J* FPA i Protection ^\xSmartWay
# %,Agency	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency^
Improving Supply Chain
Freight Performance:
A Goal Setting
SmartWay
Transportation and Climate Division
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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SmartWay*
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'
Improving Supply Chain Freight Performance:
A Guide for Shippers
As a SmartWay Shipper Partner, you have access to key data on your carriers'environmental and energy efficiency
performance in the U.S and Canada. You have calculated your annual freight emissions based on the amount of
freight given to each carrier and your selected carriers' emissions peformance.
Once you have measured and benchmarked your organization's environmental footprint, you will likely want to
set goals or targets for how you are going to improve performance, to contribute to your organization's overall
corporate sustainability plans and commitments, and to reduce your carbon footprint.
After almost two decades of dedicated efforts, SmartWay Partners have identified and implemented a wide variety
of practices, strategies and lessons learned from the field. Drawing upon our partners' decades of experience, EPA
has compiled this set of resources to help you establish performance improvement goals for your organization's
freight operations. This information guide is designed to help you get the most out of the SmartWay data and other
resources. It provides key ideas and links to numerous resources on the SmartWay website and other relevant
organizations. Some strategies and approaches may be more appropriate than others, depending on your unique
operations. Consider these ideas as a menu of options to explore.
In This Document
1.	Strategies For Improving Your Organization's Freight Efficiency
Performance
A.	Work with Your Team
B.	Work with Your Carriers and Logistics Service Providers
C.	Work within Your Operations
D.	Work with Your Suppliers
E.	Work with Your Customers
F.	Work with Your Community
2.	Goal Setting Guidance and Tips
3. Sample Performance Action Plan

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^^SmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'
Strategies for Improving Your Organization's
Freight Efficiency Performance
Once you have compLeted your annual, performance benchmarking submittal, you have effectively set
a baseLine. Now you can begin to Look for ways to improve your freight efficiency and educate your
management and empLoyees about the important roLes they can pLay in these efforts. Here are some ways
you can incorporate freight sustainabiLity into your business goaLs.
A. WORK WITH YOUR TEAM	Vll^A/ *
Dive Into Your Data
Learn more about your performance and find ways to improve by Looking cLoseLy at your SmartWay data
and associated reports and resources.
Resources
¦	Review emissions reports in your SmartWay tool(s)
¦	Shipper Performance Report, for Way-3 and Way-4 Shippers (Located in your SmartWay PortaL resources)
¦	ExampLe: SmartWay Shipper Performance Report
¦	Webinar: Understanding SmartWay Shipper Performance
Build a Freight SustainabiLity Workgroup in Your Organization
Resources
¦	BuiLd and Launch your Freight SustainabiLity Strategy
o Identify your aLLies and peers in other departments using "Step 3: Identify your ALLies" here
o Work with your coLLeagues to make a pLan under "Step 4: Craft Your Business Case" here
Share Data and Strategies With Your C-Suite
DeveLop a freight sustainabiLity strategy and share information with key decision makers in your
organization to gain support, visibiLity and commitment to improvements.
Resources
¦	Webinar: Getting C-Suite Buy-In for Your Freight SustainabiLity Efforts
¦	Launching a SuccessfuL Freight SustainabiLity Strategy
o TaLking Points: avaiLabLe under "Step 4: Craft Your Business Case" here
o Powerpoint: avaiLabLe under "Step 5: Share Your Business Case" here

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>SmartWay
tONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY J
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
% Develop Employee Training on Freight Efficiency Strategies
Teach staff about freight sustainabiLity, why it matters to your organization, and what empLoyees can do
to help your organization meet your goaLs. Encourage empLoyees to find new ways they can contribute
to cutting miLes or weight from shipments and green your freight supply chain. Don't forget to deveLop
succession planning for key empLoyees and teams to continue these strategies as the organization or
business changes.
