Freight accounts for about 9% of all U.S. GHG … and Truck Drivers.pdf · SmartWay was built with...
Transcript of Freight accounts for about 9% of all U.S. GHG … and Truck Drivers.pdf · SmartWay was built with...
Freight accounts for about 9% of all U.S. GHG emissions, and trucking is
the dominant mode. Over the last 2 decades, freight emissions grew twice
as fast as passenger emissions. (Total growth: 18%.)
Freight transportation is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy. As of 2012,
U.S. businesses spent $1 trillion to move $12 trillion worth of goods (8.5% of
GDP). There’s no end in sight for growth in freight transport, so the
question is: How can we reduce costs and reduce emissions at the same
time? Through innovation and widespread adoption of efficient technologies
and practices– in other words, SmartWay.
SmartWay was built with and for freight shippers and carriers, who help
grow and promote SmartWay. Because it reduces emissions, enjoys
industry support, and requires relatively few EPA resources, SmartWay
thrives.
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SmartWay has been going strong for 10 years now and racking up savings.
Here you see some results.
Among current partners are:
• 250 Shippers.
• 500 Logistics providers.
• 2000 Truck Carriers, who account for almost ¼ of all truck miles.
• 15 major Multimodal carriers.
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SmartWay dynamics are market-based and self-reinforcing.
Shippers are at the top of the SmartWay food chain. They respond to shareholder, customer, and
business partner demands for carbon accountability. To do so, they need to find fuel-efficient carriers,
and figure out ways to make their whole transportation supply chain more efficient. SmartWay helps
shippers choose the most efficient modes & carriers, which results in lower overall
costs, greater system stability, and emissions savings.
Carriers are the meat and potatoes of SmartWay. They want to save money and earn shippers’
business. EPA teaches carriers how to save fuel– and since fuel costs are second only to
personnel costs, stabilizing and trimming fuel spend can allow good companies large
and small to succeed.
Logistics partners (3PLs, 4PLs, freight forwarders, freight brokers, etc) help shipper clients reduce
emissions by designing the right mix of fuel-efficient, cost effective carriers. They develop and match
their carrier base to shippers’ needs, and can spur greater efficiency among carriers with their view of
the entire transportation supply chain.
EPA supplies the platform: accurate, fine-grained accounting tools; a level, open playing field;
equipment testing and certification; and public recognition for accomplishments.
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Here’s what happens (starting in the red rectangle):
• Partners sign on by assessing their fuel efficiency using EPA’s FLEET tool (Excel-
based). They establish a benchmark against which they can track their own progress,
and be compared with their peers.
• Each partner is assigned a Partner Account Manager to help them work out any kinks
with the tool, find fuel efficiency strategies, OK their use of the SmartWay logo, and
connect them with program resources.
• Partners report their progress yearly, attempting to improve over their own and
against industry benchmarks, and compete for annual awards.
It costs nothing except time to participate in SmartWay.
SmartWay covers a few freight modes. Newest is barge; next up are air freight and ocean shipping.
Truck carriers are ranked within their subcategory, so shippers can choose inbound and outbound
carriers with the best scores for each type of cargo and delivery method. You see 4 types of duty cycle
for dry van.
When a shipper types in the SCACs or other identifiers of his current carrier pool, the database will
pull in the efficiency scores from any of them that are SmartWay partners, and assign a default score
to all carriers not in the program (which is the lowest score among all carrier categories).
The shipper specifies how many ton-miles or miles, and payload or density (if possible) he sends or
receives via each carrier, so the tool can crank out the shipper’s overall score.
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Each partner is scored on 6 metrics: 3 pollutants, by mile & by ton-mile. Scoring is based on the info
carriers enter.
SmartWay pools the data from all carrier partners within each category by metric, then divides the
result into 5 performance bands, with 1 being the top 20% and 5 being the bottom 20%. For tool
calculation purposes, the midpoint number of grams in each band is used. So every carrier has a
performance band and a grams value for each of the 6 metrics.
Carrier performance metrics for the last complete reporting year are viewable on the SmartWay
website: go to http://epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/performance.htm
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For each fleet (defined as any business unit that a customer has discretion to hire), a
truck carrier enters info on operational category, body type, type of fuel, long- vs short-
haul split, cube-out percentage, commodity type, truck class and engine model year,
miles driven (total, revenue & empty), gallons of fuel used for both main engine & reefer,
average payload, volume of carrying capacity & % utilized, % highway vs urban driving,
avg urban speed distribution, average idling hours/truck, etc.
These are the variables that determine the carrier’s emissions profile. All the
technologies and strategies listed here help reduce fuel use, and therefore help determine
how well the carrier scores. Driver training, skill and behavior are very important in the
mix.
