United States
Environmental Protection
ImI Agency
^vSmartWay
U.S. Environmental protection agency
2024 SmartWay
Online Logistics Tool:
Technical Documentation
U.S. Version 1.0 (Data Year 2023)
EPA-420B-24-042 I October 2024 i SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway
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^CPA EnvlronmemaI Protection ^^\XSmartWay
* mAgency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency^
2024 SmartWay
Online Logistics Tool:
Technical Documentation
U.S. Version 1.0
(Data Year 2023)
Transportation and Climate Division
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA-420-B-24-042
October 2024
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Table of Contents
OVERVIEW l
1.0 TOOL INPUTS AND CALCULATIONS 2
Emission Inventory and Performance Metric CaLcuLations 2
Ton-MiLe CaLcuLation 3
Carrier Emissions Performance Data 4
Truck Carrier Performance 4
Logistics Carrier Performance n
Air and Barge Carrier Performance n
RaiL Carrier Performance n
ESLack Carbon Emissions Estimation 20
% SmartWay VaLue 21
PubLic Disclosure Reports 22
2.0 PAYLOADS AND DATA VALIDATION 24
PayLoad VaLidation 24
Ton-MiLe VaLidation 25
APPENDIX A - BACKGROUND ON INDUSTRY AVERAGE U.S. RAIL FACTORS A-l
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List of Tables
Table 1. Emissions Calculation Basis by SmartWay Category 2
Table 2. Emission Factor Ranges for TL Dry Van CO2 g/mile (2023 Data) 8
Table 3. Non-SmartWay Truck Carrier Performance Metrics (Data Year 2023) 9
Table 4. Default "Miles Only" Payload Values (Data Year 2021) 10
Table 5. Non-SmartWay Logistics Carrier Performance Metrics (Data Year 2022) 11
Table 6. Performance Metrics for Non-SmartWay Air and Barge Carriers 11
Table 7. Rail Carrier Performance Metric Calculation Inputs & Results (2017 R-i Data) 12
Table 8. Rail Carrier Average Payload 12
Table 9. Railcar Volume Assumptions and Sources 13
Table 10. Rail Carrier Average Volume Determination 16
Table 11. BC/PM Ratios for Logistics Business Units 21
Table 12. Logistics Business Unit Payload Validation Ranges 24
Table A-i. U.S. Freight Rail Industry Average Factors (2017) 1
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Overview
The SmartWay Logistics Tool is intended to help Logistics companies estimate and assess their carbon, PM,
and NOx emissions associated with goods movement in the U.S. freight trucking, rail, air and barge sectors.1
The SmartWay truck, barge, air, and Logistics carrier emissions performance data that EPA has included in the
Tool, along with industry average Class I rail C02 data, allows logistics companies to generate more accurate
emissions performance estimates and mass emissions inventories. The Tool allows logistics companies to
track their freight-related emissions performance from year to year and help optimize their emissions
performance by allowing them to better estimate the emissions impact of individual carriers.
* Future versions of the tool may help partners evaluate the emissions performance associated with ocean going vessels.
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Tool Inputs and Calculations
After Logistics companies enter their company and contact information, they provide basic information about
each business unit they operate, including name, SCAC, MCN, NSC, and US DOT Number, as well as details
regarding business unit type and business focus. Logistics companies then identify each carrier they use for
each logistics business unit. Next, users proceed to input activity data for each carrier specified.
EMISSION INVENTORY AND PERFORMANCE METRIC CALCULATIONS
After inputting the required mileage and/or ton-mile information for each carrier used, the Tool will calculate
the associated total mass emissions (i.e., an emissions inventory) based on the mileage-related activity data
entered, as well as various emission performance metrics (e.g., composite grams/mile and grams/ton-mile -
see below).
Carrier-specific emissions are first calculated either on a ton-mile basis (as ton miles x grams per ton-mile), or
on a miles basis (miles x grams per mile), depending on the SmartWay Category as shown in Table l2 Any
modes/categories not listed have a limited data availability and their emissions are calculated using ton-
miles.
Table l. Emissions Calculation Basis by SmartWay Category
SmartWay Category
Activity Basis
Dtm
Dm
Refrigerated
Ton-miles
1
0
Mixed
Ton-miles
1
0
TL/Dry Van
Ton-miles
1
0
Flatbed
Miles
0
1
Moving
Miles
0
1
Dray
Miles
0
1
Non-SW Truck General
Ton-Miles
1
0
Specialized
Miles
0
1
Expedited
Miles
0
1
Auto
Miles
0
1
Tanker
Miles
0
1
Heavy/Bulk
Miles
0
1
The partner's mass emissions are calculated by summing the individual carrier emissions. Then, fleet average
emission factors are calculated by dividing mass emissions by total ton-miles and total miles to obtain grams
per ton-mile and grams per mile, respectively. The fleet average payload is calculated by dividing total ton-
miles by total miles.
2 Note that the Tool does not need partners to enter a payload or ton-mile estimate for SmartWay Categories whose emissions are based on Miles, as the
payload estimate will not affect the overall emissions footprint. However, the calculated emission factors and average payload estimate are affected by the
assigned payload.
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Overall, carrier emissions are calculated using the following equations, where Dtm and Dm are dummy
variables with values of either o or 1, as shown in Table l above.
Ec = Dtm * TonMlles * gtm + Dm * Miles * gm
Total emissions:
Etot ~ / Ec
-I
Emission factors and average payload (APL):
_ tot
^ m YiCTonMilesc
Etot
gm =
APL =
Miles c
£c TonMilesc
'ZcMilesc
The emissions inventory for each carrier/mode combination displayed in the Business Unit, Emissions by
Carrier, and Emissions by Mode Reports is calculated using the equations shown above. To calculate
composite, business unit-wide emissions and associated performance metrics (i.e., overall g/mile and g/ton-
mile performance), the Tool simply sums the emissions, miles and ton-miles for the associated business unit
and divides the total emissions by total miles and ton-miles as appropriate.
TON-MILE CALCULATION
Correctly calculating Ton-Miles is critically important for the accurate determination of your carbon footprint.
You can calculate your company's ton-miles as follows.
Determine the ton-miles hauled per year attributable to each carrier. A ton-mile is one ton moving one mile.
DO NOT ESTIMATE TON-MILES BY SIMPLY MULTIPLYING TOTAL MILES BY TOTAL TONS - this calculation
effectively assumes your entire tonnage is transported on EACH AND EVERY shipment and will clearly
overstate your ton-miles.
