Office of Transportation and Air Quality

EPA-420-F-18-023 

October 2018

What’s New in this Version?

Version 2.0.17 of the Shipper Tool contains a number of updates and revisions to the prior 

version, 2.0.16. These updates have been implemented to enhance the ease of use, clarity, and 

accuracy of the Tool, and to give details on the respective use and benefits of the various 

options for participation level and data entry method. They are summarized below:

• A new step has been added to the HOME screen for the user to select the level at which the

Partner would like to participate in SmartWay and to select the method they would like to input 

data into the tool. When selecting Step 5, you will be taken to screens that provide

• details about the levels of Shipper Partner participation and the potential benefits to the 

Partner at each level, and

• information about the data input options available at the chosen level, what situations in 

which to use them best, and the benefits of using one option vs. another.

• The screen order has been revised to simplify navigation through the Tool.

• Various screen demos have been updated to reflect the revised screen organization.

• US EPA secured the World Resources Institute (WRI) to conduct a review of the underlying 

methodology, calculation process and supporting technical documentation of the SmartWay 

Shipper Tool, and it was found to be in conformance with the requirements set forth in the GHG 

Protocol Corporate Accounting Standard. New outputs are now available in the optional report 

section of the Tool providing Scope 3 emissions for public disclosure, consistent with WRI and 

Carbon Disclosure Project requirements. 

• Partners using the “Autopopulate” function no longer need to confirm proper uploading of their 

data twice – the checkboxes re-confirming review have been removed from the HOME screen.

• An optional entry for Sustainability Officers has been added to the Contact Information section.

• The Activity data screen was modified, adding a column allowing partners to identify “Shipper 

Carriers”, i.e. those carrier fleets that are operated by the shipper themselves. This information 

is used to exclude these fleets from the Scope 3 emissions estimates in the public disclosure 

report.

• The following SmartWay Truck Carrier Categories can now select Data Availability Option d on 

the Activity screen, allowing partners to just report miles travelled for these fleets:

o Expedited

o Heavy/Bulk

o Mixed

o Specialized

• The average payload values included in the carrier data file have been updated to reflect 

Shipper payload distributions (formerly based on carrier distributions).

• The validation ranges that determine if a payload entered by the user is out of range of typical 

industry values have been updated as well. 
• The bases for calculating emissions (miles or ton-miles) have been updated, depending upon the 

carrier’s SmartWay Category:

o Auto carriers – miles

o Drayage – miles

o Expedited – miles

o Flatbed – miles

o General (non-SmartWay only) – ton-miles

o Heavy/bulk – miles

o LTL – ton-miles

o Mixed – ton-miles

o Moving – miles

o Multimodal – ton-miles

o Package – ton-miles

o Refrigerated – ton-miles

o Specialized – miles

o Tanker - miles

o TL/Dry Van – ton-miles

• The composite-level emissions factor calculations have been updated to mass emissions divided 

by distance and are no longer weighted by carrier.

• The composite-level average payload calculation has been updated to total ton-miles divided by 

total miles and is no longer weighted by carrier ton-miles.

• Partners are now required to review three summary data screens under Step 6 on the Home 

screen before finalizing their submission.

• The “Feedback” section of the tool has been updated making it easier to follow and more 

complete.

• Miscellaneous text and format updates for clarification