Evans Network, the third largest U.S. container drayage carrier, was selected by Commercial Carrier Journal
(CCJ) as an innovator for its efforts in promoting freight and fuel efficiency. Evans Network's environmental focus led to the development of Export Container Optimization-Match (ECO-Match), which aims to cut fuel
consumption, green house gas emissions and shipping costs by reducing the number of trucks needed for picking up and dropping off containers by matching import loads with export loads.
For example, working with a major steamship line serving an east coast port, Evans Network matched 22 percent of import loads with export loads last year, which saved over 98,000 gallons of diesel fuel. By not burning that diesel fuel, the ocean carrier saved more than 2.1 million lbs of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere. "ECO-Match is as much an industry initiative as it is internal," says Gerard Coyle, Vice President of
Environmental & Sustainable Operations for Evans Network.
Evans Network was one of the 11 innovator companies selected to attend CCJ's 5th Annual Innovators Summit at Hawk's Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida sponsored by Castrol, J.J. Keller and PeopleNet. Mr. Coyle attended the meeting to discuss best practices in the trade and transportation industry.
"CCJ found Evans Network's ECO-Match initiative to be an innovative approach to the major challenges of efficiency and sustainability. The company has proven that savvy information management can yield huge payoffs for their customers and the environment," said Avery Vise, Editorial Director for CCJ.
"We celebrate CCJ's honor of innovation and achievement with our independent contractors, agent partners, and valued customers who participate in our power equipment retrofitting, fuel conservation and
ECO-Match programs," said Mr. Coyle. Evans Network is currently retrofitting independent contractors' vehicles serving the Port of Charleston and has completed the retrofitting of vehicles at The Port of Virginia. The company has also implemented fuel conservation programs, such as resetting engine speed limit to 65 mph, limiting engine idling to five minutes, and installing aerodynamic cab fairing to reduce drag, among many others.
CCJ launched the Innovators Summit in 2004 to recognize carriers for trying new processes in the industry and succeeding. The magazine selects an innovator every month, and then awards one company as "Innovator of the Year" at the meeting. CCJ editors solicit nominations and investigate leads to select a featured innovator every month. To qualify, the carrier or private fleet must operate at least 10 power units in Classes 3-8 and
maintain a satisfactory safety rating, if rated.