Penske Truck Leasing is ringing in Earth Day 2016 with its fourth consecutive SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Award. The company is one of seven organizations, and the only transportation corporation, being accorded with this designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is also an honoree.
“It is quite humbling for Penske to accept this distinguished award four times in a row,” said Drew Cullen, Penske Truck Leasing senior vice president of fuels and facility services. “This speaks to the consistency of our team, and that our customers can count on us to aid them in becoming the best environmental stewards they can be.”
These are key ways that Penske promoted the SmartWay Transport Partnership:
- Assisting customers with modeling and completion of the program’s tools and helping them to establish fuel economy and emissions benchmarking that correlate with SmartWay Carrier Performance Rankings
- Ongoing education and introduction of customers to join SmartWay, both in the U.S. and Canada
- Devising and implementing new strategies to educate Penske associates and customers
- Attending and presenting at sustainability conferences and other transportation industry events
The SmartWay Affiliate Challenge is a national challenge developed by the EPA to acknowledge organizations that participates in SmartWay and does an exceptional job supporting the partnership’s freight sustainability goals.
SmartWay Affiliate honorees have proactively initiated and executed recruiting, promotional and marketing activities that raise awareness and encourage their members to address air pollution from freight activities.
“EPA commends the Affiliate Challenge honorees for their extraordinary level of commitment, enthusiasm, and creativity in supporting EPA’s SmartWay program, and sustainable transportation,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s office of transportation and air quality. “The work in this arena helps to advance the environmental sustainability of commercial transportation and logistics bringing us all closer to achieving the shared goals of efficient goods movement and clean air.”
EPA launched SmartWay in 2004 to help business improve the sustainability of their freight supply chains. Today the Partnership consists of nearly 3,000 partners, representing a cross section of the freight supply chain industry. As of today, SmartWay Partners have saved over 170 million barrels of oil. SmartWay’s clean air achievements (72.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide so far) help protect the health and well-being of citizens.
Penske Truck Leasing is a transportation industry leader in the areas of spec’ing, operating and maintaining fleets of traditionally-fueled vehicles as well as alternative-fueled vehicles that includes natural gas, propane, electric and diesel-electric hybrids.
Penske Truck Leasing is an affiliate partner in the U.S. EPA SmartWay program and Penske Logistics is a partner in the trucking carrier and logistics categories. Penske Truck Leasing is also an affiliate partner in the Canada SmartWay Transport Partnership, which is administered by Natural Resources Canada.
By "Move Ahead" Staff
Rodger Diehl (center, left), east central area representative for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), presents an Above and Beyond Award to Jennifer Sockel (center, right), Penske’s senior vice president of human resources. Also in attendance was the Veterans Day Planning Committee: Penske associates (from left) Michele Hansen, Charlene Nash, Delphia Howze, Kandace Wertz, Karyn Troxell, Julie Levering and Ashlee Kantner; Grayson Krauss (supervisor of John Adams, who nominated Penske for an ESGR award); and committee members April Schaffer and Scott Norman.
Penske Logistics President Marc Althen is appreciative of the commitment that the company’s approximately 4,440 truck drivers provide. “We have some of the top drivers in our industry, and it is through their dedication to our customers that allows our company to earn placement on lists like America’s Top Trucking Providers.”
Penske associates participate in National Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
National Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
The Rumley’s founded Support Military Spouses to recognize and applaud the courage of military spouses as they balance the responsibility of family life, care for wounded loved ones, and honor the memory of fallen heroes. Penske Truck Rental was the first business to support the organization’s Appreciation Care Packages program when it began in 2010.
Associates in the Transportation Management Department at Penske