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Partner Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What is the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
- Why is the SmartWay Transport Partnership important?
- What are the goals of the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
- What is ground freight industry's contribution to air pollution?
- How does EPA calculate the benefits from this Partnership?
Questions for Potential Partners
- Why should companies join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
- Who can join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
- How does a company join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
- Are there costs associated with the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
General Questions
What is the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry. The Partnership creates strong market-based incentives that challenge companies to improve the environmental performance of their freight operations. SmartWay Transport partners improve their energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality.
Why is the SmartWay Transport Partnership important?
Shipping goods is vital to the US economy. However, freight shipments have an environmental cost. Freight trucks and locomotives consume 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel each year, and burning this fuel produces over 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Current trends indicate that, by 2012, ground freight transportation will consume over 45 billion gallons of diesel fuel and produce over 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These levels represent an increase of over 25 percent compared to today's levels.
The SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to significantly reduce these emissions. By 2012, the Partnership will cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 33 to 66 million metric tons per year, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions by up to 200,000 tons per year. This will save the equivalent of up to 150 million barrels of oil per year. That's the same as removing up to 12 million cars from the road each year.
What are the goals of the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
The goals of the Partnership are to reduce:
- fuel consumption from trucks and rail delivering freight;
- operating costs associated with the delivery of freight;
- emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas; and
- NOx emissions and particulate matter, and air toxics that adversely affect air quality and contribute to health problems, especially in densely populated urban areas.
By 2012, the SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to save between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year, which translates to eliminating at least 33 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and up to 200,000 tons of NOx emissions per year.
What is the ground freight industry's contribution to air pollution?
Ground freight is a significant source of emissions that create smog and other harmful air pollutants that lead to related health concerns, especially among the young and the elderly.
How does EPA calculate the benefits from this Partnership?
EPA developed the Freight Logistics Environmental and Energy Tracking (FLEET) Performance model to help individual fleets assess current efficiency, and quantify the environmental and cost-saving benefits of various technologies and practices. The FLEET Performance model provides baseline environmental performance data (CO2 and other emissions) and is used to track improvements on an annual basis. EPA aggregates this information to calculate the overall environmental benefits of the Partnership.
Questions for Potential Partners
Why should companies join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
The Partnership is attractive for many reasons. Companies with truck fleets save money while accessing new opportunities to retain and attract business, since participating shippers need participating carriers. Companies that don't have fleets but ship their goods through third-party carriers have the ability to address the impacts of a significant part of their supply chain and improve their environmental footprint in transportation. The Partnership helps each Partner determine its environmental impact, set environmental stewardship goals, and track progress, which may be important to shareholders and customers. In addition, SmartWay works with all of its Partners to expand awareness of the Partnership and to highlight their participation in it.
Who can join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
Virtually any company that ships products or transports them can join the SmartWay Transport Partnership - from independent owner operators to large truck fleets; from big chain stores to small business owners. SmartWay Transport Partners are a true cross-section of America, working together to protect our natural resources and improve the economy. Become a partner now
How does a company join the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
Companies join by performing an environmental assessment of their freight operations and by committing to improve that performance within three years. The EPA will provide the needed tools and materials to help companies determine their current environmental performance and help develop their individual improvement targets. You can apply to become a partner online.
Are there costs associated with the SmartWay Transport Partnership?
The Partnership costs nothing to join. Partners determine their own improvement goals, based upon their business and environmental objectives. The costs of the strategies Partners may use to achieve their goals vary, although several strategies have no cost, or a low cost.
Even options with an initial cost generally "pay back" within two or three years, since fuel savings, in addition to lower maintenance costs and less vehicle downtime, are often substantial.