ATA honoured by EPA for SmartWay progress

The American Trucking Association (ATA) has been honoured by the US Environmental Protection Agency as one of seven winners of the 2013 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Awards.

The SmartWay Affiliate Challenge aims to recognize SmartWay Affiliate partners that have initiated and executed exceptional recruiting, promotional and marketing activities in support of shared goals to reduce truck emissions and improve freight efficiency.

"Increasingly, companies are becoming cognizant of their carbon footprint and reducing greenhouse gases," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves, "however, fuel efficiency has always been of critical importance for trucking and ATA, which is why our participation in EPA SmartWay is a no-brainer. We're proud of our history with the program and honored to be recognized with so many other leaders in improving freight sustainability."

ATA was honored for recruiting 14 fleets with nearly 2,700 trucks to join the SmartWay Transport Partnership and for promoting SmartWay's benefits to its members and to policymakers.

"I commend American Trucking Associations for promoting sustainable transportation to their members through the SmartWay Transport Partnership," said Christopher Grundler, Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA. "The level of commitment, enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by this year's honorees are helping us achieve our mutual goals for cleaner air and a more sustainable transportation supply chain."

About SmartWay

EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to help businesses improve the sustainability of their freight supply chains. Today the Partnership consists of nearly 3,000 Partners, representing a cross section of the freight supply chain industry. As of today, SmartWay Partners have saved 65 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to taking over 5 million cars off the road for an entire year. SmartWay's clean air achievements (28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide so far) help protect the health and well-being of citizens while contributing to our nation's economic and energy security.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.