At the turn of the 20th century, when the first truck delivered its initial load of goods to its first customer, chances are the return trip included long hours, a lonely driver and an empty trailer. After more than 100 years, one problem remains the same: empty trailers running empty miles.

According to the National Private Truck Council, approximately 28 percent of trailers on U.S. highways are currently running empty at high cost to companies, the economy and the environment.

Two progressive companies - Macy's Inc., the nation's premier retailer, and Schneider National, a leading provider of transportation and logistics - are among the more than 30 companies coming together with a new sense of urgency to solve this age-old, yet contemporary issue. Together, Schneider and Macy's are realizing both financial and environmental gains by filling empty trailers with the help of the Empty Miles Service, an innovative online solution developed by the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions Association (VICS), GS1 Canada and GS1 US.

VICS is a member driven, not-for-profit association that, for over 20 years, has created best practices and standards-based solutions for the consumer goods sector. VICS created the Empty Miles Service to enable its members to match their empty trucks/trailers with other pre-qualified shippers or carriers that can use the space for shipments.

As charter members, Macy's and Schneider National are using the Empty Miles Service to explore new ways of working together. In turn, they are contributing to their respective company's business goals while elevating the collective focus of the transportation industry to limit the impact of empty miles on the environment.

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