WASHINGTON — The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently honored Contract Freighters Inc. (CFI) with the 2006 SmartWay Excellence Award for its use of fuel-saving Michelin X One single-wide tires.

CFI Vice President of Maintenance Bruce Stockton says the company equipping its tractors and trailers with the tires in 2004. “The Michelin X One has allowed CFI to improve our fleet fuel mileage by a solid two-tenths of a mile per gallon,” said Stockton. “At $2.50 per gallon, that will save our company $4.25 million annually. That’s nearly $1,850 per year per truck.”

CFI’s entire fleet of 2,300 company-owned tractors runs on X One tires, as well as a significant number of the company’s 160 owner-operators. The company has also converted approximately 1,100 of its 7,000 trailers to X One tires and will continue to convert 1,000 trailers per year, said Stockton.

EPA selected the winners of the 2006 SmartWay Excellence Award based on numerous criteria including technological and strategic initiatives implemented and overall impact of the organization on the environment. Other criteria include actual fuel savings and emission reductions in contrast to the organization’s overall fuel consumption and emissions.

In Canada, wide-based tires are allowed full parity with duals only in Quebec — for a fee. Ontario allows them up to 8,000 kg an axle (duals are allowed 9,000 kg) and B.C. currently allows 6,000 kg, which make them economical only for U.S. runs.