SmartWay provides carriers with fact sheets that estimate the % fuel & emissions savings
achievable with numerous technologies and strategies. See them all at
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/index.htm (choose the Truck Carriers tab and
scroll down to RESOURCES FOR TRUCK CARRIERS).
SmartWay’s Technology program verifies that the technologies work and lists makes & models on the website. Most categories of verified technology are for tractors and trailers. Learn more about SmartWay-verified technologies at
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/technology.htm
The newest category of verified technology is retread tires, and 53-ft reefer trailers are
coming soon. Also, for technologies in the Aerodynamics category, SmartWay is
establishing performance bins and “Elite” designation for single devices and for
combinations of devices.
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A truck or trailer fitted out with all the essential efficiency features can be sold as a
SmartWay “designated” model; many makes/models are available. A “designated”
tractor-trailer combo can be as much as 20% more efficient than the standard model.
A SmartWay partner in good standing (like Braun’s Express, pictured here) can display
the SmartWay Designated Tractor or SmartWay Designated Trailer mark on the exterior
of his vehicle if it meets specs. See the specs at:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/technology.htm (choose the
Tractors/Trailers tab).
Many SmartWay truck carrier partners acquire only SmartWay “designated” tractors
and trailers. Not only do they save fuel, they burnish the company’s image, and make
their drivers comfortable and proud.
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SmartWay recognizes that drivers play a critical role in fleet performance. Drivers are
enabled to do their best with advanced technology and smart logistics… but the best
equipment, loading and routing won’t do much good without well-trained, motivated
drivers.
See the complete fact sheet at:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/trucks/techsheets-
truck/420f14028.pdf
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SmartWay and Canada’s Fleetsmart program teamed up to develop online driver efficiency and
safety training.
This training could serve as a component of a fleet’s or school’s professional driver training
program. It’s interesting, interactive, thorough, well-paced, and balanced. Although it takes 2.5
or so hours to complete, you can “exit and resume later.” After the final quiz the user can “exit,
finish and continue” to print a certificate of completion. Here is the portal
http://fleetsmartlearning.nrcan.gc.ca/Saba/Web/Main and if you have any questions along the
way contact Nancy McEvoy at [email protected] or 613-960-7427 (Canada).
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Many top SmartWay truck carrier partners have very high driver retention
rates. Their best drivers are extremely efficient, and average driver
efficiency is significantly higher than the industry norm. How do they do it?
Here is some of what they’ve said on webinars, at meetings, on videos, and
in articles:
• Set goals and expectations, and lead by example.
• Furnish very good equipment and maintain it meticulously.
• Provide no-idle cab comfort systems for rest periods and layovers, or
pay for use of electrified truck parking or motel rooms.
• Hire promising drivers, treat them as professional employees, and ask
them regularly how their work is going.
• Train drivers hands-on to use the equipment optimally.
• Pay drivers a good salary.
• Incentivize fuel-efficient performance by: leveling the playing field (no
disadvantage based on equipment, route or duty cycle), benchmarking
group and individual performance, and tracking improvement;
recognizing high-performing individuals and teams; paying bonuses or
other rewards based on meeting goals or improving.
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Check out the Sept 24 2014 “Modifying Driver Behavior”
webinar presentations at
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/webinars.htm
For a glimpse of a top-performing New England –based
truck carrier partner’s approach, see http://northeastdiesel.org/pdf/2013partnersmeeting/AndrewBoyle.pdf
Other examples:
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/spotlight/420f14016.p
df
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/forpartners/documents/case-studies/profile-
bartels-truckline.pdf
ATA is a charter SmartWay Affiliate, and through Driver Appreciation Week
brings attention to the role of the driver in SmartWay.
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Speaking of recognition: SmartWay goes all out to publicize its partners’ achievements.
SmartWay’s annual national Excellence Award program recognizes top-performing
partners in all categories, at industry events and in the media. Learn more at
http://www.epa.gov/smartway/about/sw-awards.htm
At EPA New England, we try to make sure at least one SmartWay partner is recognized
annually with an Environmental Merit Award. This year, it was Boyle Transportation, a
leader not only in technology adoption but in driver training & incentives. Past winners
include Braun’s Express, Hannaford Trucking, Pottle’s Transportation, and Staples. The
award ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston provides a great opportunity to tell an
appreciative audience how trucking can be green.
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SmartWay is helping launch green freight and supply chain programs
worldwide.
Participating in SmartWay could help you attract the next generation
of drivers who want to be part of the global solution, and give all your
drivers another reason to feel proud of what they do.
For more info, contact your New England region SmartWay
representative:
Abby: 617-918-1841
www.epa.gov/smartway