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Sustainable Transportation Initiatives in Three Cities

August 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

As reviewed in an August 7 Press Release Michael Replogle and Colin Hughes of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) authored the fourth chapter, "Moving Toward Sustainable Transport, in Worldwatch's book State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity, published in April 2012. In their State of the World chapter, Replogle and Hughes highlight three examples of this approach, revealing how it improves transport in urban areas:

Bogota, Colombia

Rapid bus transit in Bogota, Colombia: In 2000, Bogota opened TransMilenio, a BRT system with nine routes extending 54 miles (about 87 kilometers) throughout the city. By 2011, TransMilenio's ridership was up to 1.7 million passengers daily and the fare for a single trip was 1,600 Colombian pesos (about US$0.85).

London, UK

Congestion and emission charging in London: Drivers who enter congested central London pay a "congestion charge." The drivers have the option to pay £10 (approximately US$15)in advance, or they must pay the charge within a certain time after driving through the congested streets, or be fined up to £120 (almost US$184). The charge generates funds for public transportation, and bus use is up 6 percent during charging hours. A similar Low Emission Zone covers heavy goods vehicles across the whole city, charging more polluting trucks and buses £100-200 per day (approximately US$150-300) to drive in the area.

Hangzhou, China

Public bicycles in Hangzhou, China: With a population of 6.7 million, Hangzhou is one of China's fastest-growing cities. This growth comes with rapid motorization. In 2008, Hangzhou launched a bike-share program that currently provides 60,000 bikes. The program has alleviated pressure on roadways and is accessible to all because of its pricing scheme----the first hour of bike use is free and the second hour is approximately US$0.15. The city reports that 90 percent of total trips are made in that first free hour, and more than 25 percent of trips are made during peak commuting times.

Innovations like these can improve travel options for the urban poor while reducing harmful emissions caused by transportation. "With additional international support and funding under the MDB commitment at Rio+20, developing countries will find it easier to shift their development of transportation from emphasizing rapid motorization and car-dependence to instead fostering public transport and lower emissions transportation options," Replogle said. "This moves us towards the kind of support we called for in our State of the World 2012 chapter."

Worldwatch's State of the World 2012, released in April 2012, focuses on the themes of inclusive sustainable development discussed at Rio+20, the 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 Earth Summit, which was also held in Rio de Janeiro. The report presents a selection of innovations and constructive ideas for achieving environmental sustainability globally while meeting human needs and providing jobs and dignity for all.

The Worldwatch Institute is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute's State of the World report is published annually in more than 18 languages. For more information, visit www.worldwatch.org.

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Followup on Sustainable Transportation Commitments at Rio+20

August 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Many voluntary commitments were made at the June 2012 Rio+20 conference, some of the most notable concerned promises about emissions reduction in transportation. According to an August 7 Press Release from the Worldwatch Institute, transportation emissions are the fastest growing source of global greenhouse gas emissions, with emissions expected to increase 300 percent by 2050. Today, emissions from transportation contribute to approximately 80 percent of the harmful air pollutants that result in 1.3 million premature deaths annually, according to Michael Replogle and Colin Hughes of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP). The two authored the fourth chapter, "Moving Toward Sustainable Transport, in Worldwatch's book State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity, published in April 2012.

The largest financial commitment made at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development was a pledge by the 8 largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) to commit 500 staff and to dedicate $175 billion for more sustainable transportation in the coming decade. This unprecedented agreement was facilitated by the Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCaT), which brings together 68 MDBs, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and research and industry organizations.

"This action promises to begin countering decades of unsustainable investments in transportation systems, such as building high-capacity motorways," said Michael Renner, Worldwatch Senior Researcher and State of the World 2012 project co-director. "But it will require new resources for civil society groups to be able to ensure independent monitoring of impacts and follow-through by MDBs."

"If transportation investments and management policies foster walking, cycling, use of high quality public transportation, and smart traffic management, growing urbanization can reduce consumption of scarce resources, protect public health, and deliver happier, nicer cities," said Michael Replogle, Managing Director for Policy and Founder of ITDP and State of the World 2012 contributing author. "These unprecedented MDB financial and reporting commitments present an opportunity to leverage large shifts in domestic and private transportation investment and to build capacity for a paradigm shift."

The demands on transportation infrastructure continue to mount. Without changes in policy, 2 to 3 billion cars will be on the world's roads by 2050, in comparison to 800 million cars today, according to the International Energy Agency.

