By Daniel Brock
dbrock@scbiznews.com
Published May 4, 2010

A pair of logistics executives on Wednesday previewed for shipping industry leaders an environmental sustainability program that would incentivize trucking lines to update their fleets and reduce their carbon footprint.

The voluntary plan, presented by Dean Tracy and Anthony Chiarello representing the Coalition for Responsible Transportation, calls for private sector companies to pay more for shipping and provide volume assurances, and in return drayage firms would update their fleets with so-called green vehicles that are 2007 models or newer. The program would also be subsidized by local, state and federal funds.

Big box retailers such as Walmart, Lowe’s and Target are all members of the coalition along with other leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers.

Tracy, who is also the international transportation director for Lowe’s Cos., told attendees at the American Association of Port Authorities’ Harbors, Navigation and Environment Seminar that such a move is needed before it becomes mandated by the government.

“When it gets to be a political platform, then we’re talking about a lot more people getting involved, people who don’t necessarily know our business,” Tracy said.

The full plan will be debuted later this month at a South Atlantic & Caribbean Ports Association meeting. From there Tracy plans to take his message on the road, meeting with port executives across the country.

Tracy spoke with S.C. State Ports Authority executives earlier this year and again on Monday. He characterized the talks as “preliminary.”

“This would be a logical continuation of what’s already been going on here,” said SPA spokesperson Byron Miller, referencing extensive environmental upgrades the agency has made as part of public-private partnership involving stimulus funds.

“As far as our role, it would be similar to what we’ve already done,” Miller said. “Which is providing more of a facilitating role in this and trying to encourage and be a problem solver.”

Tracy said that the extra cost paid by private industry would be “insignificant” when spread out over the course of a year, but added “we’ve got skin in the game.”

“This is about a solution on the transportation side that will afford the ports and the private sector to work together to make sure that the freight that’s being moved is being moved in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible,” said Chiarello, the chief operating officer for NYK Logistics Americas.

The seminar and GreenPort Americas continues through Thursday.

Contact Daniel Brock at 849-3144.