Longistics, a full-service provider of global logistics solutions, has announced that the organization’s transportation division has been designated as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay® Program Partner. SmartWay® is a public-private initiative between the EPA, large and small trucking companies, rail carriers, logistics companies, commercial manufacturers, retailers, and other federal and state agencies. Its purpose is to improve fuel efficiency and the environmental performance (reduction of both greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution) of the goods movement supply chains.
Launched in 2004, the EPA SmartWay® Program has participating companies including Longistics using performance-based quantification and reporting tools that benchmark and inform the industry and the marketplace on freight operations, energy and environmental efficiency. SmartWay® partners demonstrate to customers, clients and investors that they are taking responsibility for the emissions associated with the movement of goods, are committed to corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices, and are reducing their carbon footprint.
With some of the most fuel-efficient trucks on the road today as part of its operation as a sustainable business, Longistics undertook pursuing the EPA SmartWay® Program partnership in the summer of 2014. Working with Penske, its fleet maintenance provider. Longistics officials began by compiling data on its 2013 motor fleet, including makes, models, years of production, fuel consumption and fuel performance, to establish that the company qualified for the program through multiple efforts to reduce its pollution emissions. By following the directives set by the EPA in the program, Longistics hopes to improve its performance in the future by setting business strategies based on monitoring its vehicles that will allow the organization to work smarter and plan better when delivering goods. These practices will both save operating expenses and improve air quality to areas served by Longistics.
Longistics considers its participation in the EPA SmartWay® Program to be an incentive in recruiting more prospective clients and truck drivers as well. Current clients and drivers have indicated to management their satisfaction in working with a company that cares about the environment and constantly looks for best practices to conserve resources as it serve customers.
Currently, the EPA SmartWay® Program has created over 3,000 partnerships, saved $16.8 billion in fuel costs and 120.7 million barrels of oil (the equivalent of taking over 10 million cars off the road for an entire year), and reduced 51.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 738,000 tons of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, and 37,000 tons of particulate matter emissions.
We’re proud to have fulfilled the requirements of the EPA SmartWay® Program and are enthusiastic about being recognized as a green company,” said Longistics Chairman Duane Long. “This is another demonstration of how Longistics is continuing to lead the trucking industry. We would also like to thank Penske for the value-added support the organization provided during the data collection process. As part of our commitment to this program, we look forward to continuing to upgrade our fleet in the future and using the most sustainable equipment available in our marketplace.”
Taking part in the EPA SmartWay® Program is a step in the right direction in an effort to create cleaner air, enhance the miles per gallon of your fleet and improve energy conservation, resulting in long-term cost savings,” said Bryant Morton, quality manager for Longistics. “As an environmentally friendly company with a strong sense of corporate social responsibility to all we serve, this is the right thing for us to do.”