Colin Hughes, Global Policy Director at ITDP and State of the World 2012 contributing author said "sustainable transport strategies can address rising mobility needs that accompany increases in population, employment, and trade at a lower cost overall, with more job creation and fewer adverse impacts."

The key to this approach is a new sustainability paradigm called "Avoid, shift, and improve."

Sustainable transportation can be achieved by avoiding unnecessary trips with smarter planning, pricing, and telecommunications; Shift trips to more sustainable modes with investments in bus rapid transit (BRT), walking, cycling, and traffic management, by limiting and pricing parking, by applying polluter-pays incentives, and offering better traveler information. Improve vehicle efficiency with cleaner fuels, better-operated networks, and efficient vehicle technology adapted to local conditions and requirements.

Worldwatch's State of the World 2012, released in April 2012, focuses on the themes of inclusive sustainable development discussed at Rio+20, the 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 Earth Summit, which was also held in Rio de Janeiro. The report presents a selection of innovations and constructive ideas for achieving environmental sustainability globally while meeting human needs and providing jobs and dignity for all.

The Worldwatch Institute is an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues. The Institute's State of the World report is published annually in more than 18 languages. For more information, visit www.worldwatch.org.

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Top 10 Transporation Software Systems

May 15, 2012 1 Comment Edit

Transportation software helps companies to be more efficient by saving time, energy and effort. This type of software is part of a winning approach that saves money by ensuring that company vehicles follow the most expedient route. This also reduces the amount of fuel needed and burning less fuel diminishes a company's footprint. Below you will find the top ten transportation software systems:

RedPrairie

RedPrairie's TMS meets the fleet management, route optimization, and parcel management needs of complex 3PLs and wholesale distributors. RedPrairie is one of the biggest names in supply chain technology.

JDA Software

JDA's TMS solution is used by large distributors, retailers and manufacturers to manage the flow of goods in and out of the warehouse. With over 6,000 customers, JDA is one of the biggest names in TMS.

TMW Enterprise Transportation Software

TMW offers modules for order entry, rating, dispatch, accounting and reporting to assist logistics operators of everything from an large, enterprise 3PL to a small transportation fleet.

Roadnet Transportation Suite

A worldwide provider of fleet optimization solutions, Roadnet offers fuel measurement, GPS tracking, route scheduling and more. This vendor became a private company in early 2011 after being a derivative of UPS since 1986.

RedPrairie On-Demand WMS

With the ability to directly integrate with large shipping carriers and produce shipping and pick tickets directly from sales orders, RedPrarie On-Demand WMS is also a great cloud-based system for logistics optimization.

SphereWMS

SphereWMS offers great TMS functionality within its warehouse application. Includes the ability to create custom packing lists and billing reports to get inventory out of the warehouse and delivered on-time.

CartonLogic

The web-based TMS from Wolin Design Group includes fleet, parcel tracking, and route optimization features. CartonLogic also includes warehouse and inventory optimization functionality.

3PLink

Camelot's 3PLink offers a TMS that is ideal for third party logistics operations. This system integrates with the 3PLink WMS application or works independently. The system features TL/LTL, bulk, and container management

Epicor Supply Chain Management

The supply chain execution functionality within Epicor Supply Chain Management provides the ability to manage the end-to-end supply chain process, from strategic sourcing all the way to transportation and distribution.

HighJump Warehouse Advantage

HighJump Warehouse Advantage has helped over 1,500 companies better operate their supply chains with its highly-customizable system that features labor and equipment scheduling, RFID communication, and putaway procedures.

Need help narrowing the options? Speak to experts and save weeks of research and costly mistakes. Click here to go to the Software Advice site or call for a free consultation at (888) 918-2748 where experts will recommend the best transportation software for your needs.

People Want Fuel Efficient Vehicles

April 17, 2012 Add Comment Edit

According to a Consumer Reports survey, 93 percent of respondents "support increased fuel efficiency." People want greener cars as is evidenced by the fact that 77 percent are in favor of car manufacturers producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, and 80 percent agreeing with fuel economy standards requiring fleet averages to top 55 miles per gallon by 2025.

A total of 56 percent of those surveyed claim to be considering a hybrid or EV, with fuel costs cited as a primary motivation. Correspondingly, 81 percent of consumers indicate that they would be willing to pay extra for a vehicle if it was cheaper to operate.

The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted telephone interviews with 1,008 people over the age of 18 who were chosen as a "nationally representative probability sample."

