Southeast Transportation Systems Receives EPA Award for Reduced Carbon Footprint

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Oct. 23, 2013 - PRLog -- Southeast Transportation Systems (STS) was honored this week with a SmartWay^® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an industry leader in environmental performance and energy efficiency for a freight supply chain.

The auto-transport company was recognized in the large fleet category as a 2013 SmartWay Carrier recipient for utilizing advanced technology to reduce its carbon footprint. STS is the only automobile carrier in the United States which received a SmartWay Excellence Award in the auto segment.

A division of Southeast Toyota Distributors and its parent company JM Family Enterprises, STS was established in July 2000 to better serve the 176 Toyota dealers in the southeast. The company distributed 131,714 Toyota and Scion vehicles in 2012 to those dealerships from its Jacksonville, Fla., and Commerce, Ga., vehicle processing centers.

STS operates more than 80 trucks equipped with cutting-edge equipment, which is routinely inspected to minimize emissions. Ninety percent of vehicles in the company’s fleet are new and have improved fuel economy, employing systems like automatic transmission and electric power take-off. These tools monitor the trucks to decrease idle time and reduce the discharge of pollutants.

Additionally, STS facilitates a driver training program to teach the operators of manual transmission vehicles techniques to optimize fuel efficiency. In the past five years of implementing the new fuel-saving initiatives, STS has saved more than 750,000 gallons of diesel and $2.6 million in fuel costs.

“We are honored to be acknowledged for our ongoing efforts to be a sustainable organization,” said Kevin Fleeger, Southeast Toyota Group Vice President. “It is part of our corporate philosophy to continuously seek innovative ways to conduct business with consideration for the environment, employ eco-friendly business practices and conserve resources wherever possible.”

STS was one of 55 companies to receive this distinction, representing the best environmental performers of SmartWay’s 3,000-plus partners. The recipients were honored at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ annual conference held in Denver, Colo.

"EPA is pleased to recognize the 2013 SmartWay Excellence Award recipients,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. “I commend JM Family for its superior environmental performance and leadership in advancing freight sector efficiency. Their commitment is helping lead the freight industry to a more sustainable future."

For a complete list of Excellence Award recipients go to http://www.epa.gov/smartway/partner-resources/awards.htm.

About Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC
Southeast Toyota Distributors (http://www.southeast.buyatoyota.com/) is the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyotas and Scions. The company distributes vehicles, parts and accessories to 176 Toyota dealerships in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Southeast Toyota dealers sell approximately 20 percent of all Toyotas sold in the country. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Fla., its vehicle processing facilities are located in Jacksonville, Fla. and Commerce, Ga. Southeast Toyota is a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc. (http://www.jmfamily.com/), a diversified automotive corporation ranked No. 37 on Forbes’ list of “America’s Largest Private Companies.” JM Family is also ranked No. 32 by FORTUNE® as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” its 15^th consecutive year on the list.