are second only to

personnel costs, stabilizing and trimming fuel spend can allow good companies large

and small to succeed.

Logistics partners (3PLs, 4PLs, freight forwarders, freight brokers, etc) help shipper clients reduce

emissions by designing the right mix of fuel-efficient, cost effective carriers. They develop and match

their carrier base to shippers’ needs, and can spur greater efficiency among carriers with their view of

the entire transportation supply chain.

EPA supplies the platform: accurate, fine-grained accounting tools; a level, open playing field;

equipment testing and certification; and public recognition for accomplishments.

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Here’s what happens (starting in the red rectangle):

• Partners sign on by assessing their fuel efficiency using EPA’s FLEET tool (Excel-

based). They establish a benchmark against which they can track their own progress,

and be compared with their peers.

• Each partner is assigned a Partner Account Manager to help them work out any kinks

with the tool, find fuel efficiency strategies, OK their use of the SmartWay logo, and

connect them with program resources.

• Partners report their progress yearly, attempting to improve over their own and

against industry benchmarks, and compete for annual awards.

It costs nothing except time to participate in SmartWay.

SmartWay covers a few freight modes. Newest is barge; next up are air freight and ocean shipping.

Truck carriers are ranked within their subcategory, so shippers can choose inbound and outbound

carriers with the best scores for each type of cargo and delivery method. You see 4 types of duty cycle

for dry van.

When a shipper types in the SCACs or other identifiers of his current carrier pool, the database will

pull in the efficiency scores from any of them that are SmartWay partners, and assign a default score

to all carriers not in the program (which is the lowest score among all carrier categories).

The shipper specifies how many ton-miles or miles, and payload or density (if possible) he sends or

receives via each carrier, so the tool can crank out the shipper’s overall score.

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Each partner is scored on 6 metrics: 3 pollutants, by mile & by ton-mile. Scoring is based on the info

carriers enter.

SmartWay pools the data from all carrier partners within each category by metric, then divides the

result into 5 performance bands, with 1 being the top 20% and 5 being the bottom 20%. For tool

calculation purposes, the midpoint number of grams in each band is used. So every carrier has a

performance band and a grams value for each of the 6 metrics.

Carrier performance metrics for the last complete reporting year are viewable on the SmartWay

website: go to http://epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/performance.htm

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For each fleet (defined as any business unit that a customer has discretion to hire), a

truck carrier enters info on operational category, body type, type of fuel, long- vs short-

haul split, cube-out percentage, commodity type, truck class and engine model year,

miles driven (total, revenue & empty), gallons of fuel used for both main engine & reefer,

average payload, volume of carrying capacity & % utilized, % highway vs urban driving,

avg urban speed distribution, average idling hours/truck, etc.

These are the variables that determine the carrier’s emissions profile. All the

technologies and strategies listed here help reduce fuel use, and therefore help determine

how well the carrier scores. Driver training, skill and behavior are very important in the

mix.

SmartWay provides carriers with fact sheets that estimate the % fuel & emissions savings

achievable with numerous technologies and strategies. See them all at

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/index.htm (choose the Truck Carriers tab and

scroll down to RESOURCES FOR TRUCK CARRIERS).

SmartWay’s Technology program verifies that the technologies work and lists makes & models on the website. Most categories of verified technology are for tractors and trailers. Learn more about SmartWay-verified technologies at

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/technology.htm

The newest category of verified technology is retread tires, and 53-ft reefer trailers are

coming soon. Also, for technologies in the Aerodynamics category, SmartWay is

establishing performance bins and “Elite” designation for single devices and for

combinations of devices.

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A truck or trailer fitted out with all the essential efficiency features can be sold as a

SmartWay “designated” model; many makes/models are available. A “designated”

tractor-trailer combo can be as much as 20% more efficient than the standard model.

A SmartWay partner in good standing (like Braun’s Express, pictured here) can display

the SmartWay Designated Tractor or SmartWay Designated Trailer mark on the exterior

of his vehicle if it meets specs. See the specs at:

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/technology.htm (choose the

Tractors/Trailers tab).

Many SmartWay truck carrier partners acquire only SmartWay “designated” tractors

and trailers. Not only do they save fuel, they burnish the company’s image, and make

their drivers comfortable and proud.

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SmartWay recognizes that drivers play a critical role in fleet performance. Drivers are

enabled to do their best with advanced technology and smart logistics… but the best

equipment, loading and routing won’t do much good without well-trained, motivated

drivers.

See the complete fact sheet at:

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/trucks/techsheets-

truck/420f14028.pdf

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SmartWay and Canada’s Fleetsmart program teamed up to develop online driver efficiency and

safety training.

This training could serve as a component of a fleet’s or school’s professional driver training

program. It’s interesting, interactive, thorough, well-paced, and balanced. Although it takes 2.5

or so hours to complete, you can “exit and resume later.” After the final quiz the user can “exit,

finish and continue” to print a certificate of completion. Here is the portal

http://fleetsmartlearning.nrcan.gc.ca/Saba/Web/Main and if you have any questions along the

way contact Nancy McEvoy at nmcevoy@nrcan.gc.ca or 613-960-7427 (Canada).

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Many top SmartWay truck carrier partners have very high driver retention

rates. Their best drivers are extremely efficient, and average driver

efficiency is significantly higher than the industry norm. How do they do it?

Here is some of what they’ve said on webinars, at meetings, on videos, and

in articles:

• Set goals and expectations, and lead by example.

• Furnish very good equipment and maintain it meticulously.

• Provide no-idle cab comfort systems for rest periods and layovers, or

pay for use of electrified truck parking or motel rooms.

• Hire promising drivers, treat them as professional employees, and ask

them regularly how their work is going.

• Train drivers hands-on to use the equipment optimally.

• Pay drivers a good salary.

• Incentivize fuel-efficient performance by: leveling the playing field (no

disadvantage based on equipment, route or duty cycle), benchmarking

group and individual performance, and tracking improvement;

recognizing high-performing individuals and teams; paying bonuses or

other rewards based on meeting goals or improving.

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Check out the Sept 24 2014 “Modifying Driver Behavior”

webinar presentations at

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/webinars.htm

For a glimpse of a top-performing New England –based

truck carrier partner’s approach, see http://northeastdiesel.org/pdf/2013partnersmeeting/AndrewBoyle.pdf

Other examples:

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/spotlight/420f14016.p

df

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/case-studies/profile-

bartels-truckline.pdf

ATA is a charter SmartWay Affiliate, and through Driver Appreciation Week

brings attention to the role of the driver in SmartWay.

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Speaking of recognition: SmartWay goes all out to publicize its partners’ achievements.

SmartWay’s annual national Excellence Award program recognizes top-performing

partners in all categories, at industry events and in the media. Learn more at

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/about/sw-awards.htm

At EPA New England, we try to make sure at least one SmartWay partner is recognized

annually with an Environmental Merit Award. This year, it was Boyle Transportation, a

leader not only in technology adoption but in driver training & incentives. Past winners

include Braun’s Express, Hannaford Trucking, Pottle’s Transportation, and Staples. The

award ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston provides a great opportunity to tell an

appreciative audience how trucking can be green.

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SmartWay is helping launch green freight and supply chain programs

worldwide.

Participating in SmartWay could help you attract the next generation

of drivers who want to be part of the global solution, and give all your

drivers another reason to feel proud of what they do.

For more info, contact your New England region SmartWay

representative:

Abby: 617-918-1841

swaine.abby@epa.gov

www.epa.gov/smartway