Mark Cooper, Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement, "These results reflect the strongest support for higher fuel economy standards and willingness to adopt new fuel savings technologies we have seen to date."

This sends a clear message to automakers who have long claimed that Americans' do not want to pay more for fuel economy.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Breakthrough in Affordable Hydrogen Cars

April 17, 2012 Add Comment Edit

According to researchers from the University of Connecticut a new process for producing fuel cells could help bring the cost of hydrogen cars down significantly within 10 years.

The process developed by these researchers involves spraying atom-sized particles of a catalyst onto a membrane, to produce hydrogen fuel cells. They say that the same technique could also be used to make lithium-ion batteries, the kind used in most electric and hybrid cars.

Hydrogen fuel cars have low emissions, no moving parts and because they generate power on board in fuel cells, they don’t need the long charging time of electric vehicles. However, they are prohibitively expensive. To make them commercially viable researchers at the University of Connecticut are developing an inexpensive way of bringing hydrogen power to the masses.

The expense is due to the elements used (platinum and iridium), which are both rare and expensive.Materials that can withstand the highly acidic solvents necessary to turn hydrogen into electricity are expensive.

The new technique involves firing the catalyst on to the membrane in the form of a gas flame. The flame-based dispersion means the metal bonds quicker, eliminating the need for repeated binding and drying steps.

Professor Radenka Maric, who developed the process at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Clean Energy Engineering, said it used 10 times less catalyst material and produced significantly less waste.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Why the Keystone XL is so Hard to Kill

March 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Video: Keystone XL will Raise Gas Prices

March 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Republicans Vow to Continue Push for Keystone

March 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

GOP's Keystone XL Proposal Fails in Senate

March 10, 2012 Add Comment Edit

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March 09, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The Keystone XL and Rising Fuel Prices

March 09, 2012 Add Comment Edit

As fuel prices rise Americans need to understand that gaining access to Canadian tar sands oil will not decrease the price gas and it may even increase it. Republicans argue that with rising gas prices it makes no sense to hold up a project that could deliver to market an additional 830,000 barrels of oil a day.

Although Republicans are using rising gas prices as a rationalization to build the Keystone XL, the pipeline will actually increase the price Americans pay for Canadian oil by up to $4 billion a year or 10 to 20 cents more per gallon of gas in the midwest.

As reported by the NRDC, the pipeline would cause oil prices to rise in the Midwest, costing consumers more at the pump. Importing oil from Canada has never helped America get off the oil price rollercoaster. Over the last 11 years, the amount of oil we bought from Canada increased 50 percent, yet gas prices have tripled over that same period, with ups and downs along the way. The price of oil is subject to market forces, access to Canadian tar sands will not effect the price.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden proposed an alternative on Wednesday that would ban exports of oil from the pipeline as well as refined products made from the oil.

Some refined products such as high-sulfur diesel and petroleum coke need to be sold outside the country, where there are markets for them. Keeping them inside the United States would increase the costs of the project and could lead to higher gasoline prices, Bernstein said.

The NRDC is helping people to take action to resist the pipeline. Click here to tell your leaders they must not play politics with a dirty energy project when the safety of our communities, farms, waters, and climate are at stake.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republicans Refuse to Let the Keystone XL Die

March 08, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Just when we thought it was safe, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline project has once again reared its ugly head. Even though President Obama said no the pipeline, Republicans are trying to push it through as an amendment to the Transportation Bill. Any day now the Senate will vote on an amendment that would force approval for the pipeline. Republicans in the House of Representatives have already passed the energy portion of their transportation bill, which would grant Keystone a permit. But this is the first time that the pipeline has had an up or down vote in the Senate.

The Republican amendment, championed by Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, would sidestep the need for presidential approval and allow Congress to approve the project.

Congress is trying usurp power to forgo normal environmental review processes and give Congress the unprecedented authority to hand out permits on massive projects.

The Congress has the authority to bypass the State Department and approve the pipeline under the commerce clause. There are other provisions that could also be approved in the Transportation Bill, including forced expanded oil drilling and repealing EPA's crucial clean air boiler rule. However, any bill containing such measures would still require Obama's signature.

Republicans persist despite strong opposition to the pipeline. In February, over 800,000 signatures were delivered to Congress expressing opposition and over 100 mayors sent a letter opposing the pipeline.

In another act of protest, the Lakota tribe in South Dakota prevented the passage of trucks carrying tar sands equipment through the Pine Ridge Reservation.

