Program benefits shippers, drivers and environment

An industry-wide environmental initiative, Export Coordination/ Optimization-Match (ECO-Match') has been launched by Evans Network of Companies. The goal of the program is to make more productive use of resources by matching up to 75% of import and export shipments handled by Evans Network. The company has discussed the program with numerous importers, exporters, steamship lines, third party logistics providers, port organization and community groups.

"As an example, by matching just 20% of container movements at the Ports of Virginia, the ECO-Match initiative has the potential to save 73.6 million lbs of CO2 annually," said Mr. Albert "Bert" Evans, Jr., President and CEO of Evans Network, a market-leading transportation and logistics provider.

"We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. ECO-Match is good for the environment and benefits shippers and drivers as well," said Mr. Evans.

Load-matching is the ideal situation for a trucker because it pays more by creating a "street turn"- allowing the driver to drop off and pick up in the same trip, operating under load in both directions with a retro-fitted "green" truck. Load-matching improves air quality and reduces congestion at the ports and on the highways by making more productive and efficient use of resources.

"The primary benefit for shippers and steamship lines is the cost savings by using one truck rather than two," said Mr. Gerard J. Coyle, Vice President,

Marketing and Agent Development for Evans Network. "It's a more complex problem than it appears on the surface because there are a number of important issues to consider, such as equipment compatibility, timing schedules, geography and technology," Mr. Coyle continued.

Mr. Coyle was responsible for researching and developing the potential CO2 savings for shippers, steamship lines, third-party logistics providers and port representatives. Mr. Evans initiated the load-matching concept with Evans's agent partner, Keith Walborn of Camp Hill, PA.

Evans Delivery Company, Inc. is a certified transport partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Program. Evans is ranked with the highest possible score of 1.25, representing outstanding environmental performance according to the EPA.