The Evans Network of Companies took a major step in its commitment to environmental excellence with the company's voluntary inclusion in Virginia Port Authority's (VPA) "Green Operators" (GO) pilot program aimed at truckers engaged in port drayage.
Evans Network is one of the first to be a part of VPA's GO program, which arranges low-cost financing to retrofit exhaust filters providing vehicles with more emission-efficient engines.
"Evans Network plans to retrofit its independent contractors' trucks serving the Ports of Virginia with diesel particulate filters that have been shown to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 percent," said Mr. Albert "Bert" Evans, Jr., President and CEO of Evans Network. Century Express and Evans Delivery Company are the local affiliates of Evans Network serving the Ports of Virginia.
The GO program is the first voluntary retrofit program at a US port. Evans Network will share expenses for retrofitting its fleet with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality via the US Environmental Protection Agency National Clean Diesel Program.
"We're excited that Evans Network was one of the first to take advantage of our GO program," said Heather Mantz, VPA's environmental director. "Evans Network is a leader in the transportation industry and we hope others will be follow their example and become 'Green Operators'," Ms. Mantz continued.
In addition to the GO program, Evans Network has retrofitted a portion of its fleet with Espar cab heaters to minimize engine idling, increased the use of IdleAire Technologies at truck stops and installed eco-flaps to reduce drag as part of its ongoing green initiatives.
"We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint nationwide and we are proud to join VPA in its innovative environmental project," said Mr. Evans.
