TRANSPORTATION SECTOR ROAD TRANSPORTATION Sustainability Accounting Standard Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) TR-RO Prepared by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board October 2018 INDUSTRY STANDARD | VERSION 2018-10 © 2018 The SASB Foundation. All Rights Reserved. sasb.org ROAD TRANSPORTATION Sustainability Accounting Standard About SASB The SASB Foundation was founded in 2011 as a not-for-profit, independent standards-setting organization. The SASB Foundation’s mission is to establish and maintain industry-specific standards that assist companies in disclosing financially material, decision-useful sustainability information to investors. The SASB Foundation operates in a governance structure similar to the structure adopted by other internationally recognized bodies that set standards for disclosure to investors, including the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This structure includes a board of directors (“the Foundation Board”) and a standards-setting board (“the Standards Board” or "the SASB"). The Standards Board develops, issues, and maintains the SASB standards. The Foundation Board oversees the strategy, finances and operations of the entire organization, and appoints the members of the Standards Board. The Foundation Board is not involved in setting standards, but is responsible for overseeing the Standards Board’s compliance with the organization’s due process requirements. As set out in the SASB Rules of Procedure, the SASB’s standards-setting activities are transparent and follow careful due process, including extensive consultation with companies, investors, and relevant experts. The SASB Foundation is funded by a range of sources, including contributions from philanthropies, companies, and individuals, as well as through the sale and licensing of publications, educational materials, and other products. The SASB Foundation receives no government financing and is not affiliated with any governmental body, the FASB, the IASB, or any other financial accounting standards-setting body. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD 1045 Sansome Street, Suite 450 San Francisco, CA 94111 415.830.9220 info@sasb.org sasb.org The information, text, and graphics in this publication (the “Content”) are owned by The SASB Foundation. All rights reserved. The Content may be used only for non-commercial, informational, or scholarly use, provided that all copyright and other proprietary notices related to the Content are kept intact, and that no modifications are made to the Content. The Content may not be otherwise disseminated, distributed, republished, reproduced, or modified without the prior written permission of The SASB Foundation. To request permission, please contact us at info@sasb.org. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 2 Table of Contents Introduction....................................................................................................................................................................4 Purpose of SASB Standards.........................................................................................................................................4 Overview of SASB Standards.......................................................................................................................................4 Use of the Standards...................................................................................................................................................5 Industry Description.....................................................................................................................................................5 Sustainability Disclosure Topics & Accounting Metrics...............................................................................................6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions..........................................................................................................................................7 Air Quality.................................................................................................................................................................12 Driver Working Conditions........................................................................................................................................13 Accident & Safety Management................................................................................................................................15 SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 3 INTRODUCTION Purpose of SASB Standards The SASB’s use of the term “sustainability” refers to corporate activities that maintain or enhance the ability of the company to create value over the long term. Sustainability accounting reflects the governance and management of a company’s environmental and social impacts arising from production of goods and services, as well as its governance and management of the environmental and social capitals necessary to create long-term value. The SASB also refers to sustainability as “ESG” (environmental, social, and governance), though traditional corporate governance issues such as board composition are not included within the scope of the SASB’s standards-setting activities. SASB standards are designed to identify a minimum set of sustainability issues most likely to impact the operating performance or financial condition of the typical company in an industry, regardless of location. SASB standards are designed to enable communications on corporate performance on industry-level sustainability issues in a cost-effective