Join the SmartWay 

Transport Partnership TODAY!

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Office of Transportation and Air Quality • February 2004 • EPA420-F-02-052 • www.epa.gov/smartway

Partnership Overview

The Challenge

From ports to manufacturing facilities and distribution 

centers to your front door, trucks and rail systems are part of a 

sophisticated, fast moving ground freight delivery system that 

delivers products safely and on time. Ground freight is an integral 

part of the United States economy. According to government 

and industry statistics, 85 percent of the total value of United 

States cargo is trucked, accounting for 66 percent of all freight 

by weight. Trucking-related occupations employ about 10 million 

people. Railroads represent four percent of the total value of all 

freight by weight, carrying another 16 percent of the nation’s 

freight by weight.

However, ground freight is a major source of greenhouse gas 

emissions, responsible for approximately 20 percent of carbon 

dioxide (CO2) emissions from all transportation sources. Ground 

freight is also a significant source of smog-forming emissions 

and other harmful air pollutants that impact public health, 

particularly the young and the elderly. Ground freight accounts 

for 40 percent of the oxides of nitrogen emissions (NOX) and 

31 percent of the particulate matter emissions (PM) from 

transportation sources. These emissions can impact air quality 

and contribute to climate change.

The Solution

The U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a voluntary 

public-private partnership that addresses greenhouse gas 

emissions, fuel consumption, criteria pollutants (NOX and 

PM), and operating costs associated with ground freight 

transportation operations. The SmartWay Transport Partnership 

addresses other key national concerns: energy security, energy 

savings, and environmental justice.

Through this voluntary partnership, EPA and its partners expect 

to eliminate 33 to 66 million metric tons of CO2 emissions and 

up to 200,000 tons of NOx emissions per year by 2012. This 

represents savings of as much as 150 million barrels of oil per 

year — equivalent to taking about 12 million cars off the road.

Working together, SmartWay Transport Partners can incorporate 

various strategies and technologies to achieve these goals.

Partnership Design

SmartWay Transport Partners are progressive corporations and 

organizations that recognize they can improve their business and 

the environment at the same time. Companies that provide and 

hire freight delivery services (carriers and shippers, respectively) 

become SmartWay Transport Partners by committing to 

improve the environmental performance of their freight delivery 

operations. SmartWay Transport Carriers commit to integrate 

innovative cost saving strategies into their fleet operations. 

SmartWay Transport Shippers commit to ship the majority of 

their goods with SmartWay Transport carriers. Companies that 

meet SmartWay Transport Partnership requirements will benefit 

from reduced operating costs and enhanced visibility. 

Partners that demonstrate superior performance will earn the 

right to display the SmartWay Transport logo. 

By defining clear and achievable goals and committing to 

ambitious strategies, participants in the SmartWay Transport 

Partnership are actively addressing concerns about greenhouse 

gas reductions and air quality. 

The SmartWaySM Transport Partnership is a voluntary public-private initiative designed 

to improve the environmental performance of the freight delivery system in the United 

States through money saving, market-based approaches.

• Freight vehicles consume approximately 

20 percent of energy consumed by the U.S. 

transportation sector. By conserving fuel from 

these vehicles, we reduce our dependence on 

imported oil, thereby safeguarding our nation’s 

energy security. 

• Promoting new strategies and technologies that 

improve fuel economy will improve efficiency and 

reduce fuel costs for freight fleets.

• Reducing idling at truck stops addresses 

community health and environmental justice 

issues prevalent in certain urban areas.

Carriers can integrate 

cost saving, fuel efficient 

technology and strategies 

into their fleet:

• Idle Reduction 

• Improved Aerodynamics 

• Improved Freight Logistics 

• Automatic Tire 

Inflation Systems

• Driver Training 

• Advanced Lubricants 

• Advanced Powertrain 

Technologies

Shippers can implement 

facility measures that 

improve efficiency and 

reduce emissions: 

• Intermodal Shipping

• Pick-up and 

Delivery Scheduling

• Full Truck Loads

• Preferential Docking

• Warehouse 

Improvements

• Electric Forklifts 

• Driver Comfort Stations

• Idle-Reduction at Docks
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • Office of Transportation and Air Quality • February 2004 • EPA420-F-02-052 • www.epa.gov/smartway

Partner Enrollment 

To become a SmartWay Transport Partner, carriers must:

• Measure current environmental performance with the 

SmartWay Transport F.L.E.E.T. (Fleet Logistics Energy and 

Environmental Tracking) Performance Model for carriers.

• Commit to improve that performance within three years. 

• Sign the SmartWay Transport Partnership Agreement.

To become a SmartWay Transport Partner, shippers must:

• Assess the current proportion of goods dispatched with 

SmartWay Transport Partner Carriers using the FLEET 

Performance Model for shippers.

• Commit to ship at least 50 percent or more of their goods 

with SmartWay Transport Partner Carriers.

• Assess and commit to improve their facility transportation 

emissions within three years.

• Sign the SmartWay Transport Partnership Agreement.

To meet their goals, all Partners must:

• Create and submit an Action Plan describing how shipper 

or carrier will achieve commitment.

• Report progress toward achieving the goal to EPA annually.

The complementary relationship between shippers and carriers 

maximizes the opportunities for Partners to support one another 

in achieving mutual environmental goals. To join the SmartWay 

Transport Partnership, simply send the completed FLEET 

Performance Model and signed Partnership Agreement to EPA. 

Partner Benefits

Participation in the SmartWay Transport Partnership provides 

tangible benefits for companies:

Shippers can:

• better understand their environmental 

transportation impact.

• reduce the environmental impacts of freight operations by 

simply choosing to do business with SmartWay Transport 

Carriers.

• join a community of leaders and enhance their public 

image by joining the SmartWay Transport Partnership.

Carriers can:

• better understand the environmental impact of their fleet 

operations.

• reduce their environmental impact by using recommended 

technologies and strategies.

• save money by incorporating fuel saving strategies into 

their fleet operations.

• become preferred carriers of SmartWay Transport 

Shippers.

• join a community of leaders and enhance their public 

image by joining the SmartWay Transport Partnership.

Using the SmartWay Partner Logo

Shippers and carriers that demonstrate superior environmental 

performance will be able to advertise their status as SmartWay 

Transport Partners using the official SmartWay Transport 

Partner logo. 

Logo eligibility is 

determined based upon 

results of the FLEET 

Performance Model for 

either carriers or shippers. 

The FLEET Performance 

Model for both carriers and shippers generates a score, which EPA 

uses to determine if a company qualifies to use the SmartWay 

Transport Partner logo. 

To qualify to use the SmartWay Transport Partner logo: 

• Carrier Partners must have a FLEET Performance Model 

Composite score of 1.0 or higher. 

• Shipper Partners must have a FLEET Performance Model 

score of 50 percent or higher.

Companies that qualify must adhere to EPA’s SmartWay 

Graphics Standards and Use Guide (available at www.epa.gov/

smartway), as well as sign and return the Logo 

Use Signature Page before using the SmartWay Transport 

Partner logo.

EPA Assistance

EPA provides software models to assist carriers and shippers 

with assessing the current emissions and fuel efficiency of fleets 

and freight operations (e.g. the SmartWay Transport FLEET 

Performance Model). These tools also allow fleets and companies 

to evaluate the efficiency improvements and emission reductions 

available through application of various technologies and 

strategies. EPA staff is available to answer questions concerning 

the models and to provide technical assistance.

For More Information

Visit www.epa.gov/smartway for more information on 

the Partnership.