Many companies track their ton-miles and can report them directly without further calculation. For example,
logistics company systems are often set up to associate a payload with the mileage traveled on each trip by
carrier and are then summed at the end of the year. If such information is not available, there are two ways to
calculate ton-miles:
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1. Companies can determine their average payload per carrier, multiply the average payload by the
total miles per carrier, and sum the results for all carriers for the reporting year; or
2. Set Ton-miles per carrier = (total miles per carrier x total tons per carrier)
total # of trips per carrier
NOTE: In both ton-mile calculations, empty miles are not factored in while the fuel used to drive those empty
miles is factored in.
To check your estimate, divide ton-miles by miles. The result is your fleet-average payload. If this number is
not reasonable, (e.g., typically between 15 and 25 tons for Class 8b trucks), please check your calculations.
CARRIER EMISSIONS PERFORMANCE DATA
The current SmartWay program provides C02, NOx and PM gram per mile, and gram per ton-mile emission
factors for truck, rail, logistics, air and barge freight transport providers. SmartWay may incorporate emission
factors from ocean-going vessel transport providers in the future.
TRUCK CARRIER PERFORMANCE
Truck carrier performance data utilized by the current Logistics Tool is based on 2024 Truck Partner Tool
submittals for activity in 2023. Performance data includes g/mile and g/ton-mile for each truck carrier. Note
that g/mile and g/ton-mile values represent midpoints for the appropriate SmartWay Category, rather than
exact performance levels for a given carrier. Truck SmartWay Categories include:
TL Dry Van
LTL Dry Van
Refrigerated
Flatbed
Tanker
Dray
Package
Auto Carrier
Expedited
Heavy/Bulk
Moving
Specialized
Mixed
Truck fleets are placed into a SmartWay Category and ranked with other SmartWay partner's fleet in that
same category based on the following rules:
1. If 75% or more of the fleet's Operation is Drayage the fleet will be categorized as a Drayage fleet,
regardless of what you specify for fleet's Body Type.
Otherwise
1. If 75% or more of the fleet's Body Type is Moving, Heavy/Bulk, Refrigerated, Tanker, Auto Carrier, or
Flatbed then the fleet will be categorized as that matching body type.
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2. If the sum of the fleet's Utility Body Type and Special Hauler Body Type is 75% or more, then the fleet
will be categorized as Specialized/Utility.
3. If 75% or more of the fleet's Body Type is Dry Van or Chassis then:
a. If 75% or more of the fleet's Operation is Truckload then the fleet will be categorized as TL/Dry
Van.
b. If 75% or more of the fleet's Operation is Less than Truckload then the fleet will be categorized as
LTL/Dry Van.
c. If 75% or more of the fleet's Operation is Package then the fleet will be categorized as Package.
d. If 75% or more of the fleet's Operation is Expedited then the fleet will be categorized as
Expedited.
4. Otherwise, if none of the above conditions exist the fleet will be categorized as a Mixed fleet.
The following provides an overview of the process used to estimate the carrier-specific performance ranges.
Truck Performance Categories
In the 2024 SmartWay Online Truck Tool, data is collected at the individual company fleet level. Fleets are
characterized by a) business type: for-hire or private, b) operational type: truckload/expedited, less than
truckload, dray, expedited, or package delivery, and c) equipment type: dry van, refrigerated van, flatbed,
tanker, chassis (container), heavy/bulk, auto carrier, moving, or specialized (e.g., hopper, livestock, others.)
The possible categories are shown below.
For Hire
Dry Van
Reefer
Flatbed
Tanker
Chassis
Heavy/Bulk
Auto
Carrier
Moving
Specialized
TL
LTL
Dray
Expedited
Package
Private
Dry Van
Reefer
Flatbed
Tanker
Chassis
Heavy/Bulk
Auto
Carrier
Moving
Specialized
TL
LTL
Dray
Expedited
Package
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Note that while Specialized fleets have disparate operations/equipment types and thus do not compare
well, they are also unlikely to compete with one another, so it was deemed acceptable to aggregate these
disparate fleets into one category.
For-hire and private fleets are combined in the SmartWay Categories. There are relatively few private fleets
compared to for-hire fleets. Because owners of private fleets generally hire their own fleets exclusively, it
was determined that grouping for-hire and private fleets together would not be detrimental to for-hire fleets,
and the simplicity of one for-hire and private category outweighed the benefits of listing fleets separately.
Grouping for-hire and private separately would have doubled the number of SmartWay Categories.
Therefore, fleets can thus be categorized as shown below.
For Hire and Private
Dry Van
Reefer
FLatbed
Tanker
Chassis
Heavy/Bulk
Auto
Carrier
Moving
Specialized
TL
LTL
Dray
Expedited
Package
Individual fleets were then placed into SmartWay Categories. The following shows the relative number of
fleets for the various category intersections, with darker shadings indicating more fleets.
Dry Van
Reefer
Flatbed
Tanker
Chassis
Heavy/Bulk
Auto
Carrier
Moving
Specialized
Mixed
LTL
-
-
-
-
Dray
-
-
-
-
-
Expedited
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Package
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mixed
-
-
-
-
-
SmartWay then considered combining categories with similar characteristics for simplification purposes. One
prerequisite was that there needed to be a minimum number of fleets in each category. SmartWay
determined that a category needed a minimum of 25 fleets to be created. It was also determined that dry
van and chassis (i.e., intermodal container) groups functioned primarily as dry van transport, so these
categories were combined. While most refrigerated carriers were truckload, a few less than truckload
refrigerated fleets exist, so these categories were combined. Although no expedited or package refrigerated
fleets were identified, these categories were also combined into one overall refrigerated category so that no
operation and equipment type intersections would be left undefined. A similar situation was identified with
flatbed, tanker, heavy/bulk, auto carrier, moving, and specialized fleets. All dray fleets were collapsed into
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one category. Any fleet that had mixed operation and/or mixed equipment was placed into a single mixed
category. Finally logistics business units were also included and retained as unique categories.
The final performance categories for 2023 are illustrated below. The solid colors indicate how operation and
equipment type assignments vary by performance category. For example, if 75% or more of a fleet's mileage
is associated with reefer trucks, the fleet is assigned to the Reefer category regardless of the operation
percentage across truckload, expedited, LTL, and package categories. However, the Reefer category
assignment is overridden if the operation category is greater than or equal to 75% dray or logistics. Similar
assignment rules apply to flatbed, tanker, heavy/bulk, auto carrier, moving, and specialized equipment
types, as described above. Only the Dry Van/Chassis equipment category is subdivided by the truckload,
expedited, LTL, and package operation categories, meaning that the 75% threshold must be met for both
equipment and operation type in these cases. All other equipment/operation type percentage distributions
are assigned to the Mixed category.
