Green shipping companies

I spoke with several of the shipping companies reps recently (with the slow economy, they seem to be working a little harder to drum up business). Shipping is probably one of the biggest consumers of energy for the production and delivery of our goods.

Everyone wants to go green, including them. Here are a few of the highlights I found out:

1. They are using bio-diesel and/or low sulfur diesel at all of their internal refueling stations
2. They recycle all the oils, lubricant, batteries and anti-freeze from their vehicles
3. They dispose / recycle all their tires through EPA registered agents
4. Look for aerodynamic and other efficiency advances to apply to their fleets
5. Use computer technology to reduce the miles driven to complete the drivers daily routes
6. Use railroads to transport goods across the country and consolidate the loads on the trailers as much as possible
7. Use electronic invoicing, use recycled paper and recycle their own waste paper

It's nice to know that these companies are trying. Most of these efforts actually work to reduce their costs as well as the impact they are having on our environment.