2024 SmartWay Excellence Award Shipper Semifinalist Application Instructions and Evaluation Criteria

^vSmartWay

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*

2024 SmartWay Excellence Award
Shipper Semifinalist Application Instructions
and Evaluation Criteria

CONGRATULATIONS!

Your company has qualified as a SmartWay Excellence Award semifinalist and is invited to apply for Award
consideration. Partners are Award semifinalists because they meet the SmartWay Excellence Award
performance criteria. Shippers that qualify as 2024 Award semifinalists meet a set of emissions-based criteria
that clearly distinguish the environmental performance of their transportation and logistics operations.
Review the 2024 SmartWay Excellence Award Criteria for details.

Award semifinalists are also in good standing and have two years of data on file with EPA SmartWay
including an on-time Partner Tool submission in the current and prior calendar year.

In addition to meeting these performance-based criteria, to qualify as a SmartWay Excellence Awardee, a
shipper Partner also demonstrates leadership and engages in programs and activities that align with
SmartWay's goals to make freight more sustainable, including the following:

^ Leadership in freight emissions accounting, disclosure, and sustainability achievements

^ Technology and operational excellence

*•> Stakeholder collaboration

V- Integrated freight management

EPA Form Number: 5900-488 | OMB No. 2060-0663 I Expiration Date: 03/31/2025

Burden Statement: This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control. No. 2060-0663). Responses to this collection of information are voLuntary (Energy
PoLicy Act of 2005; citation 109-58). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unLess it displays a currently vaLid OMB control, number. The pubLic reporting and
recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 3.25 hours to compiLe and submit the
SmartWay SemifinaList Application form. This is a one-time submittal Send comments on the Agency's need for
this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing
respondent burden to the Regulatory Support Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. IncLude the OMB controL number in any correspondence. Do not
send the completed form to this address.

EPA-420-F-24-009 | February 2024 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway

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^vSmartWay

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*

This application is an opportunity for your company to highlight, share, and potentially be recognized for its
leadership in these activities as a 2024 SmartWay Excellence Awardee.

In addition to the environmental performance results derived from the 2023 Shipper Tool submission (note
that this submitted data is from the 2022 calendar year), the 2024 SmartWay Excellence Awards will
consider semifinalist application responses and associated supporting documentation.

The semifinalist application will bejudged on a point system that evaluates leadership based on specific
categories that include:

^ Freight and freight emissions are a part of your company's sustainability reports, plans, and

environmental disclosures. SmartWay's freight performance reports are used to develop strategies and
set targets to mitigate and reduce freight emissions. Freight and freight efficiency improvements are
included in your company's environmental reports. Freight efficiency gains are highlighted and
celebrated, along with cost savings.

^ The adoption and implementation of best practices, strategies, and technologies that effectively reduce
freight emissions, including carbon, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides.

Collaboration with carriers, logistics companies, suppliers, and other stakeholders in support of your
company's freight sustainability goals.

Wholistically address freight emissions from shipping activities and operations across all company
business units, including different divisions, brands, and direct subsidiaries.

There is a total of 100 possible points for the Award Semifinalist Application. The possible total credit for each
question is presented below:

SHIPPER SEMIFINALIST APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Shippers

Q1.1: SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING and REPORTING: CLIMATE, COMMUNITY, FREIGHT, SMARTWAY

Qi 2- SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING and REPORTING: CLIMATE, COMMUNITY, FREIGHT, SMARTWAY
(summary)

Q2.1: FREIGHT STRATEGY INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Scoring

15
17

11

27
20
10

Q2.2: FREIGHT STRATEGY INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION (summary)
Q3: STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION
Q4: COMPREHENSIVE TOOL (ACTIVITY/DATA) REPORTING

100

EPA-420-F-24-009 | February 2024 I SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway

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^vSmartWay

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*

DETAILED APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

For all items that you check off in the application questions:

Describe and summarize your company's Leadership activities and outcomes the company achieved
during 2022 - 2023.

^ Limit responses to a maximum of 1,000 words. ALL responses must be addressed and submitted via this
appLication.

^ In addition to your response (as onLy a secondary means to support typed statements in this appLication),
provide web Links to cLearLy identified sources that support and/or document your company's efforts
wherever appropriate.

• PLease write out the fuLL URL of web Links.

• PLease test the web Links prior to submission to SmartWay.

• When incLuding web Links is not possibLe, cLearLy identified digitaL attachments wiLL be accepted.
Identify supporting documentation with the Partner name, question number and checkbox letter.

• PLease emaiL attachments to smartway_transport@epa.gov. No hard copies of documentation wiLL be
accepted or considered.

PREPARATION NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE SMARTWAY EXCELLENCE AWARD
SEMIFINALIST APPLICATION:

Preview the appLication in its entirety before you begin to determine:

• You have the information or knowLedge required to compLete the appLication.

• The peopLe at your company best suited to assist you with responding to specific appLication
questions.

^ Identify the person who compLeted the 2023 SmartWay Shipper T00L at your company. This individuaL
shouLd be consuLted as a resource or reference when compLeting the appLication.

EPA-420-F-24-009 | February 2024 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway

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^vSmartWay

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*

^ Determine which staff at your company is best suited to respond to a section of the application. Some
suggestions regarding appropriate staff to consult are offered below:

For Shippers

Role

Q1.1

SustainabiLity or Environmental Manager

Ql.2

SustainabiLity or Environmental Manager

Q2.1

Transportation Manager, Logistics Manager

Ql.2

Transportation Manager or Logistics Manager

SustainabiLity Director or Community Liaison

Company SmartWay Contact

^ Gather your data and examples before beginning the narrative in response to each question. Before

submitting your application please be sure that your descriptions include the following:

• clear, concise and complete summaries (1000-word limit) when requested, providing details to
checked responses;

• actual achievements and outcomes, as well as activities and efforts that have taken place during
2022-2023;

• evidence, proof or documentation which substantiates submissions with specific application
questions cited; clearly identify all sources with your company name, the question number and
checked item from the application for digital attachments: and

• quality and substantive summaries, descriptions, and documentation.

ONLINE APPLICATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS:

Please review your responses before submitting your application to SmartWay. Click the "Edit" button on the
review page to return to revise responses. You must click the "Submit" button to send your application to
EPA.

To save your progress, please click the "Save Draft" button. You will have 15 days to complete the
application using the same computer and browser.

The "Reset" button will delete a saved or partially completed application.

Please complete and submit the application by the due date of Monday, April 29, 2024, 5 p.m. PT.

EPA-420-F-24-009 | February 2024 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway

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^vSmartWay

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

In addition to Partner and contact information, you can expect to see the following about your company's

efforts in calendar years 2022-2023:

^ Qi: What efforts is your company taking regarding sustainability planning and reporting?

•	Specifically, what climate reporting frameworks do you use, what emissions data is collected, and
how is community engagement addressed?

•	Please provide an overview of your company's sustainability planning and reporting and how climate,
freight, and SmartWay fit in.

Q2: Has your company implemented any innovative practices, policies, efforts, or strategies to help

improve freight efficiency or assist in regional emergencies?

•	What have you implemented?

•	Please provide an overview of your company's freight transport strategy innovation and
implementation efforts. Cite specific efforts identified above.

^ Q3: What has your company done to demonstrate leadership and collaborate with stakeholders?

•	Which entities has your company coordinated with or influenced?

•	Please identify the entities and provide an overview of interactions with the entities your company
has worked with.

Q4: Does your SmartWay Shipper Tool capture freight movement from all business operations?

•	If yes, please elaborate and provide the names of the business units.

EPA-420-F-24-009 | February 2024 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway

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