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Welcome to GREENgistix.
We believe that everyone has to do their part. DSN has joined the US Environmental Protection Agency's Smartway program as a 3rd Party Logistics Member. This program was established to assist all sectors of the transportation industry with reducing emissions. In doing our part, we will reduce our carbon footprint.
Ground freight accounts for approximately 20 percent of total transportation fuel use. Over the next two decades energy use by freight trucking is forecast to grow more quickly than any other transportation sector except air transport.
Trucks
• There are nearly 7 million freight trucks on the road (excluding commercial light duty trucks) in the United States.
• Trucks carry 85 percent of the total value and 66 percent of the total weight of United States cargo.
• In 2000, the trucking industry generated more than $600 billion in revenue, or 87 percent of the total United States freight revenue.
• Trucking and related industries employ approximately 10 million people. There are over three million professional truck drivers.
Railroad
• Railroads carry about four percent of the total value and 16 percent of the total weight of United States cargo.
• Freight railroads (Class I, Regional, and Local) employ about 177,000 people, and generate over $37 billion in total revenue (not including passenger rail).
Impact on Our Environment
Freight trucks and locomotives consume 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel annually. Burning this fuel produces over 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. By 2012, based on current trends, ground freight transportation will consume over 45 billion gallons of diesel fuel and produce over 450 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These levels represent an increase of over 25% compared to today’s levels. In a typical year, ground freight (trucks and railroads combined) accounts for about 40% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 31% of particulate matter (PM), and 20% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from all transportation sources.
Excerpts taken from the Smartway website. Please visit www.epa.gov/smartway for more details