Consider shipping your goods the "SmartWay"

MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Shippers now have another network to help increase their shipping business, reduce their fuel costs and help the environment. Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada (SCL) is holding workshops to raise awareness of the expansion of the SmartWay Transport Partnership into Canada. Working in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, SCL will help expand SmartWay Canada — an innovative project with the goal of saving fuel, and reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution from the freight transportation supply chain. The initiative will help connect freight companies with verified, fuel-efficient SmartWay freight carriers. SCL is committed to providing access to information, benchmarking and programs which provide opportunities to gain competitive advantage through sustainable business practices.

Workshop dates are as follows:
February 28 - Montreal, Holiday Inn 6500 Cote de Liesse
March 6 - Vancouver, UBC Robson Square
March 19 - Toronto, Mississauga Convention Centre
March 26 - Winnipeg, Greenwood Inn & Suites

"The commercial highway freight sector is one of the fastest growing sources of energy demand in our country," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Our Government's support of SmartWay provides the industry with a unique solution to help improve fuel efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce operating costs."

Originally launched by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2004, SmartWay is administered in Canada by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

"SmartWay, now firmly established in Canada, will achieve wider adoption across the supply chain through this awareness campaign." says Al Norrie, Chairman of SCL.

In today's economic climate, fuel pricing and efficiency are major concerns in the effort to drive down cost.  The volatility of fuel pricing and associated fuel surcharges are significant cost components for carriers and shippers.  While carriers are working hard to increase their fuel efficiency, shippers are now expected to choose carriers that have a sustainability program.

Requests For Proposals (RFPs) that once had a 5% weight in favor of green practices are now weighing that portion of the RFP at 30%.  This is a top down initiative that forces shippers/logistic companies to reevaluate how they do business.  These shippers are forced to make decisions about carriers without really understanding sustainability or having an industry standard to measure against.

The SmartWay program will provide a one-stop-shop tool to benchmark fleets, allowing for year-over-year evaluation of progress, providing a mechanism for companies to measure up against each other.  Al Norrie, SCL's Chairman says, "The SmartWay campaign compliments SCL's mandate to disseminate and foster industry best practices in all aspects of supply chain transportation. SCL's industry leadership will support the Canadian SmartWay expansion by encouraging wider adoption of sustainability standards, enabling a more competitive marketplace"

Throughout the course of this project, SCL will engage with stakeholders across the country, providing an interactive forum for information sharing on the SmartWay Transport Partnership. SCL will encourage companies to actively enroll and use the available resources to improve their sustainable business practices and increase competitive advantage.

SOURCE: Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada (SCL Canada)

Media may contacts: 

Alison Toscano
Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]