Resources
¦	Video: Greening Global Supply Chains from International Council on Clean Transportation
¦	Develop Your Sustainable Logistics Roadmap from Smart Freight Centre
¦	The Green Freight Handbook from Environmental Defense Fund
Integrate freight sustainabiLity concepts and ideas into your company's DNA by encouraging empLoyees to
incorporate information about your company's contributions to emissions reductions into reguLar business
updates. DownLoad and use any of these visuaLs beLow on your website or as posters in your office to
Let your empLoyees know about your commitment to freight efficiency You can aLso deveLop your own
graphics to highLight specific resources or ideas
Resources
¦	Public Service Ads: available here
¦	Presentation Template Powerpoint: available under "Step 5: Share Your Business Case" here
¦	Video: EPA SmartWay: Any Way You Ship it. Move it the SmartWay_
¦	Video: SmartWay for Shippers: You're in Good Company
¦	Develop your marketing materials using the SmartWay Logo Use Guidelines
% Improve Performance of Your Corporate Light Duty Fleets
If your business has a fLeet of passenger vehicLes, those are part of your corporate transporation footprint.
Do you know how cLean and efficient they are? Do you know you have options for procuring a "green(er)
fLeet" that refLects your corporate sustainabiLity goaLs?
Upgrade your Light-duty corporate fLeet by purchasing Lower-emitting SmartWay VehicLes. The SmartWay
program certifies the 20% Lowest-emitting passenger vehicLes each modeLyear, based on greenhouse gas
and smog ratings.

Develop Employee Education About Key Resources
Resources
¦ US EPA Green Vehicle Guide

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SmartWay'
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'
B. WORK WITH YOUR CARRIERS AND
LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS
Educate Your Carriers and 3PLs About Your Commitment to
Freight Sustainability
TeLLyour carriers and 3PLs about your commitment to freight sustainabiLity and encourage them to register
in SmartWay if not already. Share webinars and resources with your carriers to help them Learn about the
benefits of benchmarking freight performance. Consider presenting freight sustainabiLity ideas and goaLs at
your annuaL carrier meeting and share your commitment to SmartWay.
Resources
¦	Template: Shipper to Carrier Letter
¦	SmartWay Program Highlights
¦	Carrier Business Case for Freight Sustainability
¦	Overview of Carrier Strategies
¦	Tech Bulletins: Carrier Strategies for Efficiency
¦	Video: SmartWay for Carriers: Building Efficiency into Your Fleet Operations
¦	Ask your SmartWay Partner Account Manager if EPA can provide a presentation or webinar for your carriers
Engage Your Third-Party Logistics Service Providers (3PLS)
If you use freight services provided by 3PLs, consider working with them to enhance your reporting,
efficiency and sustainabiLity projects. Many 3PLs are adding sustainabiLity services, data and environmental
expertise to their portfoLios, which can support or compLement your efforts. Because they work directLy
with carriers on your behaLf, you may be abLe to coLLaborate with them to drive efficiency measures, better
reporting, and performance benchmarking.
Encourage your 3PLs to study the SmartWay Carrier Rankings and heLp you to procure high(er) performing
SmartWay carriers. You might aLso work with your 3PLs to expLore mode shifting, enhanced routing, Load
sharing, backhauLing and other suppLy chain optimization strategies.
Resources
¦	Video: SmartWay for Logistics Service Providers: DeLivering VaLue in the SuppLy Chain
¦	Webinar: SustainabiLity Strategies for Third-Party Logistics
¦	Explore: SmartWay Carrier Rankings
¦	Study: AnaLytics, Green Logistics Rank High in 3PL Study

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>SmartWay
tONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY J
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Share Your Performance Reports With Your Carriers and 3PLs
Use your Shipper Performance Report as a way of helping your carriers and 3PLs understand how their
performance affects your emissions footprint.
