Anyone operating in the transportation industry is familiar with the SmartWay Transport Partnership program. SmartWay Transport is the US Environmental Protection Agency’s flagship program for improving fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution from the transportation supply chain industry. Many of the key initiatives developed by the program are coupled with EPA regulations, such as low rolling resistance tire regulations in California. There are many benefits to the program’s initiatives: for example, a new SmartWay certified trailer is expected to improve fuel economy up to 6.5%, which results in annual fuel savings of $1300 to $3300!

Let’s review some more key facts about the program and some recent 2013 data:

• Since 2004, SmartWay partners have saved 65 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to taking over 5 million cars off the road for an entire year.
• Fewer dollars going overseas for foreign oil means more dollars to invest at home; having fewer imports also reduces the national trade deficit.
• SmartWay is helping businesses to slash their fuel costs, saving $8.1 billion dollars to date. These savings directly support the trucking industry and the customers they serve.
• Truck, trailer and equipment suppliers to the US trucking industry also rely upon SmartWay to help them demonstrate to customers the benefits of cleaner, more fuel-efficient products.
• SmartWay is one of the American Trucking Association’s six strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the US trucking industry. According to ATA, 1 out of every 16 people (6.8 million people) working in the US private sector is employed in a trucking-related job; trucking annually generates $604 billion in gross freight revenues, or about 4 percent of the US GDP.
• A strong trucking industry is essential to the nation’s competiveness and to jobs. SmartWay contributes to the health of this vital sector, protecting both jobs and the economy.
• Over 3,000 corporations including virtually all of the nation’s largest truck carriers, all the class 1 rail companies, and many of the top Fortune 500 companies rely upon SmartWay’s supply chain accounting tools and methods.
• Small businesses rely upon SmartWay for technical expertise and assistance. SmartWay has provided financing to help truck owners, especially small – and medium-sized businesses upgrade to cleaner, more efficient trucks.
• The US government, through GSA, is relying upon SmartWay to implement EO 13514, which directs the federal government to green its supply chain.
• Environmental, state, and community groups rely upon SmartWay’s clean air achievements (28 MMT of CO2, 478,000 tons of NOx, and 22,000 tons of Particulate Matter reduced so far) helping protect the health and well-being of citizens, especially in communities near ports, truck stops, and borders.
• The United Nations, the World Bank, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, as well as the governments of China, Mexico and Canada, have projects and programs that rely upon SmartWay’s technical assistance, methods and tools.
• US ports rely on SmartWay’s Port Drayage Truck program to help reduce pollution and address environmental justice concerns in and around major US ports.

By being a SmartWay member, UWT demonstrates that we are taking responsibility for the emissions associated with the goods we move every day; and that we are committed to corporate social responsibility, sustainable business practices, and reducing our carbon footprint. One more reason to do business with us!