Figure l. SmartWay Carrier Categories and Data Specificity 2023 Data Year
TRUCK
Dry Van
Heavy
Auto
Specialized
& Chassis
Reefer
Flatbed
Tanker
& Bulk
Carrier
Moving
& Utility
Mixed
Dray
Dray
5 Performance Levels
Truckload
Truckload DryVan
5 Performance Levels
Reefer
Flatbed
Tanker
Heavy
Auto
Moving
Specialized
Mixed
Expedited
Expedited
& Bulk
Carrier
& Utility
5 Performance Levels
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
LTL
LTL
Performance
Performance
Performance
Performance
Performance
Performance
Performance
Performance
5 Performance Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Levels
Package
Package Delivery
5 Performance Levels
Less than 75%
Mixed
Mixed
in any category
Rail
Single Modal Average for All Rail
(No company differentiation allowed per Association of American Railroads)
Barge
Air
Company Specific Data
Logistics
10 Performance Levels
it is possible that SmartWay will expand these categories in the future based on in-use experience or as a
result of further data analysis, and/or requests from industry.
Fleets within a SmartWay Category have been ranked from lowest emission factor (best) to highest emission
factor (worst) for each of the following metrics: C02 g/mile, C02 g/ton-mile, NOx g/mile, NOx g/ton-mile,
PM10 g/mile and PM10 g/ton-mile. When SmartWay Categories are established, fleets within a category are
separated into 5 ranges such that a roughly equal number of fleets are in each range. (Logistics fleets are an
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exception, being separated into 10 bins.) Each range thus represents a group of emission factors and the
associated ranking "cutpoints" (transition points from one rank to the next). The new range cutpoints are
displayed as numbers with significant digits appropriate to emission factors in that range. The midpoint of the
range is used as the emission factor for all fleets in that range.
It would be simpler and more straightforward to use fleet-specific emission factors, however the trucking
industry expressed concern that revealing exact data could be used to back-calculate mile per gallon
numbers. The methodology described above prevents a determination of an exact mpg figure, while at the
same time attributing an emission factor much more precisely than a modal default number. Given the large
number of trucking fleets, and thus opportunity for fleets to be very close to each other in performance,
SmartWay believes it is acceptable and appropriate to break truck fleets into 5 performance ranges for each
SmartWay Category.
The table below illustrates the ranges for CO2 g/mile for the TL/Dry Van SmartWay Category, using 2023
Truck Partner data as an example.
Table 2. Emission Factor Ranges for TL Dry Van CO2 g/mile (2023 Data)
Bin #
Fleets Per
Bin
Grams Per
MiLe Min
Grams Per
MiLe Max
Grams Per Mile
Range Midpoint
1
239
0
1,388
1,346
2
249
1,388
1,472
1,430
3
294
1,472
1,562
1,517
4
265
1,562
1,669
1,615
5
242
1,669
3,050
1,711
Similar tables have been developed for all performance SmartWay Categories. The "midpoint" of each
performance range is the data that the online logistics tool uses to represent the emission performance of a
specific fleet that is in the associated range. Once the categories and ranges have been established, the
fleets of any new companies joining SmartWay will fall into one of the predefined categories/ranges for that
reporting year. SmartWay may update the category/range structure periodically.
Performance estimates for non-SmartWay truck carriers were calculated based on the lowest performing
truck partners. Since no data exist to define non-SmartWay fleets, SmartWay believes the prudent approach
is to assign conservative emission factors to non-SmartWay companies. Also, this policy makes it likely that
any companyjoining SmartWay will see better emission factors displayed than the non-SmartWay default
emission factors.
The non-SmartWay performance metrics were calculated by taking the performance range delta (max - min)
for the highest bin within each SmartWay Category and using the delta to calculate a non-SmartWay carrier
midpoint for that Category. For truck carriers the midpoint for non-SmartWay carriers is the midpoint for
Range 5 plus the Bin 5 range delta. For example, if the Range 5 midpoint was 10.5 and the range delta was
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l.o, then the non-SmartWay midpoint is calculated to be 11.5.3 Table 3 summarizes the 2023 data year
performance metrics for non-SmartWay Truck Carriers.
Table 3. Non-SmartWay Truck Carrier Performance Metrics (Data Year 2023)
Category
COzg/tmi
COz g/mi
NOx g/tmi
NOx g/mi
PM2.5 g/tmi
PM2.5 g/mi
Auto Carrier
131
2,290
0.320
6.000
0.00310
0.05180
Dray
112
1,983
0.636
12.000
0.01250
0.25400
Expedited
831
1,866
0.570
5100
0.00720
0.02450
Flatbed
96
2,031
0.355
7.800
0.00580
0.12400
Heavy/Bulk
106
2,479
0.345
9500
0.00620
0.14230
LTL/Dry Van
265
1,714
0.595
4.290
0.00280
0.01820
Mixed/General
125
1,966
0.340
5700
0.00330
0.05950
Moving
455
1.749
0.535
7.000
0.01150
0.25750
Package
1115
1,348
0.970
3.150
0.00800
0.00850
Refrigerated
109
2,057
0.275
5100
0.00200
0.03650
Specialized
152
2,158
0.475
6.200
0.00460
0.04320
Tanker
80
1,902
0.206
4.730
0.00220
0.04900
TL/DryVan
108
1.795
0.286
4.510
0.00140
0.01920
As discussed in the Online Logistics Tool User Guide, depending upon the type of data available for a given
carrier, the user may input ton-miles or miles, and rely on carrier data to back-calculate the other value. For
example, providing ton-miles and average payload allows the Tool to estimate total miles, by dividing the
former by the latter.
When the "Miles Only" data availability option is selected, the Online Logistics Tool uses a default payload
value for the associated SmartWay Category. Default values were determined by first plotting the range of
reported payloads for all carriers within a SmartWay Category that were hired by Logistics Partners in the
2018 data year. The default payload value for each Category was selected to minimize the sum of the
differences between each carrier's reported payload and the default value.4 This approach effectively
equalizes the areas above and below the 0% line in the plots - see Figure 2 for an example.
3 The performance metrics for the Non-SmartWay "General" Truck Category, which can be selected by partners when a carrier's SmartWay Category is
unknown, is set equal to the performance metrics for the Non-SmartWay Mixed Truck Category within the tool.
4 The default payload value for the General Truck category is set equal to the average payload reported by logistics partners across all truck SmartWay
Categories.
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Figure 2. Reported Logistics Partner Payloads (2018) vs Default (9.58 tons)
Category = Expedited
200%
150%
+J
100%
£
CD
O
LO
50%
>
(0
+J
CD
O
0%
-50%
-100%
200 400 a
f 800 1000 1200 14
Observation Number
Table 4 presents the default payloads used for "Miles Only" selections for each SmartWay Truck Category.
