In 2008 JCPenney focused on a number of initiatives to reduce “empty miles” in our carriers’ dedicated truck fleets. As a result, we increased the utilization of empty miles by 51 percent in 2008 over 2007, converting potentially empty trailers into 11,000 loads covering 1.3 million miles. This resulted in savings to JCPenney of $2.5 million and a net reduction of CO2 emissions of 4.1 million pounds.

By working with our third-party carriers, our goal over time is to utilize at least 50 percent of our empty backhaul trailers returning from stores. We also use backhaul trips to carry pallets and recyclable materials, such as cardboard and plastic, to our distribution facilities for consolidation.

JCPenney has also become a leading participant in the VICS Empty Miles Backhaul Initiative. VICS—the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association—developed an online marketplace through which freight shippers and carriers can offer their available empty-mile truck lanes to other shippers.