By Karen Robes Meeks
Brown Line, part of the Lynden family of companies that specializes in the trucking of temperature-controlled goods, recently garnered its third straight SmartWay High Performer Award from the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Our team is very proud to receive this award for the third consecutive year," says Brown Line President Bill Johansen. "We continue to work hard to ensure we reduce carbon emissions by reducing idle time, sudden starts and stops and by using a new system called SmartDrive. This system allows our team to work together to improve driver safety and driving habits while reducing carbon emissions."
Brown Line, who has a location in Mount Vernon, Wash., has made several sustainable upgrades this year, including the addition of 14 new fuel-efficient trucks to its fleet – a move that makes 90 percent of its equipment less than five years old – and enhancing its refrigeration units with StarTrak, which alerts personnel of any temperature issues.
The company has also made a nearly 40 percent improvement in its fuel consumption over the past five years. It has curbed its nitrous oxide and particulate matter emissions per ton mile by 44 and 62 percent respectively over the last seven years.