SmartWay Newsroom

Latest News about SmartWay

• SmartWay Partners speak to value of collaboration, transparency at CSCMP EDGE 2023 
• SmartWay Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification Resource Page for Fleets
• SmartWay Collaboration Results in New, Easy-to-Use Calculator for Estimating Carbon Emissions from LTL Shipments
• EPA, SmartWay Celebrate 50 Years of Advancements in Freight!
• COVID-19 resources and information for trucking companies
• The Home Depot showcases best practices in Green Supply Chain Study
• Learn about SmartWay fleets that participated in the NACFE Regional Run on Less
• Affiliates collaborate with SmartWay!
• SmartWay designation for qualified day cabs now available!
• Don’t overlook freight-related emissions in your Climate Action Plans!

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CSCMP EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition

Connect with EPA SmartWay and other colleagues working across the supply chain at CSCMP’s EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition, October 1-4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Florida. This year’s program includes sessions on labor shortages, shipping delays, inflation, supply chain competency, building trust, collaboration, geopolitical uncertainties, tech innovations and sustainability initiatives. The conference is an opportunity to collect new ideas, share perspectives, and find solutions to issues challenging the supply chain industry. 

EPA, SmartWay partners, and the U.S. Department of Transportation will lead a session on the value of public-private partnerships aimed at leveraging opportunities to improve asset utilization and efficiencies across the supply chain, with a special focus on transportation, logistics and infrastructure. SmartWay staff will also be on hand at booth no. 234 to provide information and answer questions on the tools and resources the partnership makes available to track and inventory freight emissions and the progress its shipper, carrier and logistics partners are making to move goods more sustainably. For more information on CSCMP, a SmartWay affiliate, please visit CSCMP’s EDGE Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition. 
 

SmartWay Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification Resource Page for Fleets

This new SmartWay web page provides several links to tools and resources available to trucking companies, fleet managers and drivers that are considering the potential impact of electrification on their operations. The page is organized by topics of interest to fleets including links to calculators that can help assess the costs of investing in electric trucks. It also provides links to guidance materials, incentives, and grant programs. These resources can be used to help make a decision on whether it might make sense to invest in electric trucks, as well as the charging infrastructure, supplies and other equipment needed to support electrification.

• SmartWay Heavy-Duty Truck Electrification Resources

SmartWay Collaboration Results in New, Easy-to-Use Calculator for Estimating Carbon Emissions from LTL Shipments

In a unique collaboration focused on addressing carbon emissions from less than truckload (LTL) freight, SmartWay has developed a new calculator to help its partners estimate emissions from individual LTL shipments. LTL freight has become an increasingly popular form of product delivery, especially as a result of the rapid growth in e-commerce. As growth in e-commerce is expected to continue, it’s likely that LTL freight and interest in LTL as a source of freight emissions will increase too. The new calculator is easy-to-use, requiring only readily available data inputs – such as, weight, origin and destination zip codes. It will be available to SmartWay partners through the program’s portal late in April.

This case study provides background on the collaboration that led to the development of the calculator and how SmartWay partners can use it to complement their SmartWay fleet-wide inventories to assess the environmental performance of their freight operations.

• Case Study: Public-Private Collaboration Validates Methodology, Produces User-Friendly Emissions Calculator for Guiding Sustainable Freight (pdf) (149 KB, April 2021, EPA-420-F-21-031)

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EPA, SmartWay Celebrate 50 Years of Advancements in Freight!

To mark EPA’s 50^th anniversary, SmartWay created a timeline that features the progress the freight industry has made to reduce emissions and become more efficient. The industry has changed dramatically in a half-century and looking ahead SmartWay expects to see even more gains in the environmental performance of trucks and advanced logistics.

For now - look at how far we’ve come!

• Read more about the history of EPA & SmartWay
• View full-sized timeline

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COVID-19 resources and information for trucking companies

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), a SmartWay affiliate, has developed a COVID-19 Update Hub for its members and industry stakeholders, where it provides timely, fact-based information to answer frequently asked questions and address common challenges trucking companies are experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic and the national response. Further, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) are conducting a survey to inform a research study on the impacts of the pandemic on the trucking industry.

• ATA COVID-19 Update Hub 
• ATRI/OOIDA Foundation COVID -19 Truck Survey

• Press Release: US Department of Transportation Expands National Emergency Declaration for Commercial Vehicles Delivering Relief in Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Emergency Declarations, Waivers, Exemptions and Permits

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The Home Depot showcases best practices in Green Supply Chain Study

The Home Depot worked with EPA and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) on a comprehensive study to better understand the impacts of freight efficiency strategies deployed in its supply chain. The study helped illustrate the elements of a real-world “green supply chain” and how it compares with a traditional supply chain. Findings include insights about how even a high-efficiency supply chain can continue to enhance efficiency and environmental performance with even more advanced strategies that are available now or on the horizon. 

A webinar will be presented on February 12, 2020 from 2-3 pm (ET ):

•  Register here.

The study can be found here.

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Learn about SmartWay Fleets that participated in the NACFE Run on Less Regional

On October 7, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), a SmartWay affiliate, kicked off Run on Less Regional, a three-week fuel efficiency roadshow focusing on drivers and their trucks that operate up to 300 miles from base.

Run on Less Regional is a fuel economy demonstration for trucks that typically travel no more than 300 miles from their base. Run on Less Regional will feature 10 fleets, including 7 SmartWay partners, operating in a variety of regional haul applications in different geographic and climate areas. Their trucks are equipped with a variety of technologies that improve fuel efficiency, and as each fleet selects its own combination of technologies, no two trucks - or routes - will be the same. ;The Run will culminate at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta, October 28 - 31, where fuel and efficiency achievements and other best practices for the participating fleets will be announced.

To learn more about the drivers, trucks and their routes, check out the Meet the Fleets videos on the Run on Less website.

To read the results, check out North American Council for Freight Efficiency

Participating fleets (* indicates a SmartWay Partner fleet):

• C & S Wholesale Grocers
• Hirschbach Motor Lines *
• Hogan Transportation *
• J. B. Hunt *
• Meijer *
• PepsiCo
• Ploger Transportation
• Schneider *
• Southeastern Freight Lines *
• UPS *

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Affiliates collaborate with SmartWay!

Affiliates were challenged to use the resources from the Earth Day Tool Kit. Check out the affiliates that raised their hand and told us what they accomplished.

All Affiliates are encouraged to use the available resources as a way to share our common goal of sustainable freight transportation. Learn more at SmartWay Affiliate Resources

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SmartWay Designation for Qualified Day Cabs Now Available!

Day cabs are now eligible to be SmartWay-designated tractors! Beginning in 2019, both sleeper and day cab configurations that use tractor aerodynamics, SmartWay-verified tires, and provide idle reduction options can apply for SmartWay designation.& These designated tractors will be the most fuel-efficient models for long-haul (sleeper) and regional-haul (day) applications.

Find out more about SmartWay-designated tractors and EPA verified technologies for its SmartWay and Clean Diesel programs, or contact the program's hotline at Tech_Center@epa.gov.

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Don’t Overlook Freight-Related Emissions in your Climate Action Plans!

A U.S. EPA SmartWay affiliate, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), recognizes the importance of efficient freight movement. They encourage other municipalities and regions to implement SmartWay strategies as a way to meet their climate action plan goals and reach attainment of federal ozone standards more effectively.

Learn more about NCTCOG’s sustainability tips here:

•  Don’t overlook freight-related emissions in your climate action plans