Vision Green adds a new element to our comprehensive Carrier Relations Program. In partnership with EPA SmartWay, we work with our carriers to quantify and reduce emissions through technology, education and communications. Ongoing dialogue – one-on-one, bulletins, presentations, etc. – is the core strength of our carrier relationships.

Greener Miles and Lower Costs
Because our carriers perform a critical step in the process of meeting our commitments to our clients, we want them to have the best possible advantage to align with our clients' requirements. By targeting our carrier partners to commit to the SmartWay Transport Partnership, we are enabling them to reduce their CO2 and NOX emissions. The benefits of lower costs and a greener footprint accrue to the carriers.

Lakeside Bridges the Gap
Our communications with carriers flow through Bernadette Tapp, Carrier Relations Manager and Susan Moore, Director Sustainability. As well as carrier relations issues, Lakeside is an information resource on government regulations, SmartWay and related funding and grants plus the Lakeside Preferred Carrier Program.

Preferred Program for SmartWay Carriers
Smartway carriers are the foundation of Lakeside's Preferred Carrier program. If service and rates are equal, the Smartway carrier will get the load. This is testimony to our commitment to making a difference in the industry.

To highlight our SmartWay Carriers, they are profiled within our organization, specifically in the operations department. They are featured on our website to let our customers and prospects track the progress that Lakeside and our carrier partners are making towards lowering our impact on the environment. SmartWay Carriers are also singled out on our customers' Executive Dashboards to enable each customer to see first-hand which SmartWay carriers they used in any given time frame.

SmartWay Partnership Pays Off
Lakeside partnered with EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership in 2007 as another step in our journey to reduce the impact the transportation industry has on the environment. We are aggressively targeting our carrier partners to make the same commitment, which, in turn, makes more SmartWay carriers available to our customers. Our progress on this program continues to climb:

2007 - 15% of Lakeside's miles were hauled by SmartWay Certified Carriers
2010 - 47% of Lakeside's miles were hauled by SmartWay Certified Carriers
2012 - 50% of Lakeside's miles hauled by SmartWay Carriers

Lakeside's Green Commitment
At Lakeside, we are committed to continually reducing our environmental footprint. As a carbon neutral company, our goal is to lead by example in an industry that has an opportunity to make a difference. Under the Vision Green Banner, we are committed to making changes within our business that reduce our carbon impact, and we offset what we cannot yet eliminate. We support our customers in their quest to reduce their footprints and we work with carriers to help them reduce emissions.

Today's actions are creating the future of our planet.