Resources
¦	Share Reports from your SmartWay Shipper tool
¦	Share your custom Shipper Performance Report, for Way-3 and Way-4 Shippers (this is found in your
SmartWay Portal resources)
¦	Or share the Example: Shipper Performance Report
o Observe the mode allocation ranges
o Study the carrier performance ranges
¦	Webinar: Understanding Shipper Performance
Increase Your Percent of Freight Shipped With Higher Performing Carriers
Use the Carrier Performance Ranking spreadsheet and your tooL data to identify opportunities to increase
freight shipments with more SmartWay Carriers and higher performing SmartWay carriers. Your 3PLs
shouLd aLso be abLe to assit you with this effort and heLp you to engage the carriers they procure on your
behaLf. By selecting more efficient carriers, you can reduce your emissions footprint.
Resources
¦	Understanding SmartWay Data: A Primer for Shippers
¦	SmartWay Carrier Performance Ranking
¦	SmartWay High Performer Lists
Encourage your carriers to improve their performance rankings by establishing incentives for higher
performance LeveLs.
Resources
¦	Factsheet: The Business Case for Becoming a SmartWay Carrier
¦	Webinar: Shippers: Resources for Aligning Win-Win Relationships With Your Carriers
¦	Webinar: Best Practices of a Preferred Shipper
¦	Webinar: Maximize your Efficiency with Fuel Saving Strategies and Technologies
¦	Webinar: SmartWay Carrier Awardees Share Effective Strategies
A
Create Carrier Incentives
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Incorporate SmartWay Status Into Your Bidding/RFP Process
Add Language to your RFPs that encourages or requires participating in SmartWay for carrier and/or 3PL
contracts.
Resources
¦	Template: Shipper RFP Guidance
¦	Webinar: Shippers: Resources for Aligning Win-Win Relationships With Your Carriers (Tyson and Whirlpool)
Recognize Carrier Performance
Demonstrate the importance of freight efficiency by providing recognition and incentives for optimal, performance.
Resources
¦	Recognize your Carriers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week
¦	Webinar: Maximize your Efficiency with Fuel Saving Strategies and Technologies
¦	Johnson & Johnson's Smart Shipping Operation
¦	XPO Carrier Rewards
C. WORK WITHIN YOUR OPERATIONS
Collaborate With Other Shippers
Engage in proper Load pLanning and emission-saving strategies to better manage transportation
costs whiLe reducing the environmental footprint of your suppLy chain. ExpLore strategies such as
co-warehousing, co-Loading, freight pooLing, and backhauLing as ways to improve shipment efficiency.
Resources
¦	Webinar: The Power of Partnership: Reducing Freight Emissions through Collaborative Efforts
¦	Tech Bulletin: Load Optimization for Shippers
¦	Examples:
o TransLoading facilities near ports
o Cross dock facilities
o Merge-in-transit facilities

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>SmartWay
tONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY J
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Optimize Routes and Networks
ExpLore systems and strategies for improving routing and redesigning transportation networks to cut miLes
out of your supply chain.
Resources
¦	Tech Bulletin: Route & Network Optimization for Shippers
¦	Case Study: Ocean Spray - Leveraging Distribution Network Redesign
Implement "No Idling" Policies at Your Facilities
Establish "no idLing poLices' at distribution and fulfillment centers and retaiL facilities to heLp save fueLand
reduce exposure to harmfuL pollutants.
Resources
¦	Tech Bulletin: Idle Reduction for Shippers
¦	Webinar: Best Practices of a Preferred Shipper
Increase Intermodal Shipments and Shift to Higher Efficiency Modes
Look for opportunities to increase IntermodaL shipments to reduce highway miLeage, which produces cost
savings and environmental benefits. For some companies, shifting from over-the-road transport to raiL
and barge where possibLe can reduce environmental impact and stiLL meet business objectives. Consider
strategies for reducing emissions from materiaL handLing equipment.
