APL Logistics wins EPA SmartWay award

APL Logistics wins EPA SmartWay award Oakland-based APL Logistics has been awarded an Environmental Excellence Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for encouraging and providing incentives for the firm's transportation partners to join an EPA emissions reduction program.
   'I commend APL Logistics for leadership in promoting sustainable transportation practices,' said Margo T. Oge, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the EPA. 'Their commitment is helping lead us toward a cleaner environment and more secure energy supply.'
   The award, the second for APL in the past two years, was awarded by the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership.
   Under the SmartWay program, the EPA joins with members of the freight industry to reduce fuel consumption and limit emissions in fleet operations through the use of fuel-efficient equipment and the observation of operating rules designed to reduce emissions.
   APL Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines, was commended by the EPA for encouraging APL's truck and rail partners who carry the firm's containers to become SmartWay members. APL Logistics said it has working arrangements with 168 truck and rail carriers operating under SmartWay guidelines.
   According to EPA figures, in the last two years APL Logistics' program has resulted in:
   ' A 1.3-million-pound reduction in C02 gas emissions.
   ' A 120-million-gallon reduction in diesel fuel consumption.
   APL has given preference to SmartWay-compliant carriers, and mandates that all new carriers doing business with the firm become SmartWay members. By January, membership will become mandatory for all APL carriers.
   'Our customers insist that we do everything we can to reduce the environmental impact of containerized trade,' said Bill Villalon, vice president of land transport services, in accepting the award for APL Logistics. 'It's only natural that we demand the same from our business partners.'