Table 4. Default "Miles Only" Payload Values (Data Year 2021)
Category
Tons
Dray
16.18
Expedited
9.58
Specialized
17.20
LTL
6.34
Auto Carrier
15.12
Heavy Bulk
16.75
Tl7Dry Van
16.35
Moving
10.73
Flatbed
17.32
Mixed
16.15
General
16.12
Package
5.86
Tanker
18.33
Refrigerated
17.60
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LOGISTICS CARRIER PERFORMANCE
Logistic carriers have their own performance bins based on the carrier tool submittals for the most recent
available calendar year.
Non-SmartWay carrier performance for the SmartWay Categories is estimated in the same way as is done
for non-SmartWay Truck carriers. Table 5 summarizes the 2022 data year performance metrics for non-
SmartWay Logistics Carriers.
Table 5. Non-SmartWay Logistics Carrier Performance Metrics (Data Year 2022)
Category
COzg/tmi
COz g/mi
NOx g/tmi
NOx g/mi
PM2.5 g/tmi
PM2.5 g/mi
Logistics
189
2,555
0.610
7.950
0.00950
0.12850
AIR AND BARGE CARRIER PERFORMANCE
Air and barge carriers have agreed to have their actual emissions results made public, and barge
performance values used in the Logistics Tool are carrier-specific. The gram per mile performance values for
barge carriers correspond to individual barge (nautical) miles travelled, rather than miles travelled by a string
of barges or the associated tug(s).
Non-SmartWay barge carrier gram per mile and gram per ton-mile performance is set to be 25% higher than
the worst performing SmartWay barge carrier.
Performance levels for non-SmartWay air freight are based on partner submittals, increasing the highest
values reported by partners to provide a reasonable margin of error. These values will be reassessed as
more air partner data are obtained. The performance metrics are shown in Table 6.
Table 6. Performance Metrics for Non-SmartWay Air and Barge Carriers
C02/tmi
C02/mi
NOx/tmi
NOx/mi
PM/tmi
PM/mi
Short-haul Air
4.300
100,000
40
900
2
35
Long-haul Air
1,500
50,000
20
650
1
25
Barge
18.58
23.295
0.64
672
0.02
22.24
RAIL CARRIER PERFORMANCE
For Class 1 railroads, rail carrier performance data are collected and displayed in the Logistics Tool at the
industry average level derived from Class 1 rail company data. Carrier performance data for Class 2 and 3
railroads are actual values calculated from their submitted tools. Gram per ton-mile factors were determined
by dividing total fuel use by total ton-miles and multiplied by a rail diesel C02 factor (10,180 g C02/gal diesel
fuel), from publicly available data submitted in the 2017 railroad R-i reports to the Department of
Transportation. 2017 R-i data was also used to obtain total railcar-miles per year for all Class 1 carriers, to
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estimate gram per railcar-mile factors. Industry average values are currently assumed for all Class l rail carriers
in the carrier file, regardless of SmartWay Partnership status. Specific rail companies may have the opportunity
to provide company-specific data in the future. The R-i data and corresponding C02 performance data are
presented in Table 7 below.
Table 7. Rail Carrier Performance Metric Calculation Inputs & Results
(2017 R-i Data)
Rail Company
Gal/Yr (000)
Sch. 750 Line 4
Freight Ton
Mi/Yr('ooo)
Sch. 755 line
110
Railcar Mi/Yr
( OOO) Sch. 755
sum of lines 30,
46, 64 & 82
g
COz/railcar
mile
g
COz/short
ton mile
BNSF Railway
1.353.897
665,948,516
11,606,520
1,187
20.70
CSX T ransportation
426,721
208,127,221
4.713.411
922
20.87
Grand Trunk
116,986
62,708,628
1,486,205
801
18.99
Kansas City Southern
68,873
34.582,626
724,012
968
20.27
Norfolk Southern*
458,179
201,451.969
4,383.081
1,064
2315
Soo Line
65.299
35.244.079
745.550
892
18.86
Union Pacific
1,016,161
466,721,215
10,090,926
1,025
22.16
Total/Industry Average
3,506,116
1,674,784,254
33,749,705
980
20.72
* and combined subsidiaries
NOx and PM emission factors for Class 1 rail carriers are also based on industry averages. Please see the
"Background on Illustrative (Modal Average) U.S. Truck and Rail Factors" in Appendix A for further details.
Average payloads per loaded railcar were calculated for all Class 1 carriers by dividing the value for annual
ton-miles hauled by an estimate for loaded railcar-miles, based on 2008 R-i data. The calculation uses the
Total Revenue and Non-Revenue Ton-Miles as listed in the R-i Report on line 114 of schedule 755 divided by
the Total loaded Railcar-Miles (the sum of lines 30 and 64 of schedule 755) along with the factor for fuel
gallons consumed for loaded freight that is created based on the percentage of loaded freight to total freight
multiplied by the total diesel fuel value listed on schedule 750 Line 4. The following table summarizes the
estimated average payload per railcar, by carrier.
Table 8. Rail Carrier Average Payload
Carrier
Avg Payload/Loaded
Railcar (tons)
BNSF Railway
108
CSX T ransportation
85
Grand Trunk
80
Kansas City Southern
91
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Carrier
Avg Payload/Loaded
Railcar (tons)
Norfolk Southern
76
Soo Line
77
Union Pacific
91
Industry Average
93
Average railcar volumes were calculated for all carriers by first estimating an average volume for each major
railcar type listed in the R-i forms (schedule 755, lines 15-81). The assumptions used to estimate these
volumes are provided in Table 9. The railcar-miles reported for each railcar type were multiplied by these
average volumes to estimate annual cubic foot-miles travelled by car type for each company and for the
industry average. The distribution of cubic foot-miles across car types was used as the weighting factor to
estimate a single average railcar volume for each company. These values and the resulting volume
estimates are presented in Table 10.
Table g. Railcar Volume Assumptions and Sources
Railcar Type
Cubic
Feet
Source/Method
Key: Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS)5, Union Pacific Railroad (UP)6, Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF)7, CSX Transportation Railroad (CSX)8, World Trade Press
Guide to Railcars (GTRC)9, Chicago Rail Car Leasing (CRCL)10, Union Tank Car Company
(UTCC)11, U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)12
Boxcar 50 ft and
longer including
equipped boxcars
7,177
Based on the average of the following boxcar types:
soft assumed to be 5694 [reflecting the average of 5355 (NS), 5431 (UP), 5238
(CSX), 6175 (BSNF), 6269 (GTRC)].
60ft assumed to be 6,648 [reflecting the average of 6618 (NS), 6389 (UP), 6085
(CSX), 7500 (BNSF)].
/soft hiah cube assumed to be 6,304 [refLectina the averaae of 6339 (NS) and
6269 (CSX)].
60 ft. hiah cube assumed to be 6qi7 [refLectina the averaae of 74QQ (NS), 6646
(CSX), and 6607 (GTRC)].
86ft assumed to be 9999 (NS).
Auto parts assumed to be 74QQ (NS).
