Averitt Announces Fuel Efficiency Gains on Two-Year Anniversary of Joining SmartWay
Timely improvements come as industry faces record-high diesel prices
and prepares to comply with EPA's anti-pollution rules in 2007
Cookeville, Tenn. (March 22, 2006) – Averitt Express, one of the nation’s leading providers of freight transportation and supply chain management, has made substantial improvements in fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions in the past two years since it began participating in SmartWay, a voluntary public-private initiative between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry.
As part of joining the SmartWay initiative, a voluntary program launched in 2004 to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation, Averitt committed to meeting specific environmental and energy saving goals over a three-year period and annually sharing their progress with the EPA.
Officials at Averitt say the improvements made in fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions have come during an ideal two-year stretch of time.
"Averitt is constantly looking for ways to improve processes, efficiencies and technologies that benefit our customers, and participating in the SmartWay initiative is another great way to accomplish that goal,” said Scott Wolf, Averitt's vice president of corporate services. "Our involvement with SmartWay over the past two years has been particularly timely as the industry continues to face record-high diesel prices.
Averitt’s commitment to protecting the environment, including support for the SmartWay program, has been demonstrated through the following steps:
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Purchasing tractors with engines that are more fuel efficient and reduce diesel fuel emissions
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Researching and testing innovative tires that are specially designed to keep proper inflation, thus increasing fuel efficiency
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Installing sophisticated electronic technology to gather data from tractor engine computers to track and measure fuel efficiency on an individual tractor level
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Participating in an automated vehicle identification program that allows drivers to bypass designated weigh stations subsequently reducing unnecessary tractor idling and improving roadway safety
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Providing drivers access to a roadside service that enables drivers to reduce tractor idling when parked for rest stops and other extended periods of time
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Educating its workforce on steps that can be taken to increase fuel efficiency, reduce engine idling and improve processes that impact the environment
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Fostering an atmosphere where customers, associates, vendors, and the general public can conduct an open dialogue on areas of improvement in terms of environmental protection
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Utilizing underground fuel storage tanks and electronic fueling overflow detection devices at its facilities
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Using leading-edge software to plan driver routes as efficiently as possible to reduce power unit road mileage while dealing with rising ton-mileage and alerting drivers to the most cost-effective fueling locations
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Complying with, and in most cases exceeding, all federal environmental requirements
The SmartWay program currently has more than 300 partners, including both transportation providers and shippers. Collectively, SmartWay partners are on pace to reduce approximately 3.1 million tons carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 800 tons particulate matter (PM) and 22,000 tons nitrogen oxides (NOx) annually and save approximately 284 million gallons of fuel per year by 2007.
"Averitt understands the future of our world rests on the investments we make to care for the resources of today," added Wolf.
About the EPA and SmartWay program
The SmartWay Transport Partnership creates strong market-based incentives that challenge companies shipping products, and the truck and rail companies delivering those products, to improve the environmental performance of freight operations. SmartWay partners improve their energy efficiency, save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. For more information, call 1-734-214-4767 or visit http://www.epa.gov/smartway.
About Averitt Express
Established in 1971, Averitt Express is a leading provider of freight transportation and supply chain management with international reach to more than 100 countries. The company specializes in delivering customized solutions with a single source of accountability for service offerings that include less-than-truckload, truckload, time-critical, importing/exporting and supply chain management. Backed by successful execution for hundreds of customers, Averitt’s supply chain management capabilities include dedicated fleet operations, warehouse management services and transportation management. For more information, call 1-800-AVERITT or visit http://www.averittexpress.com/.
