Con-Way Freight joins environmental efficiency collaborative

Con-Way Freight joins environmental efficiency collaborative

   Con-way Freight, a subsidiary of transportation corporation Con-way Inc., Monday said it has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

   EPA officials, after assessing Con-way’s existing operating procedures, estimated that the company already ranks in the top 2 percent of “green” fleets in the nation.

   “Our fleet drives over 500 million miles a year and consumes over 90 million gallons of diesel fuel,” said David S. McClimon, president of Con-way Freight, in a statement. “With numbers that significant we are in a great position to help the environment by way of operating improvements. We will be buying ‘greener’ engines that emit less carbon and nitrogen oxides and we are currently testing more efficient tires and reduced air drag mirrors. We also have a strict idling policy in place with an automatic shut off after five minutes.”

   The company said its efforts will contribute to the partnership’s goal to reduce 33 million to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012.