Boxcar 40ft
4,555
Based on estimate of 50ft boxcar voLume described above. Assumed 40ft Length
wouLd resuLt in 20% reduction in voLume.
5 Norfolk Southern IntermodaL and Automotive Equipment. https://www.norfoLksouthern.com/en/ship-bv-rail/shippina-tools/eauipment/intermodal-
automotive-eguipment. Accessed 5-8-2024.
6UP RaiL Equipment Descriptions, UP RaiL Equipment Descriptions. https://www.uprr.com/customers/eauip-resources/cartvpes/index.shtmL. Accessed 5-
8-2024.
7 BNSF Individual RaiLcar Equipment. http://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/wavs-of-shipping/individuaL-railcar.htmL#subtabs-?. Accessed 5-8-2024.
8 CSX RaiLroad Equipment. https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/resources/eauipment/raiLroad-eguipment/. Accessed 5-8-2024.
9 WorLd Trade Press, WorLd Trade Resources Guide to RaiLcars 2010.
10 Chicago Freight Car Leasing Company, RaiLcar Types, https://chicaoofreiohtcar.com/. Accessed 5-8-2024.
" UTUX Tank Car Designs and Descriptions. https://www.utLx.com/tank-car-overview/. Accessed 5-8-2024.
12 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1992, Weights, Measures, and Conversion Factors for Agricultural Commodities and Their Products, AgricuLturaL
Handbook Number 697, Economic Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at:
https://www.ers.usda.aov/webdocs/publications/4i88o/':n:n2 ah6Q7 002,pdf?v-42487. Accessed 5-8-2024.
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Table g. Railcar Volume Assumptions and Sources
Railcar Type
Cubic
Feet
Source/Method
Key: Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS)5, Union Pacific Railroad (UP)6, Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF)7, CSX Transportation Railroad (CSX)8, World Trade Press
Guide to Railcars (GTRC)9, Chicago Rail Car Leasing (CRCL)10, Union Tank Car Company
(UTCC)11, U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)12
Flat car - all types
except for multi-level
6,395
Based on the average of the following flat car types:
60ft assumed to be 6739 (BNSF).
8gft assumed to be g372(BNSF).
Coil assumed to be 3387(NS).
Covered coiL assumed to be ^2qa [refLectina the averaae of 8^28 (NS) and 2260
(BNSF)].
Center beam assumed to be 6m6 [refLectina the averaae of F\QF\7 (UP) and 72^6
(BNSF)].
BuLkhead assumed to be 7cno (BNSF).
Multi-level flat car
13,625
Based on the average of the following muLti-LeveL fLat car types:
UniLeveL (that carrv verv Larae carao, such as vehicLes/tractors) assumed to be
12183 (NS).
Bi-LeveL assumed to be m^iCNS).
Tri-LeveL assumed to be (based on averaae of i<:;287 (NS) and mig (BNSF).
Flat Car - all types-
including multi-level
[not used in analysis,
except for estimating
volume of "All Other
Cars"]
7,428
Based on the average voLumes of the fLatcar types described above incLuding
muLti-LeveL as a singLe fLat car type.
Gondola - all types
Including equipped
5,190
Based on the average of the foLLowing gondoLa car types:
^2-^ft assumed to be 2626 [based on averaae of 266^ (NS), 274^ (CSX), 2400
(BNSF), and 26g7(CRLC)].
6o-66ft assumed to be XK72 [based on averaae of ^281 (NS), ^242 (CSX),
(BNSF), CRCL-3670, and 3366 (GTRC)].
MunicioaL Waste assumed to be 7qqq (NS).
Woodchio assumed to be 778i[based on averaae of 7862 (NS) and 7700 (CRCL)].
CoaL assumed to be 4170 [based on averaae of ^78r (NS) and 4^6 (BNSF)].
Refrigerated -
Mechanical /non-
Mechanical
6,202
Based on the average of the foLLowing refrigerated car types:
48-72ft assumed to be 606^ [based on averaae of 604*3 (UP) and 788":! (BNSF)].
50ft assumed to be 5i67(GTRC).
40-QO ft. assumed to be 6476 [based on averaae of 6qF\Z (UP) and 6000 (BNSF)].
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Table g. Railcar Volume Assumptions and Sources
Railcar Type
Cubic
Feet
Source/Method
Key: Norfolk Southern Railroad (NS)5, Union Pacific Railroad (UP)6, Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF)7, CSX Transportation Railroad (CSX)8, World Trade Press
Guide to Railcars (GTRC)9, Chicago Rail Car Leasing (CRCL)10, Union Tank Car Company
(UTCC)11, U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)12
Open Top Hopper
4,220
Based on the average of the following open top hopper car types:
42ft assumed to be 3000 (UP).
54ft assumed to be 3700 (UP).
60ft assumed to be 5188 [based on average of 5125 (UP) and 5250 (GTRC)]. 45ft+
assumed to be 4105 [based on average of 4500 (UP) and 3710 (BNSF).
Woodchio assumed to be 707^ [based on averaae of 7F2.F, (NS), rqqq (UP), and
7700 (CRCL)].
SmaLL Aaareaate assumed to be 2252 [based on averaae of 2150 (NS), 2106
(BNSF), and 2500 (CRCL)].
Covered Hopper
4,188
Based on the average of the following covered top hopper car types:
45ft assumed to be 5250 (GTRC).
Aaareaate assumed to be ZF\7F\ [based on averaae of 21^0 (NS) and ^ooo
(CRCL)].
SmaLL Cube GraveL assumed to be zq^q [based on averaae of 26(NS), ^100
(CSX), and 3063 (BNSF).
Med-Larae Cube Ores and Sand assumed to be 416Q [based on averaae of 17ro
(NS) and 4589 (BNSF)].
Jumbo assumed to be f,U7 [based on averaae of 487F\ (NS), 4462 (CSX), ri7F\
(BNSF), and 6075 (CRCL)].
Pressure DifferentiaL (fLour) assumed to be 5050 [based on averaae of 5124 (NS)
and 4975 (CRCL)].
Tank Cars under
22,000 gallons
2,314
Assumes 1 gaLLon=o.i337 cubic foot (USDA).
Based on smaLL tank car average voLume of 17304 gaLLons, which is the average
of the foLLowing currentLy manufactured tank car voLume design capacities of
13470,13710,15100,15960,16410,17300,19900, 20000, 20590, and 20610 gaLLons
(GTRC).
Tank Cars over 22,000
gallons
3,857
Assumes 1 gaLLon=o.i337 (USDA).
Based on Large tank car voLume of 28851 gaLLons, which is the average of the
foLLowing currentLy manufactured tank car voLume design capacities of 23470,
25790, 27200, 28700, 30000, 33000, and 33800 gaLLons (GTRC).
