Transport Partnership
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Frequently Asked
Questions
Background
Q: What is the SmartWaySM
Transport Partnership?
Al The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaborative
voluntary program between EPA and the freight industry.
The Partnership creates strong market-based incentives that
challenge companies shipping products, and the truck and
rail companies delivering these products, 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.
Q: Why is the SmartWay Transport
Partnership important?
A: The ability to ship goods is vital to the US economy, and
essential to our quality of life. However, freight trucks and
locomotives consume 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel each
year. Burning thisfuel produces over 350 million metric tons
of carbon dioxide each year.
By 2012, based on current trends, 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% 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 nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to
200,000 tons per year. It will save the equivalent of up to
150 million barrels of oil per year. This is the same as
removing up to 12 million cars off the road each year.
Q: What are the goals of the
SmartWay Transport Partnership?
Al 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.
Specifically, by 2012, the SmartWay Transport Partnership
aims to save between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons 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.
Q: What is ground freight industry's
contribution to air pollution?
Al 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.
Ground freight:
contributes about 40 percent of the NOX emissions
from transportation sources
contributes about 31 percent of the PM emissions
from transportation sources
is a major source of greenhouse gases,
responsible for approximately 20 percent of CO2
emissions from transportation sources.
Q: How will EPA calculate the
benefits from this Partnership?
Al EPA developed the Freight Logistics Environmental and
Energy Tracking Performance model (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 (carbon dioxide and otheremissions) and
will be used to track improvements on an annual basis.
EPA will aggregate this information to calculate the overall
environmental benefits of the Partnership.
J.S. Environmental Protection Agency £ Office of Transportation and Air Quality I
bruary 2004. EPA420-F-02-051. 0 For more information,, visit: www.epa.gov/smartway
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For Potential Partners
Q: Why should companies join the
SmartWay Transport Partnership?
A: This Partnership is attractive to businesses for many
reasons. Fleets save fuel and money. Companies can
optimize their use of fuel-efficient strategies, by using the
FLEET Performance model to evaluate the business case
for these strategies, as it applies to their operations. Fleets
have new opportunities to retain and attract business, since
participating shippers need participating carriers.
The Partnership helps each Partner determine its
environmental footprint, set environmental stewardship
goals, and track progress, which may be important to
shareholders and customers. All Partners receive national
recognition. EPA will work with Partners to support and
promote the Partnership, and to highlight their participation
in it. All Partners have the benefit of EPA technical tools
and assistance. Partners may also qualify to use the
SmartWay Transport Partnership logo on packaging,
advertising, and corporate communication.
Q: Who can join the SmartWay
Transport Partnership?
A: Virtually any company that ships products can join -
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 our economy.
Q: How does a company join the
SmartWay Transport Partnership?
A: Companies join by performing an environmental
assessment of their freight operations and by committing to
improve that performance within three years. EPA will
provide the needed tools and materials to help companies
determine theircurrent environmental performance and help
develop their individual improvement targets. Carriers will
meet their goal by improving the efficiency of their fleet
operations. Shippers will meet their goal by using
participating carriers to ship the majority of their goods.
Q: Are there costs associated with
the SmartWay Transport
Partnership?
A: 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 (often augmented by
lower maintenance costs and/or less vehicle downtime) can
be substantial.
J.S. Environmental Protection Agency £ Office of Transportation and Air Quality I
bruary 2004. EPA420-F-02-051. 0 For more information,, visit: www.epa.gov/smartway
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