Resources
¦	Tech Bulletin: Intermodal for Shippers
¦	Webinar: 2019 SmartWay Award Recipients Share Efficient Practices
o Kimberly Clark and Hub Group Intermodal
¦	Reduce Emissions on Warehouse Equipment
Improve Packaging and Loading
Redesign packages to reduce weight and size, and optimize Loads resulting in fewer miLes and emissions.
Resources
¦	Tech Bulletin: Packaging Reduction for Shippers
¦	Explore: Modular Conveyors: Low Visibility Components In Eco-Efficiency
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Upgrade Your Distribution/Fulfillment Centers
Create more energy-efficient warehouses to reduce environmental, impacts and optimize Loading/unLoading.
Resources
¦	List of Strategies
o LEED Certification for Distribution Centers
o How Distribution Facilities Can Become Greener, More Sustainable
o Green roofs
o Skylights for lighting
o Quick open/close dock doors
o LED lighting
o Recycling
o Low VOC floor coverings
o Optimize layout to improve forklift flow:
o Review layout/location of bays
o No Idling at docks
o Drop and hook
Learn About Becoming a Preferred Shipper
Improve your abiLity to contract with the best carriers by employing strategies that improve carrier
experience and efficiency at your warehouses.
Resources
¦	Webinar: Learn What It Means to be a Shipper of Choice
¦	Transplace
o Transplace rolls out a Preferred Shipper Checklist focused on best practices
¦	CH Robinson
o Do Favored Shippers Really Receive Better Pricing and Service?
¦	Examples:
o Driver comfort stations (e.g., driver lounges, restrooms, parking)
o Reduced dwell time
o 24/7 or long load hours
o Drop trailer opportunities
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^ Take a Closer Look at Your Global Footprint
Use SmartWay tooLs to evaLuate your international ocean freight footprint and work with SmartWay
affiLiated programs around the worLd.
Resources
¦	Case Study: Toward Greener Supply Chains from International Council on Clean Transportation
¦	Webinar: The Green Supply Chain
D. WORK WITH YOUR SUPPLIERS
Encourage Your Suppliers to Join You in Your Freight Sustainability Journey
Spread your commitment to freight sustainabiLity throughout your suppLy chain by inspiring your suppliers
to commit to freight efficiency and join SmartWay.
Resources
¦	Mentoring resources: Ask your PAM
¦	Shipper to Supplier letter: Ask your PAM
¦	Webinar: Boosting Freight Sustainability at Lower Costs
Coordinate Supplier Shipments
Partner with your suppLiers to pLan shipments and routing that increases efficiency safety and resiliency
across your suppLy chain.
Resources
¦	Ten Steps to Managing Inbound Freight
¦	Linking Technology and a Sustainable Supply Chain
E. WORK WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS
Develop Public Education Strategies
TeLL your customers about why freight sustainabiLity matters to your company.
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\xSmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'
Resources
¦	Use the SmartWay Logo on your marketing materials
¦	Reference SmartWay Logo Use Guidelines
¦	Include information on "Why Freight Matters" to your company on your website
¦	Produce public education resources
Incorporate Your Freight Performance in Your Sustainability Reporting
Use SmartWay data to quantify your freight goaLs and performance improvements in sustainabiLity and
corporate responsibility reporting for your customers and stakeholders.
Resources
¦	Use your "Public Discolsure Report" from your SmartWay tool for Scope 3 reporting
¦	Refer to Corporate Social Responsibility reporting guidance here
F. WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

Develop Partnerships With a Range of Stakeholders
WhiLe GHGs from freight operations are significant and have gLobaL cLimate impacts, other
poLLutants Like oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) have notabLe adverse and LocaL
pubLic heaLth impacts. This is particuLarLy true in areas where oLder dieseL trucks and equipment
may operate, such as ports, borders and industrial areas. These poLLutants contribute to LocaLized
smog formation and are harmfuLto pubLic heaLth. Numerous communities suffer from excesses
of these emissions, and chiLdren, the eLderLy and those with heart and Lung aiLments are particu-
LarLy vuLnerabLe. Note that N20 (a component of NOx) and BLack Carbon (a component of PM) are
aLso both significant cLimate poLLutants and reducing them aLso heLps address cLimate change.