All Other Cars
5,014
Based on average voLume presented above for each of the nine raiLcar types (aLL
fLatcars are represented by the Line item that incLudes muLti-LeveL fLatcars - 7428).
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Table 10. Rail Carrier Average Volume Determination
Freight Car Types oi-Mor
(Ri Schedule 755) Avg. Cu Ft. Railcar Miles (xiK) Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
4.555
l
4,555
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
7.177
9,338
67,018,826
Box-Equipped
7.177
147,226
1,056,641,002
Gondola-Plain
5.190
379,762
1,970,964,780
Gondola-Equipped
5.190
75,894
393,889,860
Hopper-Covered
4,188
758,442
3,176,355,096
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
4.220
65,077
274,624,940
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
4.220
137,449
580,034,780
Refrigerator-Mechanical
6,202
19,272
119,524,944
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
6,202
32,910
204,107,820
Flat-TOFC/COFC
6,395
520,521
3,328,731,795
Flat-Multi-Level
13,625
38,624
526,252,000
Flat-General Service
6,395
357
2,283,015
Flat-All Other
6,395
71,826
459,327,270
All Other Car Types-Total
5,772
20,146
116,282,712
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
5,811
CSX
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
-
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
6,987
50,145,699
Box-Equipped
144,631
1,038,016,687
Gondola-Plain
137,256
712,358,640
Gondola-Equipped
64,532
334,921,080
Hopper-Covered
153,315
642,083,220
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
78,412
330,898,640
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
35,451
149,603,220
Refrigerator-Mechanical
17,117
106,159,634
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
11,923
73,946,446
Flat-TOFC/COFC
125,828
804,670,060
Flat-Multi-Level
29,956
408,150,500
Flat-General Service
162
1,035,990
Flat-All Other
31,913
204,083,635
All Other Car Types-Total
19,861
114,637,692
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
6,389
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Grand Trunk
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
0
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
2,119
15,208,063
Box-Equipped
66,110
474.471.470
Gondola-Plain
6,467
33.563.730
Gondola-Equipped
19,201
99.653.190
Hopper-Covered
44.239
185,272,932
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
9,114
38,461,080
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
32,621
137,660,620
Refrigerator-Mechanical
312
1.935.024
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
205
1,271,410
Flat-TOFC/COFC
2,779
17,771.705
Flat-Multi-Level
4.831
65,822,375
Flat-General Service
20
127,900
Flat-All Other
31.744
203,002,880
All Other Car Types-Total
4.755
27,445.860
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
6,309
Kansas City Southern
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
0
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
3.383
24.279.791
Box-Equipped
39.792
285,587.184
Gondola-Plain
16,628
86,299,320
Gondola-Equipped
11,150
57,868,500
Hopper-Covered
50,346
210,849,048
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
626
2,641,720
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
943
3.979.460
Refrigerator-Mechanical
21
130,242
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
52
322,504
Flat-TOFC/COFC
10,736
68,656,720
Flat-Multi-Level
629
8,570,125
Flat-General Service
12
76,740
Flat-All Other
2,321
14,842,795
All Other Car Types-Total
247
1,425,684
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
5.938
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Norfolk Southern
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755) Railcar Miles (xiK) Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
0
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
7.622
54,703,094
Box-Equipped
136,745
981,418,865
Gondola-Plain
193.214
1,002,780,660
Gondola-Equipped
111,320
577,750,800
Hopper-Covered
116,848
489,359,424
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
84,557
356,830,540
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
30,078
126,929,160
Refrigerator-Mechanical
3,512
21,781,424
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
5,392
33,441,184
Flat-TOFC/COFC
114,928
734,964,560
Flat-Multi-Level
20,349
277,255,125
Flat-General Service
145
927,275
Flat-All Other
24,563
157,080,385
All Other Car Types-Total
212,408
1,226,018,976
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
6,065
Soo Line
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
0
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
725
5,203,325
Box-Equipped
17,972
128,985,044
Gondola-Plain
1,203
6,243,570
Gondola-Equipped
8,856
45,962,640
Hopper-Covered
94,146
394,283,448
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
3,077
12,984,940
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
20
84,400
Refrigerator-Mechanical
159
986,118
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
742
4,601,884
Flat-TOFC/COFC
11,178
71,483,310
Flat-Multi-Level
2,973
40,507,125
Flat-General Service
12
76,740
Flat-All Other
10,068
64,384,860
All Other Car Types-Total
428
2,470,416
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
5,667
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Union Pacific
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
0
-
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
12,311
88,356,047
Box-Equipped
238,241
1.709,855.657
Gondola-Plain
206,370
1,071,060,300
Gondola-Equipped
91.775
476,312,250
Hopper-Covered
370,929
1.553.450,652
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
188,027
793.473.940
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
104,969
442,969,180
Refrigerator-Mechanical
82,874
513.984.548
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
27,009
167.509,818
Flat-TOFC/COFC
1,026,251
6,562,875.145
Flat-Multi-Level
46,889
638,862,625
Flat-General Service
350
2,238,250
Flat-All Other
72,371
462,812,545
All Other Car Types-Total
16,769
96,790,668
Average Railcar Cubic Feet
6,248
Total (for Industry Average)
Freight Car Types (Ri Schedule 755)
Railcar Miles (xiK)
Cu Ft Miles (xiK)
Box-Plain 40-Foot
1
4.555
Box-Plain 50-Foot & Longer
42,485
304,914.845
Box-Equipped
790,717
5.674.975.909
Gondola-Plain
940,900
4,883,271,000
Gondola-Equipped
382,728
1,986,358,320
Hopper-Covered
1,588,265
6,651,653,820
Hopper-Open Top-General Service
428,890
1,809,915,800
Hopper-Open Top-Special Service
341.531
1,441.260,820
Refrigerator-Mechanical
123,267
764,501,934
Refrigerator-Non-Mechanical
78,233
485,201,066
Flat-TOFC/COFC
1,812,221
11,589,153.295
Flat-Multi-Level
144.251
1.965.419.875
Flat-General Service
1,058
6,765,910
Flat-All Other
244.806
1.565.534.370
All Other Car Types-Total
274.614
1.585,072,008
Industry Average Railcar Cubic Feet
6,091
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
BLACK CARBON EMISSIONS ESTIMATION
Air, rail, barge, and truck carrier black carbon (BC) emissions are estimated using either emission factors (e.g.,
grams of BC per mile for truck carriers) or by scaling from PM emission estimates (e.g., for air carriers). BC
emissions are also estimated for logistics business units assuming BC emission rates scale directly with PM
(e.g., tons BC = scaling factor x tons PM). Average scaling factors for logistics business units are estimated for
each selected carrier's mode/SmartWay Category combination, based on the following:
• The BC/PM25 ratios for air and rail carriers are constant for each mode and are the same as those
used to estimate BC emissions in the SmartWay Air and Rail Tools, respectively. Estimates assume
jet fuel use for air carriers, and ultra-low sulfur diesel for rail carriers.
