Schneider Logistics, Inc., a leading global logistics provider and part of the Schneider National enterprise, was recently named a SmartWayTM Transport Partner by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Schneider Logistics received the accreditation for its responsible environmental management of its network of 1,200 third-party transportation carriers and commitment to improving their environmental performance.
Launched in 2004, the SmartWay Transport Partnership is a voluntary collaboration between the EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while striving to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.
'We are deeply honored to be part of the SmartWay family,' said Tom Escott, president, Schneider Logistics. 'Schneider has a 30-plus-year history of environmental stewardship and an abiding enterprise-wide commitment to reducing our carbon footprint. It's critical we extend that commitment to the large carrier base that services our contract logistics customers. It's one more way we can ensure we're all doing our part to conserve and preserve our environment for future generations.'
Within the last 12 months, 71% of the miles in the Schneider Logistics freight management network moved on SmartWay-certified third-party carriers. That effort, combined with an environmental assessment of its freight operations, led to Schneider Logistics' EPA ranking as one of the top environmental performers in the industry and being named a SmartWay Partner.
'I commend Schneider Logistics for their leadership in promoting sustainable transportation practices through the SmartWay Transport Partnership,' said Margo T. Oge, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA. 'This demonstrates a commitment to a cleaner environment and more secure energy supply.'
According to Escott, Schneider Logistics is already expanding its SmartWay efforts beyond its freight management carriers to its transportation management carriers'a group of 10,000 carriers.
As a new SmartWay Transport Partner, Schneider Logistics will:
- Increase its SmartWay carrier usage by 10 percent, in turn decreasing the companies' collective carbon footprints
- As allowed by the customer, give SmartWay Transport Partner carriers an advantage in the freight bidding process
- Work with logistics customers to implement a No Idle Policy when waiting to be loaded or unloaded at their facility
- Recruit carriers to become SmartWay members
- Educate Schneider employees about their own personal carbon footprints, encouraging them to do their part to preserve and protect our natural resources
'As the industry continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly important for companies to adapt'providing customers with the added peace of mind that they are doing what's best for the environment,' said Escott. 'Schneider National and Schneider Logistics will continue to lead the transportation, intermodal and logistics industries by exploring and adopting environmental standards for a sustainable future.'
Schneider National was a charter member and the first truckload carrier to join the SmartWay Transport Partnership. The company received SmartWay's Environmental Excellence Awards for leadership in energy conservation and emission reduction practices in both 2006 and 2007'the first two years the award was presented. Of SmartWay's 600-plus partners, Schneider is one of just 34 companies to receive this distinction.
In May 2008, Schneider National announced its plans to operate the most energy-efficient fleet in the industry. The effort was announced at a news conference in Washington, DC, as the American Trucking Associations unveiled its strategies for minimizing the carbon footprint of the trucking industry.
