To qualify for the partnership program with EPA, Lynden Transport had to submit data over a period of months that compared mileage, fuel usage and tons moved to show the company's efforts to voluntarily improve fuel efficiency and reduce air pollution in its freight transport.

“Now that we are a partner our next goal is to forecast an action plan to see where we will be in 2010 on reducing our carbon footprint,” said Steve Schultz, Lynden Transport's director of health, safety and environmental.

The company has dramatically cut back on fuel usage by using newer trucks and an onboard computer, called PeopleNet. It has also adopted a policy of cutting back on vehicle idle times.

Over the next three years, the company will further reduce costs through plans to begin using auxiliary power units to cut down on truck idling in Alaska's cold weather and replace dual tires with super single tires. Lynden drivers will begin driving at speeds of 63 miles per hour, down from 65 mph on the highways, Shultz said.

Also planned is the purchase of newer, more efficient trucks, the use of aerodynamic mirrors, and pulling dual loads, all of which will earn the company credits that to be used toward tagging and reducing its carbon footprint.

“The upside of this is it's also going to equate to some cost savings, especially if we can save a million gallons (of fuel) a year,” said Schultz.

Lynden plans to test the use of idle-air units in Prudhoe Bay. The new units fit in a truck window to allow trucks to shut down their idling diesel engines, powers up electrical heating for the rigs, and blows hot air into the cabs of the parked trucks.

“This will require more electrical power at our Prudhoe Bay terminal, but it may be worth it to cut down on carbon output and diesel use,” Schultz said.

To enter the SmartWay program, Lynden Transport received the EPA's highest score of 1.25, or outstanding, in the shipper index factor, which assesses fuel and fleet efficiency and environmental performance.

Partners with high scores are already utilizing most of the commercially available fuel-saving strategies and are exploring the latest emerging technologies.

Partners with scores of 1.25 may display the SmartWay Transport Partner logo, the EPA's symbol of fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

“We have been working 'green' for quite some time, and it's gratifying to see our long-term efforts recognized by the EPA,” Schultz said. “Earlier this year, Lynden launched its own corporate green initiative to improve the environmental performance of our fleet and operations. We know our customers are concerned with these issues, and we are committed to finding new and cleaner ways to work. ”

Some companies use SmartWay partners exclusively for transportation and other needs. Lynden Transport will be listed on the SmartWay Web site, flagged as a top scorer for exceptional environmental performance.