To protest the proposed amendment, 350.org activists were all over Capitol Hill and the halls of Congress this week. They were also pressuring wavering Senators by getting them on record before the vote.

The fight against Keystone XL has demonstrated that direct action and civil disobedience can make a difference. Let your voice be heard, call your Senator today. To use the 350.org tool to locate your Senator's phone number click here.

To send a message to your Senators through Facebook or Twitter with the help of a 350.org tool click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Green Economy is the Right Solution for our Troubled Times

March 07, 2012 Add Comment Edit

The green economy offers a powerful solution to both a warming planet and economic volatility. There are a host of political and economic crises in the world today. The Eurozone crisis is expected to be followed by a European recession. In China we are seeing strong evidence of a slowdown and many are calling for major economic reforms. Finally, the hope and promise of the “Arab Spring’ has given way to a winter of discontent, as the Arab world suffers due to a weak economy and high unemployment.

Amidst all this economic uncertainty, global warming continues unabated. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said all 11 years of the 21st century rank among the 13 warmest. NASA noted 9 of the top 10 warmest years in its record have occurred since 2000. The La Nina effect was the warmest on record in 2011, according to data from NOAA and NASA. The increasing probability of massive flooding caused by melting Greenland and Antarctic icecaps are creating real concerns about the future of the planet.

The string of warm years in the last decade is linked to rapidly increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. In a press release, NASA wrote “Higher temperatures today are largely sustained by increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide.” As the world’s economies get stronger, energy demands will keep increasing and carbon emissions will keep rising.

As reported in a Green Energy Intelligence Report, it is predicted that by 2030, U.S. energy related CO2 emissions will amount to 6.9 billion metric tons (“MT”) under a “business-as-usual” scenario. Worldwide, energy-related CO2 emissions are projected to increase from 28.1 billion MT in 2005 to 42.3 billion MT in 2030. Together with non-energy related CO2 eq emissions (deforestation, industrial production processes, etc.), total CO2 eq emissions are projected to reach 62 giga (billion) tons (“Gt”) by 2030 (McKinsey June 2008).

The IEA’s chief economist has said that governments only have five years to avoid more than 2°C of global mean temperature rise. Extreme weather events add to the data and send an easy to read message that the time has arrived for a new economic framework. According to NOAA, there were 10 massive weather disasters in the U.S. last year, each exceeding a billion dollars. The unprecedented weather extremes include the following estimates of death and damage:

■Hurricane Irene: 50 deaths and $7 billion
■Upper Midwest flooding along the Missouri River: $2 billion
■Mississippi River flooding in spring and summer: $4 billion
■Drought and heat waves in Texas and Oklahoma: $5 billion
■Tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast in May: 177 deaths and $7 billion
■Tornadoes in the Ohio Valley and Southeast in April: 32 deaths and $9 billion
■Tornadoes in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania in April: $2 billion
■Tornadoes in the Northeast and Midwest April 8-11: $2.2 billion
■Tornadoes in central and southern states April 4-5: $2.3 billion
■Blizzard in January from Chicago to the Northeast: 36 deaths and $2 billion

The costs of extreme weather are astronomical, and it is predicted they will get much worse if we do not address the anthropogenic greenhouse gases that cause climate change. We need a framework to address both the economic and environmental ills that the world is facing. We also need a means of increasing our energy supply without increasing our greenhouse gas emissions. The Green Economy offers the solutions we so desperately need.

According to a July, 2011 report from the Brookings Institution, 2.7 million Americans work at green jobs – more than work in the fossil fuel industry. The US Conference of Mayors estimates that number will almost triple by 2040.

The green jobs study by the Brookings Institute suggests the U.S. should put primary emphasis on new, technology-intensive, energy-related sectors. The study by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program is called “Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Green Jobs Assessment” The chief conclusion they came to is that the driving force behind jobs and the growth of the U.S. clean economy over the last decade has been emerging energy technologies. This is a conclusion echoed in Google’s energy innovation report.

Green jobs are also quality jobs with median wages 13 percent higher than the average. Investment in clean energy projects yields more than three times as many jobs as investing in fossil fuels. Although the green economy is producing results now, the growth potential is staggering.

The failure of the US Congress to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation has slowed the growth of the green economy, but it is not too late. A good example of what can be done even in the absence of federal government legislation comes from a Los Angeles cleantech business incubator (LACI). The LACI approach identifies local talent, nurtures it, and helps it get to market, resulting in more jobs and a bigger green economy in Los Angeles and beyond.

