2012 Truck Tool Demonstration Webinar

Questions & Answers, June 13, 2012

EPA-420-F-12-037

Page 1

Q: Will an electronic copy of this presentation be available?

A: A recording (visual and audio) of today's webinar will be made available via the 

SmartWay website approximately 48 hours after the webinar. 

Q: What if you need to change some of the data after submitting and realizing that the 

data given was not correct? 

A: Partners can correct errors in their tools and re-submit. EPA will then update 

its records. EPA’s review process also uncovers errors and the program 

contacts Partners to make corrections. 

Q: So how do we submit? Do we go through the tool again and submit it or do we send 

you and email with our requested update? 

A: Partners can either submit a new tool or correct the original submitted tool. It 

is generally more efficient for Partners to update an existing tool then notify EPA

on pending change(s) and submit. 

Q: As a reefer fleet and when asked for the total fueled used by the fleet it obviously 

made our MPG look lower than what it actually is. How do you decipher between what

is reefer and what is tractor? If I remember it did not ask for what was reefer and what 

was tractor?

A: The new tools distinguish among different fleet categories to account for the 

differences in equipment and operational characteristics for different parts of the 

trucking industry. For example, there is a special category for refrigerated fleets, 

to distinguish these carriers, which use TRUs, from non-refrigerated fleets, which 

don’t use TRUs. Within each fleet category, however, the new tools don’t break 

down how much of the fuel used is due to the tractor, the trailer, the TRU, the 

driver, or other factors. MPG and emissions are based on total fuel use, since 

this is the most accurate measure of the real energy and environmental impacts 

of moving those goods. Calculating total fuel use from all factors also offers 

partners the greatest flexibility to select the most cost-effective fuel-saving 

approaches first, based upon the specifics of their operations. 

Q: What is the development environment here? Excel VBA? 

A: Yes, Visual Basic in Excel. 

Q: I am interested in knowing about SmartWay Testing as well. Does this webinar cover 

testing as well? 

A: No, this webinar does not cover the SmartWay testing program. This webinar 

is focused on demonstrating the SmartWay Truck Tool. EPA will consider your 

suggestion for a future webinar topic. Thank you!

Q: When the tool was designed, what were the major standards, regulations followed?

A: The tools use the same EPA emissions factors that are used in the EPA 

MOVES air quality model, which incorporates EPA regulations and standards. All 
2012 Truck Tool Demonstration Webinar

Questions & Answers, June 13, 2012

EPA-420-F-12-037

Page 2

Q: What is the minimum sized vehicle that should be included in the SmartWay 

Program? 

A: 2B 

Q: How are the emissions CO2, NOx, PME calculated? Is there a correction factor for 

different truck brands, for example Navistar is allowed to have a higher NOx limit than

the rest of the class 8 trucking industry? 

A: NOx and PM are based on MOVES factors adjusted by highway versus urban 

and urban speed parameters. CO2 is a direct function of fuel burned.

Q: I want to know if the tool also accommodates input fields for engine parameters? 

A: EPA only requires model years of the trucks for engine identification in 

SmartWay.

Q: Can I ask even though it doesn't apply to this webinar if Smart Way is now accepting 

some verified recap tires as Smart Way approved? Will you be making this 

announcement?

A: Over the past two years, EPA has been working with industry stakeholders on 

a verification program for retreaded tires. The Agency will post information 

related to this topic on the SmartWay web site in the near future.

Q: This webinar appears to be for truck companies. I am a non asset based 3pl. will you 

have a separate webinar for me? 

A: EPA previously held a webinar for logistics and 3PL SmartWay partners. The 

recording is available at http://epa.gov/smartway/newsroom/webinars.htm or click 

on the following link: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/881611215. You 

will be asked to register (submit name, contact information, etc.) in order to 

access the webinar recording. 

Q: We broker loads to company's not based on weight but on pieces and the pieces 

could be multiple weight so they do not know what the weight in. How do they account 

for this in the program? 

A: Brokers use the Logistics tool. The number of pieces x weight of the pieces 

can be used to determine average payloads. This data is then input into the tonmiles calculation in the logistics tool. If a company cannot provide the needed 

information, however, it cannot join the partnership, since data quality is a critical 

aspect of the SmartWay program’s integrity.

Q: Can this be used to cargo van fleets? 

A: Yes. It would be considered a dry van fleet utilizing 2B units. This truck size 

(gasoline and diesel) is commonly used by package and expedited carriers. 
2012 Truck Tool Demonstration Webinar

Questions & Answers, June 13, 2012

EPA-420-F-12-037

Page 3

Q: This webinar appears to be for Carriers. At what point will we go over the Shipper's 

version? 

A: The new shipper tool will be released in November, 2012. Once the new tool is 

available, EPA will host a similar webinar to go over the details of the new tool.

Q: Do participants get a report in excel or other common format that puts all the data 

they've entered in one place? 

A: The tool is your data record. EPA strongly recommends that each Partner 

retains a copy of the completed tool in its own computer files, before submitting 

it to SmartWay. 

Q: Are the tons for payload calculator Metric tons? 

A: No, metric tons are calculated at 2200 pounds. EPA uses 2000 pounds = 1 ton. 

Q: It's disappointing I sat through the short presentation last week and now today's 

presentation only to find out it was for Carriers and not Shippers. SmartWay needs to 

do a better job of communicating. 

A: Thank you for this feedback. EPA values feedback from Partners on how to

enhance the SmartWay program including communication of webinar topics. 

SmartWay’s webinar descriptions are intended to provide clear descriptions of 

each scheduled topic, so Partners can select the webinars most suited to their 

needs. EPA welcomes suggestions on how to improve its webinar 

communication, so we don’t disappoint Partners going forward. Please send any 

comments and suggestions for improving webinar communication to the EPA 

SmartWay mail box, smartway_transport@epa.gov. EPA plans to hold a webinar 

for shippers prior to release of the shipper tool later this year. The schedule for 

this webinar will be posted on the SmartWay website at www.epa.gov/smartway

Q: How often are participants required to enter all this data? 

A: Partners are asked to complete and submit a Truck Tool on an annual basis. 

We start this process during the first quarter of each calendar year. It will contain 

statistics on your company’s fleet from previous calendar year, to help streamline 

the data submission process for partners.