SmartWay is a collaboration between the truck transportation industry and EPA to help increase energy efficiency and significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution.

"We continue to do our part for the environment with our innovative technologies that reduce tire rolling resistance and energy use at all facilities and eliminate all waste disposal in landfills. We also offer solution-based business tools that calculate fuel consumption and help fleets lower their costs of operation, said Steve McClellan, Goodyear vice president of commercial tire systems.

"Through the SmartWay Transport program, we see opportunities to further our relationships with America’s fleets and truck and trailer manufacturers in the pursuit of even greater gains in fuel efficiency and emission reductions. The savings are substantial," McClellan said.

The fuel-efficient line-haul tires help deliver up to 4 percent improved truck fuel economy, and when used with other SmartWay-qualified components, each 18-wheel tractor and trailer used in long-haul can produce savings of up to 4,000 gallons per year, or more than $11,000 annually, according to Goodyear and EPA officials.

Goodyear tires featuring Fuel Max Technology include the Unisteel G395 LHS steer tire, Unisteel G305 LHD drive tire and Unisteel G316 LHT trail tire in standard (11R22.5) and low-profile (295/75R22.5 and 285/75R24.5) sizes.

McClellan suggested that fleets and owner-operators consider specifying equipment to improve fuel economy, even if it means retrofitting existing vehicles. SmartWay has developed a set of specifications to help guide the process and even offers low-cost loans to make it easier. In addition, several truck makers are now selling trucks that are SmartWay-certified as being highly fuel-efficient vehicles.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership, a collaboration between freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies, voluntarily improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions from freight transport. By 2012, SmartWay aims to save between 3.3 and 6.6 billion gallons of diesel and eliminate between 33 and 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and up to 200,000 tons of nitrous oxide emissions per year.

Goodyear’s environmental activities include its zero-waste-to-landfill initiative, which helps to recycle materials or use waste materials for fuel or energy. In mid-2007, the company’s U.S. chemical operations became the first to achieve total zero waste to landfill.

Goodyear commercial tire systems offer complete products and services to the trucking industry, including a full range of original equipment and replacement tires. In addition, the   company’s cradle-to-grave tire and service network  includes retreading, tire management tools and business solutions for tomorrow’s trucking fleets.

For more information on Fuel Max Technology, go to http://www.goodyear.com/truck.

For additional information on the SmartWay Transport Partnership, go to http://www.epa.gov/smartway.

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