ATA, Colorado Truckers, Penske honored with SmartWay awards

April 20, 2017
EPA announces a total of nine winners of the 2017 affiliate challenge.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA) and Penske Truck Leasing are among nine recipients of the 2017 SmartWay affiliate challenge award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“We take tremendous pride in receiving this award for the seventh time and for the sixth consecutive year. It is a testament to the remarkable progress our industry has made toward energy efficiency and environmental sustainability,” noted Chris Spear, ATA’s president and CEO, in a statement.

“Our federation is fully committed to reducing fuel use and emissions, setting our industry on a road to a sustainable future that shrinks our environmental footprint and boosts our bottom line,” he added.

EPA praised ATA in a statement for helping to advance freight efficiency policies through its work with state partners, outside stakeholders and international groups such as the Japanese Trucking Association.

“EPA commends the SmartWay Affiliate Challenge honorees for their extraordinary level of commitment and enthusiasm in supporting more efficient and sustainable business practices in moving goods,” noted Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality. 

“These organizations represent diverse industry sectors and stakeholders who are showing that American prosperity and protecting the environment can go hand in hand,” he said.

EPA honored CMCA for using SmartWay criteria in a statewide awards program, offering assistance to small fleets interested in becoming SmartWay partners and educating state legislators on the benefits of developing a preference in contract awards for freight companies that demonstrate sustainability practices.

Penske was singled out for enrolling three new carriers into the SmartWay program, helping customers establish fuel economy benchmarks and completing a SmartWay tractor logo campaign for a customer.

"Being recognized as a five-time honoree is quite an accomplishment," stated Drew Cullen, Penske Truck Leasing’s senior vice president of fuels and facility services. "We appreciate the opportunity to consistently provide our customers with the means to enhance, or to create, quality sustainability programs that support their business models."

The other winners are the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA), North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and Wisconsin Clean Cities.

The voluntary SmartWay program, launched in 2004, is credited for saving more than $25 billion in fuel costs and cutting carbon emissions by 73 million metric tons according to EPA data.

About the Author

Neil Abt

Neil Abt is a former FleetOwner editor who wrote for the publication from 2017 to 2020. He was editorial director from 2018 to 2020.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Road Ahead: 2025 Trucking and Fleet Insights

Discover how fleet operators are impacted by challenges like driver onboarding delays and complex compliance, and the critical need for technology to boost efficiency and cut ...

Driving Growth: How to Manage More Freight

Ready to grow your trucking business? Whether you have 25 or 200 trucks, this guide offers practical tips and success stories to help you expand with confidence. Discover how ...

How to Maximize Fleet Management with Vehicle Bypass

Watch now to learn how truck weigh station bypass systems boost fleet performance and driver satisfaction.

Optimizing your fleet safety program using AI

Learn how AI supports fleet safety programs with tools for compliance monitoring, driver coaching and incident analysis to reduce risks and improve efficiency.