Driving Forward: Paving the Way for a Greener Future

This Earth Day, April 22, we are excited to share an update on our sustainability initiatives and the notable milestones we’ve reached this year. Our third annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report will be available at the end of the year but in honor of this upcoming holiday, we’re excited to give a mid-year update.

The Importance of Earth Week and ESG Efforts to Forward Air

Tom Schmitt, Chairman, President and CEO of Forward, routinely prioritizes ESG responsibilities to help reduce our environmental footprint. We hold ourselves accountable to lessen our impact and take strides toward a healthier industry and a healthier planet. Working closely with Katie Bishop, Head of Corporate ESG for Forward, the company has made significant headway towards the goal of reducing emissions and implementing more environmentally friendly operations.

“We’re focused on evaluating and developing a list of emission reduction initiatives to help us reach key objectives, including an idle time program to decrease fuel use and overall emissions, launching pilot programs with climate-forward industry leaders, and evaluating fleet electrification opportunities. We are investing in advanced technologies to help us achieve our ESG goals and to lessen Forward’s environmental impact in the next 10 years and beyond.”

Sustainability and Air Quality Initiatives: Forward Air's Path to a Greener Future

One area in which we’ve made new headway is proactively addressing air quality. One of our key objectives is to dramatically reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030. This pledge serves as a testament to Forward's unwavering focus on sustainability and will hold us accountable in co-creating a cleaner, greener future.

We are in the process of analyzing the effects and emissions of our fleet during idle times. An hour of idling in heavy-duty diesel vehicles burns a gallon or more of diesel – an unnecessary expense generated from unproductive emissions. Forward aims to eliminate all non-productive idling events over 10 minutes by encouraging drivers to use the vehicle engine only to power necessary equipment while loading/unloading, turning off the engine in no-idle zones, and utilizing truck stops that provide electricity and other services. Another consideration to reduce engine use is to provide drivers with generators to heat/cool their cabs when parked during an overnight rest. Forward is engaging with drivers to research the ease and efficacy of each option.

Partnering for Progress

We’re also exploring new technologies and solutions to minimize our carbon footprint and improve supply chain operation, which will also elevate our customers’ experience.

Our new project collaboration with Remora, a leading carbon capture company, will help aid in the reduction of truck emissions. Remora designed a device that fits over the tailpipe and captures 80% of a semi truck’s carbon emissions; Forward has reserved 10 units to launch in the second half of 2023.

Our commitment to ESG initiatives can be seen on a national and local level, and we thank our nationwide staff and partners for the advancements we’ve made in just a few short years. We’re proud to be a company that can truly commemorate Earth Day with our progress, and recognize the effort that all companies make to reduce their environmental impact and create a happier, more sustainable tomorrow for us all.