A couple of months ago, the United States, as well as hundreds of other countries, celebrated Earth Day. In fact, it was the 40th annual Earth Day.
Earth Day began when Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, took a leading role in organizing a day intended to generate popular support for a nationwide environmental agenda. His idea was to urge local efforts to establish grassroots programs through which individual communities shaped their own actions around local concerns.
As a significant participant in efforts to improve the environment, the SmartWay Partnership this year congratulated itself and its partners for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, saving fuel and creating a more sustainable transportation system. Since its launch six years ago, SmartWay partners have saved nearly 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel and prevented the formation of 14.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and other harmful exhaust emissions.
SmartWay passed the 2,000 member mark and now has over 2,600 partners. This is nearly double the number of just a year ago. While each of its partners is critical to the program’s success, some clearly understand the importance, as well as the financial payback, of environmental responsibility more than others. Certainly, one of our industry’s leaders in this regard is Schneider National.
While SmartWay is celebrating six years of accomplishments, Schneider has been conducting business in an environmentally responsible manner for more than 30 years. As a charter member of the EPA’s SmartWay Partnership, Schneider is one of only two SmartWay transportation providers to be selected in each of the four past years for the SmartWay Award of Excellence. In addition to the SmartWay Partnership, the company is active at state, national and international levels through participation in environmental sustainability-focused initiatives, associations and task forces. Its approach to truckload, intermodal and logistics operations make it one of the most energy-efficient fleets and transportation providers in the industry.
The company has an ongoing program to test and evaluate road equipment performance and efficiency. It is one of a very few fleets that employ a team of engineers dedicated to an equipment testing program. Its engineers also work closely with industry suppliers in testing and identifying the most energy-efficient technologies. Each year, 250 units of its truckload fleet are monitored in evaluation programs following successful testing. Over the years, tractor and trailer specifications have been updated to improve aerodynamics, rolling resistance or other parameters to improve fuel efficiency. As an example, the Goodyear tires used on Schneider’s fleet of tractors and trailers are technologically a full generation ahead of the industry norm, saving the fleet millions of gallons of fuel each year.
The fleet’s operating policies complement its selection of fuel efficient equipment. As early as 1978, Schneider was offering driver incentives for idle reduction and fuel management. This program evolved to include performance metrics and compensation incentives based on driver ability to more effectively manage fuel consumption. Two years ago, the company reduced its fleet speed to 60 MPH. This improvement in fuel efficiency now saves the company an additional 3.75 million gallons of diesel fuel each year.
Schneider’s state-of-the-art engine electronics teach drivers to limit speed and reduce non-essential idling and out-of-route miles. These metrics are integrated into the driver’s performance and compensation incentives. A company spokesperson said, “We reward drivers who understand the important environmental impact of on-the-road behavior, fuel conservation and emissions reductions.”
To the trucking industry, Steve Matheys, Schneider’s EVP and chief administration officer, said, “As we celebrate Earth Day and reflect on our collective initiatives, there is always an opportunity to do more. Join us in supporting the SmartWay Transport Partnership. Schneider recognizes that its role within the industry can have a significant and lasting impact. Together, we can accomplish a lot. Conserving our precious natural resources and leaving a cleaner world for our children and grandchildren is certainly worth the effort.”