• Factors for barge carriers are based on the average BC/PM10 ratio across all propulsion engine
age groups and sizes in EPA's 2020 Port Emission Inventory Guidance.13 Estimates assume ultra-
low sulfur diesel fuel use.
• Factors for each Truck/SmartWay Category combination are based on average BC/PM25 ratio for
SmartWay truck carrier submissions for Data Year 2019.
• Factors for logistics business units are determined by calculating a weighted average of the
BC/PM ratios for all other modes/SmartWay Categories. First, the ton-miles attributed to the air,
rail, barge, and truck carriers selected by SmartWay logistics business units for the 2019 data year
were summed by mode.14 Then the fraction of ton-miles for each mode were applied to the BC
factors for each mode to estimate a weighted average BC/PM ratio for all logistics carriers. The
resulting weighting factors are as follows:
- Air - 0.04%
Barge - 0.06%
- Rail - 4.07%
- Truck (all Categories) - 88.99%
Table 11 presents the average scaling factors used to estimate logistics business unit BC emissions. The table
also presents the minimum and maximum BC/PM ratios observed in the various data sources to provide a
measure of the potential variability associated with a logistic business unit's carrier selections. BC estimates
are particularly uncertain for truck carriers selected by logistics business units, due to the large variation in
BC/PM ratios across engine model years and truck classes.
13 SeeTabLe H-6. https://nepis.epa.aov/Exe/ZvPDF.cai9Dockev-PioiQ2Uo.pdf. Accessed 5-8-2024.
14 Logistics business units selected by other Logistics business units were excluded to simplify the analysis. This exclusion adds an unspecified degree of
uncertainty to the final BC/PM ratio estimate.
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Table 11. BC/PM Ratios for Logistics Business Units
Mode/Category
Basis
Average
Min
Max
Range
Data Source/Basis
Rail
PM2.5
0.677
N/A
N/A
N/A
SmartWay Rail Tool
Air
PM2.5
0.130
N/A
N/A
N/A
SmartWay Air Tool
Barge
PMlO
0.746
0.733
0.754
0.021
2020 EPA Port Emissions
Inventory Guidance
T ruck/Auto
PM2.5
0.366
0.088
0.760
0.671
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/Dray
PM2.5
0.442
0.085
0.782
0.697
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Expedited
PM2.5
0.295
0.071
0.720
0.649
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Flatbed
PM2.5
0.366
0.083
0.815
0.732
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Heavy-Bulk
PM2.5
0.335
0.088
0.764
O.676
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/LTL
PM2.5
0.330
0.063
0.746
O.684
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/Mixed
PM2.5
0.355
0.077
0.785
0.708
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/Moving
PM2.5
0.361
0.077
0.673
0.596
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Package
PM2.5
0.162
0.088
0.576
O.488
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Refrigerated
PM2.5
0.330
0.090
0.799
0.710
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
T ruck/Specialized
PM2.5
0.353
0.077
0.733
O.656
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/Tanker
PM2.5
0.330
0.088
0.767
0.680
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/TL-Dry Van
PM2.5
0.295
0.059
0.826
O.768
2019 Data Year Truck Partner
submissions
Truck/General
PM2.5
0.329
0.059
0.826
O.768
Average across all SmartWay
Truck Categories
Logistics
PM2.5
0.355
0.130
0.746
0.6l6
Weighted average of all
category ratios
%SMARTWAY VALUE
The % SmartWay screen presents the portion of goods that Logistics business units move with SmartWay
Partners (expressed as a percentage between o and 100). Partners select the basis for calculating the
percentage shipped with SmartWay Partners including:
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency *
Total annual miles (the Tool will automatically populate the % SmartWay screen with any carrier
activity data that partners entered in the freight Activity Data screen). Miles corresponds to truck-
miles for trucks, aircraft-miles for air, barge-miles for barge, and railcar-miles for rail;
^ Total annual ton-miles (the Tool will automatically populate the % SmartWay screen with any carrier
activity data that partners entered on the freight Activity Data screen);
Note the Tool will automatically populate the % SmartWay screen with any carrier activity data entered in
the Activity Data screen. In addition, the metric selected for your first business unit will be chosen as the
basis for your other business units as well, so that a Partner-level % SmartWay Value can be calculated.
The Partner-level % SmartWay Value is used to determine Excellence Award eligibility in the SmartWay
program. To see your Partner-level % SmartWay Value, calculated across all companies, go to the %
SmartWay Report in the Reports Menu via the Home page.
Adjusted % SmartWay Value
The SmartWay Carrier breakout for the Logistics category includes an additional column for "Adjusted
%SmartWay" values. The adjusted value reflects the % SmartWay score for each logistics business unit hired
accounting for the portion of activity that business unit allocates to other SmartWay carriers.16 If logistics
business units are used, Adjusted % SmartWay values are also displayed in the "%SmartWay" summary table
at the bottom of the screen.
PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REPORTS
The Logistics Tool provides a report summarizing Scope 3 emissions for public disclosure purposes. Mass
emissions are presented in metric tons for C02 (biogenic and non-biogenic), NOx, and PM16 for all carriers
listed on the Tool's Activity screen. The percent of C02 attributable to SmartWay Carriers is also provided.
Biogenic C02 emissions estimates are assumed to equal approximately 2 percent of total C02 emissions, as
per U.S. requirements for biomass-based diesel from the EPA Renewable Fuel Standard program final
volume requirements.17
COze
CO2 equivalent (C02e) emissions are also provided in the Public Disclosure report, and are calculated by
multiplying carrier C02 values by scaling factors which vary by mode:
• Truck and Logistics-Truck carrier emissions: C02e = CO2 x 1.02271
15 At this time SmartWay Logistics partners are assigned full credit when calculating their % SmartWay Value, regardless of the amount of business logistics
partners do with SmartWay carriers. SmartWay may adopt the Adjusted % SmartWay Value for scoring purposes in the future, but as of now the adjusted
values are for information purposes only.
16 Emissions from CH4, N20, HFC's, PFC's, SF6 and NF3 have been deemed immaterial, comprising less than 5% of overall GHG emissions and are therefore
EXCLUDED for reporting purposes.
17 As stated in the Final Rule (Table I.B.7-1 - see https://www.aovinfo.aov/content/pka/FR-2018-12-11/pdf/2018-26q66.pdf. Accessed 5-8-2024.), the
volume requirements for biomass-based diesel are rounded to equal 2% for calculation purposes. The percentage is updated annually in the Tool.
