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EPA Joins Kimberly Clark in Recognizing Professional Truck Drivers During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Release Date: 09/16/2014
Contact Information: Jason McDonald, (404) 562-9203 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main) [email protected]

(9/16/14) ATLANTA —The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the American Trucking Associations, Kimberly Clark and the entire trucking industry, is taking this week to honor the 3.1 million professional truck drivers that deliver America’s freight safely and securely everyday.

During this National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 14 – 21, EPA will mark the celebration by attending a Kimberly Clark Distribution Center in McDonough, Georgia on Thursday, September 18th. EPA chose Kimberly Clark because they are a high performing SmartWay partner in the Region and EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is celebrating 10 years as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing the impacts of climate change.

“Trucking and goods movement are essential parts of America’s commerce,” said Beverly Banister, Director, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, EPA Southeast. “EPA supports and encourages efforts to provide cleaner, more economical movement of food and other products through greater efficiencies and reduced fuel usage. Thanks to Kimberly Clark and their professional drivers for their efforts to keep America’s freight moving sustainably, helping us to breathe easier.”

Kimberly Clark will distribute packets to the professional truck drivers and EPA will be on hand to discuss driver training programs that target fuel efficiency. Kimberly Clark encourages their carriers to implement driver behavior techniques that will save fuel and reduce harmful emissions. A few simple changes in driving techniques can produce sizable fuel savings of 5 percent or more.

There are over 3.1 million professional truck drivers nationwide – delivering life’s essentials. These professional men and women behind the wheel log close to 398 billion miles each year and last year delivered over 67 percent of the U.S. freight tonnage – or over 9.2 billion tons of freight. 80 percent of U.S. communities depend solely on the trucking industry. Professional truck drivers keep this country moving.

Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4

And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

To learn more about EPA’s SmartWay program, visit www.epa.gov/smartway
To learn more about how essential the trucking industry is, visit www.ntdaw.org.