SmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency +
Overview Of Shipper Strategies
Truck and rail operators are using a multitude of strategies to reduce the
environmental impacts of carrying America's freight. Shippers are working to
do their part too, not only by implementing measures at their own facilities
that improve efficiency and lead to emissions reductions, but also by hiring
the most environmentally responsible carriers. The following technologies
and strategies are just some of the measures shippers can adopt to facilitate
reductions in fuel consumption and emissions associated with freight
shipping activities.
IMPROVED PICKUP AND DELIVERY SCHEDULING
Excess waiting time for drivers often leads to excess idling
and the increased fuel use and emissions.
Shippers can improve scheduling with enhanced
communications or logistics software.
Improved pickup and delivery scheduling reduces excess
idling and improves the on-time efficiency of freight
operations.
PREFERENTIAL LOADING AND UNLOADING
SmartWay Transport Shippers can support the goals of the
Partnership by providing special shipping and receiving privileges
for SmartWay Transport Carriers.
Deliveries by Partner carriers may be given prime shipping
and delivery times and positions.
Selected docks may be designated as "SmartWay
Transport Docks."
DRIVER COMFORT STATIONS
Drivers may spend a great deal of their work day idling their trucks
to stay comfortable at shipping and receiving docks.
Shippers can provide climate-controlled comfort stations at
dock facilities so that drivers won't need
to idle their trucks to stay warm or cold.
Eliminating idling provides significant fuel, emissions and
maintenance benefits, and the improved driver comfort
enhances safety.
INTERMODAL SHIPPING
Many goods and materials may be delivered to
distribution hubs more efficiently by rail than by truck.
%
Intermodal shipping combines the fuel
efficiency of rail with the LogisticaL strengths of
trucking.
Standardized containers are easily transferred
between rail and truck.
Intermodal shipping can minimize overall fuel
consumption, reduce emissions, and lower the
costs of freight delivery.
IDLE REDUCTION POLICIES
Shippers usually have control over access to their
docking facilities including any parking or waiting
areas.

A shipper may implement a "No IdLing"
policy for any truck that picks up or delivers
freight to its facilities.
"No IdLing" policies may best be combined
with driver comfort stations, so drivers have
an alternative to idling their trucks while
waiting.
Idling reductions offer immediate airquaLity
benefits for local communities, especially
in urban areas where environmentaljustice
may be a concern.
EPA-420-F-19-0111 March 2019 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway
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Overview Of Shipper Strategies (continued)
FULLTRUCKLOADS
Goods and materials are sometimes shipped on partially
loaded trucks in the interest of expediency, increasing
overall fuel use and shipping costs.
Shippers can improve truckLoad scheduling with
logistics software that helps to ensure full loads.
Full truckloads not only improve efficiency, but also
help reduce congestion on the roadways and at
shipping and receiving facilities.
WAREHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS
Shippers should consider any improvements in and around
warehouses that will facilitate improved efficiency and
emissions reductions.

Warehouse operations can have a direct impact on
the efficient Loading and unloading of delivery trucks.
Shippers should explore any efficiency gains that
can be made with improved storage and warehouse
logistics techniques.

SHIPPER CORPORATE FLEET IMPROVEMENTS
Shippers often have small fleets of light duty vehicles (cars
and light trucks) used around their facilities or for staff travel.
Reducing older vehicles with more fuel-efficient and
lower emitting vehicles reduces a company's overall
environmental impact.
ELECTRIC FORKLIFTS
Many freight facilities still use diesel-powered forklifts to
carry pallets, crates, etc., between the dock and warehouse.


Electric forklifts are cleaner and more efficient to
operate, producing no emissions at the facility.
Utilizing electric forklifts reduces a company's
environmental impact and improves ambient air
quaLity in and around freight docking areas.
Facilities might also consider alternatively fueled
forklifts that run on compressed natural, gas or
propane.
ABOUT U.S. EPASMARTWAY
SmartWay is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to
move freight in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible. It
provides shippers and carriers with the tools and support they need
to track, document, and share information about transport modes,
equipment, and operational strategies that can reduce fuel use and
emissions across the supply chain.

SmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency^

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