Look for ways to showcase your commitment and Leadership on freight sustainabiLity in your
state, region and LocaL community. Identify and work with organizations with which you have
shared goaLs and interests. Engage communities where you have operations, to understand
more about pLace-based initiatives in their areas to reduce GHGs and improve air quaLity.
Assess and act upon adverse impacts in underserved and disadvantaged communities subjected
to higher emissions from freight activity. As a first step, get to know your LocaL air quaLity agencies,
metropolitan pLanning organizations and community environmental groups. They work together
hand in hand and with other key LocaL organizations which can connect you to projects and
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programs Locally. ALso be sure to reach out to the EPA Regional. Office for your area. They will
have information on Local, and regionaL air quaLity concerns and cLimate impacts, having an
enhanced understanding of environmentaLand heaLth-reLated issues at the community Level
EPA RegionaL Offices often impLement and oversee LocaL programs and projects where your
company couLd potentiaLLy engage and contribute.
In addition to the SmartWay program, EPA oversees many programs that support LocaL initiatives
aimed at cLimate and air quaLity soLutions. See beLow for Links to these and other programs.
Resources
¦	SmartWay Affiliates
¦	EPA State and Local Climate Energy Resources
¦	EPA Regional Offices
¦	EnvironmentalJustice in Your Community
¦	EPA Ports Initiative
¦	EPA DERA Program
¦	EPA Border 2025 Program
¦	EPA Community Air Quality Monitoring Toolbox
¦	EPA Air Pollutants Technical Documents
¦	EPA EnvironmentalJustice Resources
¦	State Trucking Associations
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¦SmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency'
Goal Setting Guidance and Tips
Like any journey, it makes sense to know where you aim to go before you begin. Setting emissions
reductions goaLs and targets are no exception. Setting goaLs and getting managment buy-in will help
set the course for efficiency gains, cost reductions and improved environmental performance. Setting
performance goaLs or reduction targets, and announcing your pLans signals to your organization, your
employees, your shareholders and your customers that your business is committed to being a more
responsible corporate citizen and more sustainabLe business.
Your first step shouLd be to understand your emissions baseLine, and this is where SmartWay performance
benchmarking tooLs can help you know your emissions profiLe, your year-over-year performance, and
where your emissions are most prominent in your operations. Once you've used these resources to
establish your baseLine, consider setting absoLute emissions reductions targets and/or emissions intensity
targets unique to your business, operations or products. Once your targets are set, an action pLan shouLd
serve as a roadmap to help direct what steps and actions shouLd be impLemented over a period of time
to reach those goaLs. These activities incLude things Like carrier optimization, modaL shifts, suppLy chain
redesign, and muLtitudes of practices described in this document. This wiLL be your SmartWay Performance
Action PLan.
Your SmartWay Performance Action PLan indicates how much you wiLL improve your environmentaL
performance over a set period of time. Most companies set targets for three to five or even ten years.
Your target may be expressed using any measure that is appropriate for your business. Your Action PLan
summary is a simpLe description of the actions your company wiLL take over the next severaL years to
achieve your improvement goal
How do I go about developing my SmartWay Performance Action Plan?
You can use the Shipper reports and other data to heLp create and assess your goaLs by quantifying current
emissions and projecting reductions from pLanned enhancements to your operations. EPA suggests
that you compLete the Shipper Scores and Footprint sections of the Performance ModeL for your current
operations, and compLete a second version of the ModeL for your projected operations in the future. Your
goaLcan then be caLcuLated as the difference in activities and emissions between the two versions of
the ModeL.
ALternativeLy, or in addition to using the Performance ModeL to deveLop your Action PLan, you may deveLop
a tabLe simiLar to the one incLuded in this document, or may provide information in any other convenient
format, describing the actions your company pLans to take as a SmartWay Partner.
