Penske Truck Leasing is ringing in Earth Day 2016 with its fourth consecutive SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Award. The company is one of seven organizations, and the only transportation corporation, being accorded with this designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is also an honoree.

“It is quite humbling for Penske to accept this distinguished award four times in a row,” said Drew Cullen, Penske Truck Leasing senior vice president of fuels and facility services. “This speaks to the consistency of our team, and that our customers can count on us to aid them in becoming the best environmental stewards they can be.”

These are key ways that Penske promoted the SmartWay Transport Partnership:

• Assisting customers with modeling and completion of the program’s tools and helping them to establish fuel economy and emissions benchmarking that correlate with SmartWay Carrier Performance Rankings
• Ongoing education and introduction of customers to join SmartWay, both in the U.S. and Canada
• Devising and implementing new strategies to educate Penske associates and customers
• Attending and presenting at sustainability conferences and other transportation industry events

The SmartWay Affiliate Challenge is a national challenge developed by the EPA to acknowledge organizations that participates in SmartWay and does an exceptional job supporting the partnership’s freight sustainability goals.

“EPA commends the Affiliate Challenge honorees for their extraordinary level of commitment, enthusiasm, and creativity in supporting EPA’s SmartWay program, and sustainable transportation,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality. “The work in this arena helps to advance the environmental sustainability of commercial transportation and logistics bringing us all closer to achieving the shared goals of efficient goods movement and clean air.”

EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to help business 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 over 170 million barrels of oil. SmartWay’s clean air achievements (72.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide so far) help protect the health and well-being of citizens.

Penske Truck Leasing is a transportation industry leader in the areas of spec’ing, operating and maintaining fleets of traditionally-fueled vehicles as well as alternative-fueled vehicles that includes natural gas, propane, electric and diesel-electric hybrids.

Penske Truck Leasing is an affiliate partner in the U.S. EPA SmartWay program and Penske Logistics is a partner in the trucking carrier and logistics categories. Penske Truck Leasing is also an affiliate partner in the Canada SmartWay Transport Partnership, which is administered by Natural Resources Canada.

By "Move Ahead" Staff