The Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have joined to launch the EPA SmartWay Drayage Program. The new initiative was designed to improve air quality in and around the nation's ports. It is reaching out to multiple interests, including major national retailers, trucking companies, port communities and environmental groups, in an effort to reduce harmful air emissions from port drayage. Such vehicles represent one of the largest sources of diesel emissions associated with port operations, the group said. The new program aims to create incentives for the deployment of new, cleaner ports trucks nationwide, and to recognize SmartWay Drayage Partners for reducing diesel emissions from the vehicles. Through the program, port trucking companies and independent owner-operators commit to reduce older, dirtier trucks, and achieve reductions of at least 50 percent in particulate matter and 25 percent in nitrous oxide, below the national industry average within three years. The SmartWay Drayage program is based on the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a collaboration between the EPA and parties involved in the movement of goods. That initiative provides a framework for the assessment of transportation-related emissions and energy efficiency, while recognizing superior environmental performance.

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