Environmental Leader

Macy’s and Schneider National have achieved significant green benefits including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cost savings by using a new system to keep trucks from traveling empty, according to a case study.

The Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions (VICS) Association, GS1 Canada and GS1 US released the case study (PDF) to show the benefits of their Empty Miles Service. The VICS Empty Miles Service matches a company’s trailers that are returning empty with another company’s potential loads that can be collected and delivered along the return route.

More than 30 companies are currently using the service. The service, currently active in the United States, will launch in Canada later this year

The study found that Schneider National eliminated 61.65 tons of carbon dioxide, 147.24 tons of particulate matter and 1.47 tons of nitrous oxide while saving 5,554 gallons of diesel fuel. The trucking firm also has increased dedicated backhaul revenue on specific accounts using the VICS Empty Miles Service by 25 percent.

Macy’s experienced an increase of 30 backhaul loads per week, or a projected 1,500 loads per year, at competitive market rates. In addition, for each initial lane opened, the retailer has reduced annualized transportation costs on average, by $25,000.