Green Freight Assessment Program (GFAP) in Canada

 

Freight transportation is an integral part of world economy. Needless to say, just like any other commercial activity, this too contributes to sullying the environment and efforts are needed to make this activity follow the path of sustainability. Through this report I want to highlight how Canada tackles the task of leading its freight transportation industry towards a sustainable growth.

 

In Canada, freight transportation contributes to an estimated 10% of the nation’s GHG emissions. With due recognition this aspect, and to help cut down the carbon footprint of the logistics transportation sector, Canada has launched the Green Freight Assessment Program (GFAP). This program provides support to businesses to assess the performance of their vehicles and thereby make educated decisions towards reducing not only the emissions, but also their fuel costs.

 

GFAP has launched two initiatives or projects that have been specifically designed to achieve the goal of green freight transport:

Assessment Projects – Transport companies can get financial help up to CAD$10,000 to engage a professional energy assessment company to review and assess the performance, and thereafter provide specific tailored recommendations for their fleets towards implementing operational best practices

 

Implementation Projects – Further to the Assessment projects, the professional recommendations can be implemented through grants up to CAD$100,000 from GFAP to invest in retrofit equipment and/or lower-carbon emission fleets. Businesses are supported by installing fuel saving technologies and modern equipment to upgrade existing fleets as well as providing alternative fuel vehicles

 

Outcome:

Assessment Projects

Over 6000 medium and heavy duty vehicles have been reviewed and analysed through the Assessment Projects.

Implementation Projects

Based on the reports of the Assessment Projects, 14 compressed natural gas (CNG) heavy-duty vehicles have been funded for qualifying companies looking for new lower-carbon vehicle options.

Over 2700 retrofit projects have been funded through the Implementation Projects, though installation of fuel-reducing equipment such as Auxiliary Power Units and Bunk Heaters, Side Skirts, Boat Tails, Aerodynamic Mud Flaps, Low Rolling Resistant Tires, to name a few.

In addition to the above, over 300 drivers have been trained to optimize the benefit by educating them about proper use and maintenance of the new equipment.

 

Furthermore, strong strategic partnerships with the transportation industry as and provincial authorities have been established to address any local and/or regional problems/hurdles faced by logistics companies in implementing emission-reducing strategies. GFAP follows high service standards, towards handling and responding to inquiries; conducting reviews and evaluating applications; providing advisory support as well as disbursing the funds.

I look forward to similar projects in other regions to help lead our economies towards green transport.

 

References

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/greening-freight-programs/smartdriver-training-series/21048

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/greening-freight-programs/smartway-fuel-efficient-freight-transportation/about-smartway/21052

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/greening-freight-programs/green-freight-assessment-program/how-apply/21937

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy-efficiency/transportation-alternative-fuels/greening-freight-programs/green-freight-assessment-program/20893