Pioneer Lines Joins EPA SmartWay Program
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
“We are committed to doing our part to operating responsibly, and our ESG efforts are core elements of our goal to be one of North America’s best-performing, and most-respected short line rail companies,” Pioneer Lines President and CEO Alex Yeros said. (Photo Courtesy of Pioneer Lines)
In support of its newly launched Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) program, Pioneer Lines has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay® Transport Partnership program.
Denver, Colo.-based Pioneer Lines operates 15 short lines across 12 states.
SmartWay was developed jointly by EPA, industry stakeholders and environmental groups in early 2003, and was launched in 2004. It “provides a comprehensive and well-recognized system for tracking, documenting and sharing information about fuel use and freight emissions across supply chains; helps companies identify and select more efficient freight carriers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to improve supply chain sustainability and lower costs from goods movement; and supports global energy security and offsets environmental risk for companies and countries”; among other features.
Partner carriers, like railroads, submit their efficiency and air quality data to EPA annually, and it is aggregated and divided into five ranked performance ranges for each freight mode and carrier category, according to the agency.
There are nearly 4,000 SmartWay partners, which include shippers; logistics companies; and truck, rail, barge and multimodal carriers.
“Prioritizing ESG as a key component of Pioneer’s vision for the future is the right thing to do,” Pioneer Lines President and CEO Alex Yeros said on April 22. “We are committed to doing our part to operating responsibly, and our ESG efforts are core elements of our goal to be one of North America’s best-performing, and most-respected short line rail companies.”
ESG Program
“Over the past year, we have undertaken a comprehensive assessment of our fleet and operations to develop an ESG program …,” Pioneer Lines Director of Mechanical, Fleet and Environmental Nick Troutman said.
As part of that program, the railroad holding company reported that it will monitor and improve “environmental performance on an ongoing basis, and report at least annually on our progress”; work with contractor suppliers “who operate with similar dedication to global environmental sustainability”; implement and maintain “systems to conduct our business in a way that maintains the safe and healthy workplace for our employees, contractors, customers and visitors”; “uphold human rights standards and operate as a fair and inclusive employer, and will strive to reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate”; “proactively seek out qualified certified minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and small disadvantaged businesses” to ensure that have “the opportunity to bid on our material and service requirements”; and comply “with relevant legislation, standards, codes of practice; among other efforts.
In related developments, Pioneer Lines announced on March 2 that it had marked a safety turnaround with one year of injury-free service across its short lines.
