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FAQs for Employees 

of SmartWay Shipper Partners
 

What is the SmartWay Transport Partnership? 

The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between the US Environmental 

Protection Agency and the freight industry designed to implement creative approaches to reducing 

the environmental and energy impact of transport. The Partnership currently focuses on freight transport and helps companies reduce their transportation supply chain carbon footprint. 

What are the goals of the SmartWay Transport Partnership program? 

The goals of the SmartWay Transport Partnership are to increase the use of cleaner, more efficient 

technologies and operational strategies that reduce the environmental impacts of goods movement 

while helping companies save fuel and money. Using cleaner, more efficient technologies and strategies can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas; oxides of nitrogen (NOx), 

which is linked to adverse respiratory effects; and particulate matter (PM), a pollutant that can affect 

lung and heart functioning. 

What does it mean for our company to be a SmartWay Transport 

Partner? 

SmartWay Transport partners commit to reduce emissions and fuel use through more sustainable 

business practices. SmartWay partners like your employer commit to address their carbon footprint and 

improve their environmental performance. SmartWay shipper partners also agree to implement supply 

chain efficiencies that can include using less packaging, finding ways to reduce routing miles, fitting 

more freight into a rail car or truck trailer, reducing truck idling at loading docks, encouraging their 

freight carriers to adopt fuel-saving practices and equipment, and adopting other operational efficiency 

improvements. 

Why does our company care about their supply chain? 

Your company’s supply chain includes all the materials and goods that it ships, receives or otherwise 

moves via barge, rail, truck, ocean vessel, coastal ship, pipeline, or other mode of freight transport. 

The supply chains of companies throughout the world comprise a vast and complex goods movement network, handling nearly everything that is manufactured, produced, distributed, bought or 

sold. Corporate America’s supply chains move goods across our country and through our ports and 

borders. Your employer is working to improve the emissions performance and energy efficiency of its 

freight transportation supply chain, to create a more healthy and sustainable environment. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency •Office of Transportation and Air Quality •April 2010 •EPA 420-F-10-033a • www.epa.gov/smartway 
 

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What is our carbon footprint and how will being part of SmartWay help 

us reduce this footprint? 

Carbon dioxide is emitted by combusting carbon-containing fuels. This can include fossil fuels like 

coal used to generate electricity, natural gas used to heat buildings, propane used in equipment, and 

diesel and gasoline used to power vehicles and equipment. A carbon footprint can include carbon 

dioxide emissions from all these sources - electricity use, buildings, transportation, and other activities and operations. As a SmartWay partner, your employer has committed to implement strategies 

that will lower its greenhouse gas emissions, i.e., lower its carbon footprint – from its freight transport 

operations. 

Why is this good for business and the environment? 

Any company looking to assess their supply chain and make it more sustainable will need to understand and define the environmental and business impacts of its supply chain. Reducing the carbon 

intensity of a company’s supply chain will reduce environmental impacts and more than likely will 

save fuel, which reduces costs and improves profitability. Reducing the carbon intensity of goods 

movement provides environmental benefits and improves our nation’s energy security. 

Since reducing carbon is so important, what can I do to reduce my own 

transportation carbon footprint? 

Choose a Cleaner, More Fuel-efficient Vehicle. A vehicle with better gas mileage can travel further 

on a single tank of fuel. That means less pollution and less carbon dioxide are added to the atmosphere. To help you select a cleaner and more fuel efficient vehicle, visit the Green Vehicle Guide at: 

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles. Look for the EPA “SmartWay” and “SmartWay Elite” leaf logos, which 

designate passenger vehicles earning the highest environmental marks. 

Drive Fewer Miles. Transportation contributes almost one-third of the country’s carbon dioxide 

emissions, and is a significant source of NOx, PM, and other pollutants. The most effective way to 

reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions from passenger transportation is to drive fewer miles. 

Whenever possible, cut trips by combining multiple trips into a single, well-routed trip, take public 

transportation, rideshare, ride a bicycle, or walk. 

Maintain Your Vehicle Properly. Your vehicle is designed to perform best when properly maintained. 

A poorly maintained vehicle can pollute more than one that is well maintained. Keeping your tires 

properly inflated is very important. It improves fuel economy, helps to maintain tire safety and handling performance, and helps tires last longer. 

Refuel Wisely. When the weather is warm, try to refuel early in the morning or late in the evening. 

This will reduce the release of smog-forming gas emissions during the heat of the day when smog 

forms easiest. Don’t overfill the tank; spilled fuel wastes money and creates pollution. 

Where can I go to get more information? 

Visit www.epa.gov/smartway 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency •Office of Transportation and Air Quality •April 2010 •EPA 420-F-10-033a • www.epa.gov/smartway