The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently honored Schneider for its commitment to environmental leadership within the trucking industry, awarding the company its SmartWay Excellence Award for the 11th time.
Schneider has been an award recipient each year the EPA recognized partners with an Excellence Award, making it one of only four companies to reach this achievement.
This year, Schneider was one of 58 trucking and multimodal carriers to receive the distinction, which recognizes the best environmental performers out of SmartWay’s 3,700 partners. Due to the pandemic, this year’s honorees were announced at a virtual event hosted by the EPA with its partners, key stakeholders and media in attendance.
“EPA is pleased to honor these SmartWay Partners with a 2020 Excellence Award,” said Karl Simon, director of EPA’s transportation and climate division. “These carrier award recipients continue to lead through these challenging times, working diligently to deliver to our families the goods and supplies we need each day, while contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future for our children.”
The EPA launched its voluntary SmartWay Partner program in 2004 as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing air pollution.
“We are proud to receive the SmartWay award in a year that has brought on so many unexpected challenges,” said Rob Reich, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Schneider. “Improving our fleet’s efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint has always been a focus at Schneider, and this year has been no exception. We are committed to setting a higher standard for investing in, testing and implementing greener equipment and practices for the good of the industry and our global community.”
Since the beginning of the program, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 134 million metric tons of harmful air pollution, while saving 280 million barrels of oil and $37.5 billion in fuel costs. Partners also help protect clean and healthy air by significantly reducing pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
“The SmartWay program is a community of shippers, carriers and consumers who all believe in one core truth: that when you invest in green you are investing in a better future,” Reich said. “It is an honor to be recognized by this community, and we will continue to support its initiatives by creating a sustainable culture at Schneider.”
Schneider says it continuously proves its commitment to going green in many ways, including:
- Utilizing diverse modes of transportation
- Collaborating with the most energy-efficient railroads and third-party carriers
- Fleet integration of newest EPA-compliant engines
- Using alternative fuels wisely
- Relentlessly working to improve MPG through truck design, equipment, drivers and operations
- In-house engineers rigorously testing breakthrough technology and equipment
- Sharing learnings with the industry and providing thought leadership
- Driver training and engagement programs
- Equipping majority of new tractors with a battery-powered auxiliary power unit, to reduce idling of the main engine
To learn more about how Schneider’s fleet prioritizes efficiency and sustainability, visit schneider.com/company/about/sustainability.