and decision-useful manner using existing disclosure and reporting mechanisms. Businesses can use the SASB standards to better identify, manage, and communicate to investors sustainability information that is financially material. Use of the standards can benefit businesses by improving transparency, risk management, and performance. SASB standards can help investors by encouraging reporting that is comparable, consistent, and financially material, thereby enabling investors to make better investment and voting decisions. Overview of SASB Standards The SASB has developed a set of 77 industry-specific sustainability accounting standards (“SASB standards” or “industry standards”), categorized pursuant to SASB’s Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®). Each SASB standard describes the industry that is the subject of the standard, including any assumptions about the predominant business model and industry segments that are included. SASB standards include: 1. Disclosure topics – A minimum set of industry-specific disclosure topics reasonably likely to constitute material information, and a brief description of how management or mismanagement of each topic may affect value creation. 2. Accounting metrics – A set of quantitative and/or qualitative accounting metrics intended to measure performance on each topic. 3. Technical protocols – Each accounting metric is accompanied by a technical protocol that provides guidance on definitions, scope, implementation, compilation, and presentation, all of which are intended to constitute suitable criteria for third-party assurance. 4. Activity metrics – A set of metrics that quantify the scale of a company’s business and are intended for use in conjunction with accounting metrics to normalize data and facilitate comparison. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 4 Furthermore, the SASB Standards Application Guidance establishes guidance applicable to the use of all industry standards and is considered part of the standards. Unless otherwise specified in the technical protocols contained in the industry standards, the guidance in the SASB Standards Application Guidance applies to the definitions, scope, implementation, compilation, and presentation of the metrics in the industry standards. The SASB Conceptual Framework sets out the basic concepts, principles, definitions, and objectives that guide the Standards Board in its approach to setting standards for sustainability accounting. The SASB Rules of Procedure is focused on the governance processes and practices for standards setting. Use of the Standards SASB standards are intended for use in communications to investors regarding sustainability issues that are likely to impact corporate ability to create value over the long term. Use of SASB standards is voluntary. A company determines which standard(s) is relevant to the company, which disclosure topics are financially material to its business, and which associated metrics to report, taking relevant legal requirements into account1. In general, a company would use the SASB standard specific to its primary industry as identified in SICS® . However, companies with substantial business in multiple SICS® industries can consider reporting on these additional SASB industry standards. It is up to a company to determine the means by which it reports SASB information to investors. One benefit of using SASB standards may be achieving regulatory compliance in some markets. Other investor communications using SASB information could be sustainability reports, integrated reports, websites, or annual reports to shareholders. There is no guarantee that SASB standards address all financially material sustainability risks or opportunities unique to a company’s business model. Industry Description The Road Transportation industry consists of companies that provide long- and short-haul freight trucking services. Key activities include the shipment of containerized and bulk freight, including consumer goods and a wide variety of commodities. The industry is commonly broken down into two categories: truckload (vehicles carrying the goods of only one customer) and less-than-truckload (vehicles carrying the goods of multiple customers). Owner-operators comprise the vast majority of the industry due to the relative ease of entry, while a few large operators maintain market share through contracts with major shippers. Large companies often subcontract with owner-operators to supplement their owned fleet. 1 Legal Note: SASB standards are not intended to, and indeed cannot, replace any legal or regulatory requirements that may be applicable to a reporting entity’s operations. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 5 SUSTAINABILITY DISCLOSURE TOPICS & ACCOUNTING METRICS Table 1. Sustainability Disclosure Topics & Accounting Metrics UNIT OF TOPIC ACCOUNTING METRIC CATEGORY CODE MEASURE Metric tons (t) Gross global Scope 1 emissions Quantitative TR-RO-110a.1 CO₂-e Discussion of long-term and short-term Greenhouse strategy or plan to manage Scope 1 emissions, Discussion and n/a TR-RO-110a.2 Gas Emissions emissions reduction targets, and an analysis of Analysis performance against those targets (1) Total fuel consumed, (2) percentage natural Gigajoules (GJ), Quantitative TR-RO-110a.3 gas, (3) percentage renewable Percentage (%) Air emissions of the following pollutants: (1) Air Quality NOx (excluding N2O), (2) SOx, and (3) Quantitative Metric tons (t) TR-RO-120a.1 particulate matter (PM10) (1) Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) and (2) fatality rate for (a) direct employees and (b) Quantitative Rate TR-RO-320a.1 contract employees