EPA Targets Big Names in Voluntary Pollution-Control Program

Lynn Schenkman

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a voluntary program aimed at reducing air pollution from trucks and locomotives. Participants in the SmartWay Transport program will be multi-national corporations such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, United Parcel Service and Nike Inc. The EPA hopes the program will reduce 18 million metric tons of carbon equivalent and 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxides by 2012.

To be recognized as a partner, companies must: reduce or eliminate idling of long-haul trucks; use a streamlined profile truck tractor with aerodynamic devices such as cab extenders that can reduce fuel consumption by at least 600 gallons; install automatic tire inflation systems to maintain proper tire pressure even when truck is moving; train drivers to reduce fuel consumption by using cruise control, coasting whenever possible, reducing maximum speeds. The program is modeled after the Energy Star program that identified products that used less energy.