THE PORT OF VIRGINIA

News Release
July 22, 2009

Contact:
Joe Harris, Media/Public Relations Manager
Tel: (757) 683-2137 / (800) 446-8098
Cell: (757) 617-0006
Fax: (757) 683-2897
jharris@portofvirginia.com

Greg Edwards, Director of External Affairs
Tel: (757) 683-2110 / (800) 446-8098
Cell: (757) 617-0852
gedwards@portofvirginia.com

VPA's Voluntary Retrofit Program
For Older Big Rigs Gains
In Recognition and Participation 

NORFOLK, VA – A voluntary program started by the Virginia Port Authority designed to reduce emissions in older diesel trucks and make them more fuel efficient continues to gain strength in both national recognition and participation.

In May, the VPA’s Green Operator, or GO, program was the first voluntary diesel retrofit program at a U.S. port to receive federal stimulus money – almost $1 million -- specifically earmarked for use in creating a cleaner, more fuel-efficient fleet of local trucks.

To date, 11 trucks that move cargo in and out of The Port of Virginia and are independently owned by a company or individual have been equipped with the retrofit kits, which are designed to make older diesel engines more efficient. Moreover, the VPA has commitments to retrofit 132 trucks by September 2010, the majority of which are from four trucking firms with local operations have committed to 121 retrofits. The VPA’s goal is to have between 175 and 200 trucks in the program by next September.

In January, the VPA teamed with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to re-launch its diesel retrofit program that encourages local trucking companies to voluntarily retrofit and reduce emissions from trucks servicing this port.

GO facts:

Funding:
$258,000 - FY2009 Diesel Emission Reduction Act
$942,000 - American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
$1.2M

Green Operator Partners
VPA
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
U.S. EPA, Region 3
Hampton Roads Clean Cities
Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA)

Green Operator Trucking Companies
Andy's Trucking - Robert Doyan, President: Andy’s Trucking was the first company to participate in the GO program, joining at its inception in 2007. Andy’s Trucking is an independent business located in Keysville.

Evans Delivery Co., Inc., and Century Express:: Bert Evans, president of Evans Delivery and Ed O’Callaghan, president of Century Express, have taken a leadership role with their commitment to retrofit 35 independent owner-operator trucks under the GO program. Under their direction, the first 10 trucks in the Hampton Roads area have been retrofitted. Evans and Century Express have been instrumental in promoting the program to other interested trucking companies in the area as well as other ports throughout the country.

C&K Trucking: The Port’s largest trucking company has committed to retrofit 21 trucks prior to September 2010.

GTL Transport, Inc: committed to retrofitting 55 trucks prior to September 2010.

Gilco Trucking has committed to retrofitting 20 trucks prior to September 2010.