Driver Working (1) Voluntary and (2) involuntary turnover rate Conditions Quantitative Rate TR-RO-320a.2 for all employees Description of approach to managing short- Discussion and n/a TR-RO-320a.3 term and long-term driver health risks Analysis Number of road accidents and incidents Quantitative Number TR-RO-540a.1 Safety Measurement System BASIC percentiles for: (1) Unsafe Driving, (2) Hours-of-Service Accident & Compliance, (3) Driver Fitness, (4) Controlled Quantitative Percentile TR-RO-540a.2 Safety Substances/Alcohol, (5) Vehicle Maintenance, Management and (6) Hazardous Materials Compliance (1) Number and (2) aggregate volume of spills Number, Cubic Quantitative TR-RO-540a.3 and releases to the environment meters (m³) Table 2. Activity Metrics UNIT OF ACTIVITY METRIC CATEGORY CODE MEASURE Revenue ton miles (RTM)2 Quantitative RTM TR-RO-000.A Load factor3 Quantitative Number TR-RO-000.B Number of employees, number of truck drivers Quantitative Number TR-RO-000.C 2 Note to TR-RO-000.A – A revenue ton mile (RTM) is defined as one ton of revenue traffic transported one mile. Revenue ton-miles are computed by multiplying the miles traveled on each leg by the number of tons of revenue traffic carried on that leg. 3 Note to TR-RO-000.B – Load factor is a measure of capacity utilization and is calculated as cargo miles traveled divided by total miles traveled. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Topic Summary The Road Transportation industry generates emissions mainly through the combustion of diesel and other fuels in truck engines. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) including carbon dioxide (CO2) are of particular importance to government regulators concerned about climate change and to consumers demanding low-carbon or carbon-neutral transportation solutions. As GHG emissions from trucks constitute a significant portion of transportation-related emissions, the industry is a focal point for regulations to limit GHG emissions. Changes to operations that increase fuel efficiency offer an effective way for companies to reduce fuel costs while also limiting exposure to volatile fuel pricing, regulatory costs, and other consequences of GHG emissions. While newer trucks are more fuel-efficient, measures can be taken to improve efficiency and reduce emissions in existing fleets. Accounting Metrics TR-RO-110a.1. Gross global Scope 1 emissions 1 The entity shall disclose its gross global Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere of the seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). 1.1 Emissions of all GHGs shall be consolidated and disclosed in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e), and calculated in accordance with published 100-year time horizon global warming potential (GWP) values. To date, the preferred source for GWP values is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (2014). 1.2 Gross emissions are GHGs emitted into the atmosphere before accounting for offsets, credits, or other similar mechanisms that have reduced or compensated for emissions. 2 Scope 1 emissions are defined and shall be calculated according to the methodology contained in The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (GHG Protocol), Revised Edition, March 2004, published by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD). 2.1 Acceptable calculation methodologies include those that conform to the GHG Protocol as the base reference, but provide additional guidance, such as industry- or region-specific guidance. Examples include, but are not limited to: 2.1.1 GHG Reporting Guidance for the Aerospace Industry published by International Aerospace Environmental Group (IAEG) SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 7 2.1.2 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidance: Direct Emissions from Stationary Combustion Sources published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2.1.3 India GHG Inventory Program 2.1.4 ISO 14064-1 2.1.5 Petroleum Industry Guidelines for reporting GHG emissions, 2nd edition, 2011, published by IPIECA 2.1.6 Protocol for the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions from waste management activities published by Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE) 2.2 GHG emissions data shall be consolidated and disclosed according to the approach with which the entity consolidates its financial reporting data, which is generally aligned with the “financial control” approach defined by the GHG Protocol, and the approach published by the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) described in REQ-07, “Organisational boundary,” of the CDSB Framework for reporting environmental information, natural capital and associated business impacts (April 2018). 3 The entity may discuss any change in its emissions from the previous reporting period, including whether the change was due to emissions reductions, divestment, acquisition, mergers, changes in output, and/or changes in calculation methodology. 4 In the case that current reporting of GHG emissions to the CDP or other entity (e.g., a national regulatory disclosure program) differs in terms of the scope and consolidation approach used, the entity may disclose those emissions. However, primary disclosure shall be according to the guidelines described above. 