A UNEP study reveals that investing in the green economy will spur growth. Contrary to conservative belief, the greening of economies is not generally a drag on growth but rather a new engine of growth and a net generator of decent jobs. The Green Economy Report is compiled by UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative. The report, called Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication, recommends spending $1.3 trillion a year on the green economy.

Pavan Sukhdev, head of UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative said, “Governments have a central role in changing laws and policies, and in investing public money in public wealth to make the transition possible. By doing so, they can also unleash the trillions of dollars of private capital in favour of a green economy,”

Source: Global Warming is Real

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The Success of RGGI Carbon Trading Shows Cap-and-Trade Works

January 31, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Despite opposition from Republicans, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has been shown to be very successful. A January 28th New York Times article reviewed RGGI a carbon trading initiative launched by ten northeastern states in January 2009. According to independent reports the emissions reductions have been greater and cheaper than expected, and have produced substantial fringe benefits in terms of lower overall electricity costs, more jobs, and greater regional independence of fossil fuel imports.

The RGGI cap-and-trade carbon trading scheme was based on the successful initiative to reduce emissions of acid rain precursor aerosols which in the 1980s and 1990s achieved significant reductions in SO2 and NOx emissions.

Republicans who once supported cap-and-trade decided to make the issue a political football and as part of their obstructionist approach they now rail against it. Although New Jersey Governor Chris Christie withdrew from RGGI, independent studies confirm it is clearly working well.

Since its inception in 2009, Northeastern greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 30 percent. This is largely due to switching from coal to natural gas reduced demand brought on by the recession. On its own the RGGI trading system accounts for 6 percent of these emissions reductions.

An independent assessment by the Analysis Group further indicated that RGGI has saved customers money and created jobs. Participating states have used proceeds from the auctions to promote energy efficiency and electricity generation from renewables. The study, commissioned by four nonprofit foundations and conducted by the Boston consulting firm Analysis Group.

These findings demonstrate that carbon trading under a cap-and-trade system is the best way to use the free market to reduce emissions in a way that minimizes harm to the economy. When the review period comes to an end in the summer 2012 it will likely be declared a success and be subject to more stringent cuts and more widespread adoption. This is great news for the environment and the economy.

Research shows that Republicans are on the wrong side of this issue as the RGGI program illustrates that the benefits of carbon trading far outweigh the costs.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Reducing Emissions Through Forest Preservation with REDD

January 28, 2012 Add Comment Edit

This video deals with the crucial role that forests play to reduce emissions and manage climage change. Specifically the video offers a simplified understanding of REDD which is an abbreviation for "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries." This video explains the workings of REDD, the key mechanism to reduce forest loss which significantly contributes to climate change.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Carbon Credits Explained

January 28, 2012 Add Comment Edit

This video offers a simplified explanation of carbon credits and carbon finance. First it reviews greenhouse gases or GHGs, then it uses the example of a coal plant in the developing world to demonstrate how credits are earned and traded.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: Walmart's Sustainability Efforts

January 21, 2012 Add Comment Edit

Walmart's sustainability efforts are making a positive impact on a global scale. These efforts are evident from the products they sell to the packaging, to the way those products are used by their customers. Sustainability is inextricably embedded within their overall business strategy and carbon reduction is a key element of their sustainability program.

Walmart's goals are to: Be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; Create zero waste; and Sell products that sustain people and the environment. They have driven specific strategies that will reduce risks and increase opportunities associated with carbon for their company, their supply chain, and their customers. Their GHG reduction targets were set in order to increase their efficiency, lower their costs, save their customers money, and provide for positive social and environmental impacts. Their scope ensures significance.

By focusing on emissions reduction since 2005, they have achieved an annual savings rate in excess of $150 million compared to that base year by increasing their efficiency in the use of electricity, natural gas, refrigerant and transportation fuels. By reducing their energy consumption now, they are better positioned for further savings should any proposed carbon legislation be enacted into law. Similarly, just as they found efficiencies within their own footprint, they realized the opportunity to help their supply chain find these same, or even greater, efficiencies that will lead to additional financial and environmental benefits.

Walmart has announced an aggressive goal to eliminate twenty million metric tons of GHGs from their global supply chain by the end of 2015. This represents one and a half times their anticipated cumulative carbon footprint growth over the next five years. That amount of carbon decrease, if all achieved from electricity use reduction in the U.S., would have an associated annual cost reduction in excess of $2.5 billion. There are many opportunities to reduce throughout the product life cycle from the sourcing of the raw materials, to the manufacturing of a product, to its transportation, and to how customers use it, dispose of it and recycle it.