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mental Protection Agency*
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Rail and Logistics-Rail carrier emissions: C02e = C02 x 1.01420
Air and Logistics-Air carrier emissions:
C02e = CO2 x 1.00970
• Barge and Logistics-Barge carrier emissions: C02e = CO2 x 1.10560
Logistics-Mixed carrier emissions:
C02e = CO2 x 1.04554
The above scaling factors are based on data for the year 2020 from Table 2-13 in the EPA Emissions and
Sinks Report.18 The Truck and Logistics-Truck factor was derived by dividing the medium and heavy-duty
truck emissions for each greenhouse gas excluding C02 (CH4, N20, and HFCs) by the total emissions
including C02, and then summing the ratios to obtain the total adjustment factor. The factors for the other
modes were calculated similarly for the appropriate mode types (Rail, Commercial Aircraft, and Ships/Boats),
with the exception of the factor for Logistics-Mixed carriers which is a simple average of the other factors.
IS U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2020, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-
emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020, accessed 5-8-2024.
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Payloads and Data Validation
The Logistics Tool contains data validation checks designed to identify missing and potentially erroneous
data. At this time the only validation involves payload checks and total ton-mile checks.
PAYLOAD VALIDATION
Validation cut points are set in the Logistics Tool to identify payloads that are somewhat outside typical
industry values (yellow flag warnings) and those that are far outside industry averages (red flag warnings).
The payload check only applies to Data Availability selections where payloads are either entered by the user
or calculated based on other inputs. Checks are applied at the carrier (row) level.
Payload checks are specific to the truck carrier fleet's SmartWay Category/mode, which is available for each
carrier category from the Carrier Data Table. Red payload ranges require explanations. For yellow ranges
explanations are optional.
Validation ranges are based on payload values reported by SmartWay Logistics partners for the 2018
calendar year. Minimum values are set to zero, requiring all payload entries to be greater than zero. Red and
yellow ranges were determined based on visual identification of apparent inflection points in the payload
distribution curves, corresponding to "natural" groupings where possible. Maximum, not-to-exceed values
are based on those used in the SmartWay Truck Tool.
Table 12. Logistics Business Unit Payload Validation Ranges
SmartWay Truck Category
Low Red
Low Yellow
High Yellow
High Red
LTL Dry Van
0.0 -1.0
1.0 - 2.5
15.0 - 20.0
20.0 - 83.7
Package
0.0 - 0.1
0.1 - 2.5
15.0 - 20.0
20.0 - 83.7
TL Dry Van
0.0 - 5.0
5.0 -10.0
20.0 - 22.5
22.5 -150.0
Refrigerated
0.0 - 5.0
5 0 -15.0
21.0 - 22.5
22.5 - 82.5
Flatbed
0.0 - 5.0
5.0 -10.0
24.0 - 26.0
26.0 - 99.9
Tanker
0.0 - 5.0
5 0 -15.0
23.5 - 25.0
25.0 -103.8
Moving
0.0 - 2.5
2.5 - 4.0
17.5 -19 5
19.5 - 150.0
Specialized/Utility
0.0 - 2.0
2.0 -10.0
22.5 - 25.0
25.0 -111.0
Dray
0.0 - 5.0
5.0 -10.0
22.0 - 30.0
30.0 - 73 5
Auto Carrier
0.0 - 5.0
5 0 - 7.5
20.0 - 22.5
22.5 - 73 5
Heavy-Bulk
0.0 - 5.0
5.0 -10.0
22.5 - 25.0
25.0 - 120.0
Mixed
0.0 - 5.0
5 0 -11.5
22.0 - 32.0
32.0 - 99.3
Expedited
0.0 -1.0
1.0 - 2.5
20.0 - 22.5
22.5 - 83.7
General (all categories)
0.0 - 5.0
5.0 -10.0
23.0 - 25.0
25.0 -150.0
1
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SmartWay Truck Category
Low Red
Low Yellow
High Yellow
High Red
Logistics
0.0 - 12.0
12.0 -16.7
21.0 - 27.2
27.2 -150.0
Rail
0.0-9.4
N/A
N/A
125.0 - 200.0
Air
N/A
N/A
55 0 - 110.0
> 110.0
Validation cutoffs for rail payloads are based on the distribution of average values estimated for all Class l
carriers, and only include red flags. The absolute upper bound for rail carriers has been set at 200 tons.
Air carriers have their maximum average payload set to 110 tons, corresponding to the maximum payload
capacity for the largest aircraft make/model specified by SmartWay partners in 2017. Payloads above this
amount trigger a "red" out of range error that must be explained by the partner to proceed, although no value
has been set for a maximum allowable payload at this time. Payloads between 55 and 110 tons receive a
"yellow" warning which may be explained if the partner chooses.
Barge carrier payloads are flagged for verification if their density is greater than 0.6 tons per cubic foot or
less than 0.003 tons per cubic foot, consistent with the payload validation used in the SmartWay Barge Tool.
TON-MILE VALIDATION
2011 Logistics Partner data was evaluated to establish absolute upper bounds for ton-mile inputs. The ton-
mile validation applies at the carrier (row) and total fleet (summation of rows) level, with the same values
applied to both. The maximum allowable ton-mile value was set to twice the observed maximum value in
the 2011 data set: 209,207,446,000 ton-miles.
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Appendix A - Background on Industry Average
U.S. Rail Factors
Industry average freight rail grams per mile and grams per ton-mile factors were developed using data
released in August of 2019 for EPA's 2017 National Emission Inventory (NED.19 The factors were developed
using emission estimates specifically for Class I (line-haul and yard switching) locomotives. These data were
then divided by railcar-mile and ton-mile data for 2017 Class I rail carriers to obtain the corresponding
performance metrics. Table A-i presents the industry average freight rail emissions factors used in the Tool.
Table A-i. U.S. Freight Rail Industry Average Factors (2017)
Performance Metric
co2
X
O
z
PM10
pm25
gram/short ton-mile
20.72
0.2897
O.OO85
0.0082
gram/railcar mile
980
14.38
O.418
0.405
Note that NOx and PM emission factors are not available at the carrier level for the rail mode. Accordingly, the
industry average emission factors are assumed to apply equally for all rail carriers.
19 Emissions Modeling Platform Collaborative, Specification Sheet: Rail 2017 National Emissions Inventory, August 2019 - Table 1. See
https://aaftp.epa.aov/air/nei/2017/doc/supportina data/point/20i7Rail main 21aua20iQ.pdf. Accessed 5-8-2024.
SmartWay Technical Documentation | Appendix A A-i
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&EPA
SmartWay
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency*
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20460
(734)214-4333
https://www.epa.gov/
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
2565 Plymouth Rd.
Ann Arbor, Ml 48105 (734) 214-4200
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-
and-climate-chanae
EPA-420-B-24-042 | October 2024 | SmartWay Transport Partnership | epa.gov/smartway
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