5 The entity may discuss the calculation methodology for its emissions disclosure, such as if data are from continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), engineering calculations, or mass balance calculations. TR-RO-110a.2. Discussion of long-term and short-term strategy or plan to manage Scope 1 emissions, emissions reduction targets, and an analysis of performance against those targets 1 The entity shall discuss its long-term and short-term strategy or plan to manage its Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 1.1 Scope 1 emissions are defined according to The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (GHG Protocol), Revised Edition, March 2004, published by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD). 1.2 The scope of GHG emissions includes the seven GHGs covered under the Kyoto Protocol—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 8 2 The entity shall discuss its emission reduction target(s) and analyze its performance against the target(s), including the following, where relevant: 2.1 The scope of the emission reduction target (e.g., the percentage of total emissions to which the target is applicable); 2.2 Whether the target is absolute- or intensity-based, and the metric denominator, if it is an intensity-based target; 2.3 The percentage reduction against the base year, with the base year representing the first year against which emissions are evaluated toward the achievement of the target; 2.4 The timelines for the reduction activity, including the start year, the target year, and the base year; 2.5 The mechanism(s) for achieving the target; and 2.6 Any circumstances in which the target or base year emissions have been, or may be, recalculated retrospectively or the target or base year has been reset. 3 The entity shall discuss the activities and investments required to achieve the plans and/or targets, and any risks or limiting factors that might affect achievement of the plans and/or targets. 3.1 Relevant activities and investments may include, but are not limited to, fuel optimization efforts such as route and load optimization, adoption of technology such as engine and powertrain efficiency and aerodynamic improvements, use of electric- or natural gas-powered vehicles, weight reduction, improved tire rolling resistance, hybridization, and automatic engine shutdown. 4 The entity shall discuss the scope of its strategies, plans, and/or reduction targets, such as how they relate to different business units, geographies, or emissions sources. 5 The entity shall discuss whether its strategies, plans, and/or reduction targets are related to, or associated with, emissions limiting and/or emissions reporting-based programs or regulations (e.g., the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Quebec Cap-and-Trade System, California Cap-and-Trade Program), including regional, national, international, or sectoral programs. 6 Disclosure of strategies, plans, and/or reduction targets shall be limited to activities that were ongoing (active) or reached completion during the reporting period. TR-RO-110a.3. (1) Total fuel consumed, (2) percentage natural gas, (3) percentage renewable 1 The entity shall disclose (1) the total amount of fuel consumed from all sources as an aggregate figure, in gigajoules (GJ). SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 9 1.1 The calculation methodology for fuel consumed shall be based on actual fuel consumed as opposed to design parameters. 1.2 Acceptable calculation methodologies for fuel consumed include, but are not limited to, methodologies based on: 1.2.1 Adding fuel purchases made during the reporting period to beginning inventory at the start of the reporting period, less any fuel inventory at the end of the reporting period 1.2.2 Tracking fuel consumed by vehicles 1.2.3 Tracking fuel expenses 2 The entity shall disclose (2) the percentage of fuel consumed that is natural gas. 2.1 The percentage shall be calculated as the amount of natural gas consumed (in GJ) divided by the total amount of fuel consumed (in GJ). 3 The entity shall disclose (3) the percentage of fuel consumed that is renewable fuel. 3.1 Renewable fuel is defined by the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (U.S. 40 CFR 80.1401), as fuel that meets all of the following requirements: 3.1.1 Produced from renewable biomass; 3.1.2 Used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in a transportation fuel, heating oil, or jet fuel; and 3.1.3 Has lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are at least 20 percent less than baseline lifecycle GHG emissions, unless the fuel is exempt from this requirement pursuant to U.S. 40 CFR 80.1403. 3.2 The scope of renewable fuel includes fuel that qualifies for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard. 3.3 The percentage shall be calculated as the amount of renewable fuel consumed (in GJ) divided by the total amount of fuel consumed (in GJ). 4 The scope of disclosure only includes fuel directly consumed by the entity. 5 In calculating energy consumption from fuels, the entity shall use higher heating values (HHV), also known as gross calorific values (GCV), which are directly measured or taken from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the U.S. Department of Energy, or the U.S. Energy Information Agency. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 10 6 The entity shall apply conversion factors consistently for all data reported under this disclosure, such as the use of HHVs for fuel usage (including biofuels). SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 11 Air Quality Topic Summary Compared to other modes of transport, road freight has a more localized negative effect on air quality through its emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). Heavy reliance on diesel fuel is of particular concern; although diesel engines realize better gas mileage than gasoline engines, they generate more harmful air pollutants. Using alternative fuels and filtering emissions prior to release can help companies comply with air quality regulations and avoid contributing to smog in cities and dense population centers, which may damage their social license to operate. Accounting Metrics TR-RO-120a.1. Air emissions of the following pollutants: (1) NOx (excluding N2O), (2) SOx, and (3) particulate matter (PM10) 1 The entity shall disclose its emissions of air pollutants, in metric tons per pollutant, that are released into the atmosphere. 