2012 SmartWay Excellence Award

EPA Criteria

U.S. EPA SmartWay | EPA-420-F-12-066 | www.epa.gov/smartway 

For the first time in 2012, EPA SmartWay awardees were recognized for 

their environmental performance using data based on the results of 

the program’s “second generation” quantification and reporting tools. 

SmartWay Carriers, Shippers and Logistics Partners are all now using these 

second generation tools to conduct detailed reporting of their freight 

operations. This performance benchmarking helps to inform industry and 

the marketplace on freight operations’ energy and environmental efficiency, 

supply chain carbon and emissions performance, and helps to optimize 

operations. The data also provides EPA an opportunity to look closely at 

Partners’ CO2, NOx and PM emissions performance and identify the leaders 

in each partner category, so in 2012 partners were not asked to apply or 

submit additional information for award consideration.

As part of EPA’s goal to recognize top performers and create visibility for 

Partner achievements, the 2012 SmartWay Excellence Awards were based on 

the data submissions from Partners in good standing. EPA also conducted 

a thorough review of all Partnership data to determine which Partners were 

leaders in their category in 2012. Consequently, in 2012:

•	 Partners did not need to submit any application or partner 

nomination forms. 

•	 No supplemental information or materials were needed from the 

partners.

•	 EPA had all the information needed to assess partner performance.

Top performing Partners which met the criteria outlined below were 

considered by EPA for a 2012 award and notified once the screening process 

had been completed.

2012 Shipper Partner awardees:

1. Are SmartWay partners in good standing;

2. Use effectively 100% SmartWay carriers to haul all US (and, as applicable, Canadian) goods;

3. Use inputs to the shipper tool based on actual data such as miles or 

ton-miles for calendar year 2010, submitted to EPA in 2012; and

4. Demonstrate top environmental performance in each shipper category 

(defined below) based on g/ton-mile outputs from the SmartWay shipper tool.

Shipper categories:

Large: Greater than 500 million total miles shipped

Medium: Between 25 and 500 million total miles shipped

Small: Less than 25 million total miles shipped

What are the 

SmartWay Excellence 

Awards?

The SmartWay Excellence 

Awards are EPA’s means to 

recognize Partners that have 

optimized the environmental 

performance and efficiency 

of their freight management operations as a step 

toward reducing their carbon 

footprint, saving fuel and 

strengthening their environmental performance.
2012 SmartWay Excellence Award

EPA Criteria

U.S. EPA SmartWay | EPA-420-F-12-066 | www.epa.gov/smartway 

2012 Carrier Partner awardees:

1. Are SmartWay partners in good standing;

2. Demonstrate top environmental performance in each carrier fleet category (defined below) based on 

 g/ton-mile outputs from the SmartWay carrier tool, for calendar year 2011, submitted to EPA in 2012; and

At least one large and one small/medium carrier will be selected from each of the following ten fleet categories:

Carrier categories:

Truckload Dry Van Drayage Less-Than Truckload Dry Van 

Tanker Refriderated Specialized 

Package Mixed Flatbed Multimodal

Large: Fleets with miles traveled which are greater than or equal to 1 percent (5 percent 

 for Multimodal) of the total miles traveled for that category.

Small/ 

Medium: Fleets with miles traveled which are less than 1 percent (5 percent for Multimodal) 

 of the total miles traveled for that category.

2012 Logistics Partner awardees:

1. Are SmartWay partners in good standing;

2. Use effectively 100% SmartWay carriers to haul all US (and, as applicable, Canadian) goods;

3. Demonstrate top environmental performance based on g/ton-mile outputs from the SmartWay logistics 

 tool, for calendar year 2010, submitted to EPA in 2011.

Glossary of Award Terms

“Partner in good standing” refers to organizations that have joined the US EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership 

and comply with program requirements to submit annual data on their goods movement supply chains and 

commit to reduce the environmental footprint from this activity. 

“Effectively 100%” means 99.5% or better, to allow for seasonal changes or episodic fluctuations in carrier 

contracts.

“Environmental performance” means an assessment which combines the Partner’s CO2, NOx and PM, performance 

factors in a 50%-25%-25% (respectively) ratio.

“Partner tools” refers to the EPA-provided, Agency peer reviewed assessment and tracking tools used in the 

SmartWay Transport Program to assess the energy, carbon and air pollutant footprints of a partner’s freight 

activity in the US.

For more information http://www.epa.gov/smartway/ or call 734-214-4767.