The effort, which builds upon the company’s 30-year track record of environmental stewardship, was announced at a news conference today in Washington, D.C., as the American Trucking Associations unveiled its strategies for minimizing the carbon footprint of the trucking industry.
“Operating an energy-efficient fleet, conserving fuel and minimizing our environmental impact have always been a part of how we conduct business,” says Chris Lofgren, president and CEO of Schneider National. “Since 1978, we’ve been improving our equipment and training our drivers to be responsible stewards. Today, we’re announcing our plans to take our efforts to an even higher level by committing to run the most energy-efficient fleet in the industry.”
According to Lofgren, Schneider will expand its fuel conservation efforts starting immediately when it voluntarily slows down its fleet to 60 mph.
“This slowdown is made possible by a group of more than 10,600 highly committed and professional drivers who are willing to do the right things to serve the customer and the environment,” said Lofgren.
The environmental impact of just a three-mile-per-hour reduction is significant: The effort will reduce the fleet’s consumption of diesel fuel by more than 3.75 million gallons per year and reduce truck CO2 emissions by 83.25 million pounds per year — the equivalent of taking 7,259 cars off the nation’s highways.
Schneider’s announcement came in conjunction with the release of the industry’s overall plan for addressing sustainability. The company served on the ATA’s Sustainability Task Force, which was charged with developing the industry plan.
“Schneider National supports the ATA’s strategies for reducing the trucking industry’s carbon footprint,” said Lofgren. “As an industry leader, we are proud to already meet — and in many cases exceed — what the ATA is calling on the industry to do to reduce our environmental impact.”
During the news conference, Lofgren pointed to several examples of how his company is already living out the ATA’s sustainability strategies:
- Schneider National was the first truckload carrier to sign on to the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWaySM Transport Partnership. The fleet’s EPA scores for fuel efficiency and emissions are among the best in the industry. - The company’s aggressive stance on idling dates back to 1978 when the carrier pioneered driver incentives for idle reduction and fuel management. Schneider trucks currently idle half the industry average.
- Schneider National’s fuel management program is industry-leading. The 60 mph speed limit clearly meets what the ATA is calling on carriers to do. This change makes Schneider National the most energy-efficient fleet in the industry.
“We applaud Schneider National for their pioneering efforts toward improved energy efficiency in the trucking industry," said Jim Sweetnam, chief executive officer of Eaton Corp.’s Truck Group. “They are constantly challenging us to help them improve tractor efficiencies and to develop emission reduction initiatives. Sustainability for Eaton Corp. is as important to us as it is to Schneider National — both in our operations and in the sustainable offerings we provide to our customers.”
Lofgren challenged carriers large and small, drivers and the motoring public to do their parts to conserve and protect the nation’s valuable natural resources. “We encourage others in our industry to do more. Examine your operations closely. What more can you do? What more can the industry do? Let’s roll up our sleeves, carriers and drivers together, and set an example that other companies, drivers and the motoring public will be inspired to follow. I encourage everyone to look into their operations and meet the voluntary environmental challenges by committing to the EPA’s SmartWay™ program.”
Following the news conference, Lofgren and a contingency of ATA officials presented the industry’s plan to President Bush’s Council of Economic Advisors at the White House.
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