Greening freight: Protecting air and public health

Your computer, your breakfast cereal and the shoes on your feet all have one thing in common: the U.S. freight system brought them to you.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, on a typical day, the U.S. freight system moves 53 million tons of goods valued at about $36 billion.

And it's fastest growing piece of our transportation system. More than 20 billion tons of freight travel throughout the U.S. every year, and that figure is projected to increase by at least a third in less than a decade.

Growth brings increased health, climate risks

Unfortunately this all comes with a cost.

Our current freight system results in about 500 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, and the associated health risks also great.

Diesel exhaust from freight transport contains contaminants linked to premature death, asthma, lung cancer, low birth weight and cardiovascular illness.

The California Air Resources Board estimates that freight-related pollution statewide was responsible for about 2,400 premature deaths, 62,000 asthma and lower respiratory cases and 1.1 million lost school days in 2005 alone.

We're finding innovative solutions

That's why we're working to modernize this essential component of American commerce and industry.

We pioneered efforts to slash pollution and emissions from some of the most heavily used vehicles in America: delivery trucks.

In 2004 we put the first hybrid delivery truck on the road with FedEx. Now more than 40 models of hybrid trucks are on the market.

In August 2011, President Obama unveiled new nationwide fuel efficiency and emissions standards for trucks and buses that were shaped in part by the success of the trucks EDF helped bring to market.

Working with MIT to modernize the system

We have now turned our focus to freight movement using air cargo, big-rigs, trains and ships.

To reduce emissions from freight movement, we first needed a way for shippers to understand their impact and prioritize projects to increase carbon-efficiency.

We have partnered with MIT to develop a carbon management framework shippers can use to push for continuous progress. A major retailer and leading consumer products company have reported impressive results to date.

This partnership presents a valuable opportunity to improve freight’s environmental and health performance in communities across the country.