On public policy engagement, Walmart is working with industry groups, NGO's, consultants, and members of Congress and their staffs in order to foster better communication and understanding on the issues, challenges, and potential impacts to their business and customers. These understandings allow them to continuously re-evaluate their progress and impacts and to refocus or redirect their efforts when needed.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Ten Greenest Trucking Companies in North America

January 17, 2012 1 Comment Edit

Trucking companies are increasingly responding to the demand for transportation with a smaller footprint. Many companies are looking to be more environmentally responsible throughout their supply chains and in response trucking companies are implementing a wide variety of sustainable practices. With the aim of reducing their emissions, many trucking companies are using their vehicles more efficiently or incorporating vehicles that are less dependent on fossil fuels.

Here is a top 10 list of "Cleantech Trucking Companies" compiled by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”.

1. United Postal Service (UPS) has over 2,200 alternative fuel vehicles, which is the largest fleet in the industry. UPS also offers paperless billing and invoices and electronic equipment recycling.

2. J.B. Hunt announced in August of 2011 that it was named one of the top 75 Green Supply Chain Partners by Inbound Logistics. It received this recognition for the number of green initiatives the trucking company has done to remain environmentally sustainable. J.B. Hunt has been able to improve overall fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs, and lower carbon emissions by approximately 50 percent as compared to the traditional truckload. The Green Fleet is dedicated to reducing emissions and the Hunt Carbon Diet improves energy efficiency while also lowering transportation costs.

3. United Van Lines is the largest moving company in Canada, and has won a number of awards, including the 2009/2010 Award from Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies. Some of the green initiatives include using reusable quilted furniture pads and floor runners, recycling tires and cartons, having regular scheduled trailer and truck maintenance to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They are also looking to become a paperless company.

4. Swift Transportation is a participant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership as it is dedicated to creating a better future using green technologies. The company uses all the latest technologies to decrease their carbon footprint using their Clean Fleet and all new trucks and trailers are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

5. Penske Logistics was named, in 2010, a Green 50 Supply Chain Partner by Inbound Logistics due to the numerous approaches taken to lower the trucking company’s miles per gallon performance as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet of trucks. Penske is also a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership. Penske always looks for optimized routes that will increase fuel efficiency. The trucking company is also involved with a number of recycling and green lighting programs.

6. Atlas Van Lines are always looking to conserve energy, reduce waste, and other things to protect the environment. For example, all trucks are equipped with on-board information systems that help truck drivers become more efficient with their fuel. Atlas has earned a lot of recognition for the company’s environmental stewardship, such as the John Biasini Award given by the Chamber of Commerce of Southwest Indiana.

7. FedEx, since 2000, has teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund to ensure their standard trucks remained environmentally friendly. FedEx for many years has continued to look for ways to make their fleet operations even more efficient than they already are. The work FedEx does with the Environmental Defense Fund helps to improve the company’s overall environmental performance, increase the market share for clean delivery vehicles, and maintain/improve operational performance. FedEx has continually looked to encourage other trucking companies to develop and purchase clean-technology trucks. Currently, FedEx has over 250 hybrid-electric delivery trucks.

8. DHL recently introduced a brand new convoy of delivery trucks that are environmentally friendly throughout Manhattan, as a major step in the company’s green initiative. Frank Appel, the CEO of DHL said, “As customers worldwide are increasingly demanding greener logistics, sustainable business procedures, and initiatives…[it will not only foster climate protection to save our environment for future generations but] also enhance the profitability of our business.”

9. YRC Worldwide takes the environment seriously. It is a previous winner of the SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award. The company’s Destination Green program aids them in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, gallons per mile, and empty miles. They are currently testing two diesel electric hybrids in the trucking fleet, which will be used for pickups and deliveries in metropolitan areas.

10. C&K Trucking takes a lot of pride in making the environment one of the trucking company’s top priorities. C&K Trucking works with the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transportation Program and has one of the highest ratings of all trucking companies. C&K Trucking has maintained focus on efficiencies and technologies that will aid in reducing their miles per gallon, thereby reducing their total carbon dioxide emissions. The company has installed software on trucks to measure efficiency metrics, retrofitted trucks, and created new speed management policies.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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