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Is there a minimum level of action that I must commit to taking?
Your SmartWay Performance Action PLan shouLd set an ambitious and tangibLe target aiming to increase
the proportion of goods shipped with higher performing Partner Carriers in addition to other efforts to
reduce emissions from facilities you control. - they shouLd not simply project "business as usual" Your goal.
shouLd be described in any way that helps you to communicate your efforts. The sampLe tabLe included in
this document provides exampLes of goaLs and strategies.
SampLe Performance Action Plan
Strategy
What
When
Objective
Status
Strategy 1:
Optimize
Packaging and
Loading
Reduce weight and/or volume of pack-
aging to drive more dense loading of
freight which leads to fewer shipments
and less emissions.
September 2022
Redesign packaging
to increase product to
package ratio.
Initiated
Strategy 2:
Optimize SuppLy
Chain Routing and
Distribution
Redesign distribution network with more
efficient network(s) which leads to fewer
total miles and less emissions.
January 2023
Hire third-party
logisitcs consultants
to assess network
design for optimal
efficiency.
Initiated
Assessment
Strategy 3:
Share Our
Performance
Report With Our
Carriers and 3PLS
Develop a presentation as part of our
annual transport meeting to discuss our
shipper performance report results, and
reinforce our commitment to partnering
with our carriers and 3PLS to improve the
overall performance of our freight supply
chain.
February 2022
Make sure our carriers
and 3PLS know our
goals.
Inspire our carriers
and 3PLS to value
freight efficiency
because it is our
priority as a customer.
Completed
Strategy 4:
Recognize
Carrier and 3PL
Performance
Work with our IT team to design a carrier
and 3PL performance dashboard that
includes efficiency metrics.
August 2022
Help carriers and
3PLs visualize their
performance.
Establish a way to
discuss specific
improvement goals
with carriers and
3PLS.
Create performance
transparency metrics
for carriers and 3PLS.
On Track
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Strategy
Strategy 5:
Host a Carrier and
3PLWebinarWith
EPA
Schedule and set up a webinar for all of
our transport service providers.
Invite our PAM to speak on behalf of EPA
SmartWay about how the program works
and how it benefits carriers and 3PLS and
syncs with our efficiency goals.
Host a webinar.
June 2022
July 2022
August 2022
Objective
Educate our carriers
and 3PLS about
what the SmartWay
program is, how it
works, and what
is involved in
participating.
Reinforce our
commitment to
working with 100%
SmartWay Registered
Carriers and 3PLS.
On Track
Strategy 6:
Assess and
Upgrade Freight
PoLicies at
Distribution
Centers
Review our current policies at our DCs.
Examine opportunities to improve drop
off and loading systems.
Develop a plan to implement and test a
new set of policies.
Develop a benchmarking system and
track the impact of DC improvement
strategies.
September 2022
October 2022
November 2022
December 2022
Reduce idling and
emissions on engine
running times.
Reduce dwell time.
Improve driver
comfort and our
status as a preferred
shipper.
Measure and
calculate the
environmental and
financial impact of our
new DC policies.
Not started
Strategy 7:
Set a Carbon
Reduction GoaL
Baseline carbon performance on an
absolute and intensity basis, i.e., the
annual tons of GHG emissions and the
avg g/ton-mile efficiency of your freight
supply chain.
Set targets for reducing total tons of
annual emissions and a lower g/ton-mile
efficiency level.
September 2021
December 2026
Implement
procurement policies
and efficiency
strategies for cleaner
carriers. Improve
load optimization,
implement
intermodal.
Not started
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AFPA EJnnS™SSi protection	^vSmartWay
hI *m Agency	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency^
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air QuaLity
SmartWay Transport Partnership
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, Ml 48105
734-214-4767
EPA 420-B-21-026 I October 20211 SmartWay Transport Partnership I epa.gov/smartway

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