In 2004, fifteen companies and freight sector associations worked with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create the SmartWay program as a way of using market-based incentives and technology solutions to address long-term trends, changes and challenges in the freight transportation sector.

SmartWay has been effective in meeting these challenges due to its public/private partnership program, its brand (which establishes the “gold standard” of carbon accounting and technology verification) and its leadership on global coordination of efforts to address environmental impacts of trade and commerce growth around the world.

What SmartWay has Achieved So Far

This voluntary partnership between the EPA and the freight industry has since grown its membership to more than 3,000 companies and organizations.

So many businesses and environmental organizations participate because SmartWay has helped raise awareness concerning freight’s economic importance, underscore its prominence in the value chain, and make it clear that optimizing the transportation network can help corporate leaders and government policy makers get closer to achieving their environmental goals.

Since 2004, SmartWay partners have saved over 7 billion gallons of fuel, lowered fuel costs by $24.9 billion and reduced carbon emissions by 72.8 million metric tons.

The Future of SmartWay: Vision 2020

Based on recent recommendations from the freight community, EPA has developed SmartWay Vision 2020, a plan that outlines how SmartWay will keep pace with the evolution and future of the freight industry.

The SmartWay Vision 2020 has four principal elements:

Complete coverage of the transportation supply chain: SmartWay is developing its carbon assessment and monitoring tools to cover all modes of freight transport, (including truck, train, barge, air and marine) to leverage national and international efforts to streamline freight data, amplify the program’s reach and reduce freight emissions worldwide.

Sustainability reporting: Interest in supply chain emissions is growing, and for many companies freight transport is an increasing source of emissions. SmartWay’s carbon accounting tools use peer-reviewed methodologies and EPA standards to generate reliable performance data.

Greater global collaboration: SmartWay has served as a template for other countries and regions that are working to establish partnership-based programs to address freight emissions. SmartWay is committed to ongoing global efforts to align carbon accounting methodologies and tools, leading to greater awareness of the environmental impacts of freight and the best strategies to reduce impacts.

Information sharing: SmartWay will serve as a neutral and credible platform for increased information exchange and thought leadership, including webinars, education, peer review, speaking engagements, partner profiles, case studies and best practices guidance.

EPA is confident that the plans laid out in SmartWay Vision 2020 will continue to lead the goods movement industry forward, resulting in further emission reductions, reduced fuel costs, greater energy independence and a stronger economy and healthier environment.

To Learn More, Read the SmartWay Vision 2020 Report.