1.1 The scope of disclosure includes air pollutants associated with the entity’s direct air emissions resulting from all of the entity’s activities and sources of emissions, including, but not limited to, stationary and mobile sources, production facilities, office buildings, and transportation fleets. 2 The entity shall disclose its emissions of (1) oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reported as NOx. 2.1 The scope of NOx includes NO and NO2, but excludes N2O. 3 The entity shall disclose its emissions of (2) oxides of sulfur (SOx), reported as SOx. 3.1 The scope of SOx includes SO2 and SO3. 4 The entity shall disclose its emissions of (3) particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM10), reported as PM10. 4.1 PM10 is defined, according to U.S. 40 CFR Part 51.100, as any airborne finely divided solid or liquid material with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers. 5 The entity may discuss the calculation methodology for its emissions disclosure, such as whether data are from continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS), engineering calculations, or mass balance calculations. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 12 Driver Working Conditions Topic Summary The Road Transportation industry faces challenges with driver recruitment and retention. A growing labor shortage, due in part to the challenging working conditions in the industry as well as to regulations that limit working hours, may raise labor costs and lower industry revenue. Time-critical deliveries are demanding for drivers, who may experience long and often odd hours behind the wheel, lengthy stays away from home, lack of sleep, and feelings of isolation. These factors, in combination with high injury and illness rates, largely due to accidents, make it difficult to recruit new drivers and to retain existing staff. Companies that offer better driver working conditions may benefit from lower turnover rates, higher productivity, and the ability to hire staff to expand operations and increase revenue. Accounting Metrics TR-RO-320a.1. (1) Total recordable incident rate (TRIR) and (2) fatality rate for (a) direct employees and (b) contract employees 1 The entity shall disclose its total recordable incident rate (TRIR) for work-related injuries and illnesses. 1.1 An injury or illness is considered a recordable incident if it results in any of the following: death, days away from work, restricted work or transfer to another job, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. Additionally, a significant injury or illness diagnosed by a physician or other licensed health care professional is considered a recordable incident, even if it does not result in death, days away from work, restricted work or job transfer, medical treatment beyond first aid, or loss of consciousness. This definition is derived from U.S. 29 CFR 1904.7. 1.2 The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides additional resources for determining if injuries or illnesses are considered recordable incidents in its guidance for OSHA Forms 300, 300A, and 301. 2 The entity shall disclose its fatality rate for work-related fatalities. 3 Rates shall be calculated as: (statistic count × 200,000) / hours worked 3.1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides additional guidance for the calculation of rates in, “How to Compute a Firm’s Incidence Rate for Safety Management” and “Incidence Rate Calculator and Comparison Tool.” 4 The scope of disclosure includes work-related incidents only. 4.1 OSHA guidance for Forms 300, 300A, and 301 provides guidance on determining whether an incident is work-related, as well as definitions for exemptions for incidents that occur in the work environment but are not work-related. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 13 5 The entity shall disclose the rates by each of the following employee categories: 5.1 Direct employees, defined as those employees on the entity’s payroll, whether they are full-time, part-time, executive, labor, salary, hourly, or seasonal employees. 5.2 Contract employees, defined as those who are not on the entity’s payroll, but who are supervised by the entity on a day-to-day basis, including independent contractors and those employed by third parties (e.g., temp agencies and labor brokers). 6 The scope of disclosure includes all employees regardless of employee location. TR-RO-320a.2. (1) Voluntary and (2) involuntary turnover rate for all employees 1 The entity shall disclose employee turnover for all employees as a percentage. 2 Turnover shall be calculated and disclosed separately for (1) voluntary and (2) involuntary departures. 2.1 The (1) voluntary turnover rate shall be calculated as the number of employee-initiated separations (such as resignation or retirement) during the reporting period, divided by the total number of employees during the reporting period. 2.2 The (2) involuntary turnover rate shall be calculated as the number of entity-initiated separations (such as dismissal, downsizing, redundancy, or non-renewal of contract) during the reporting period, divided by the total number of employees during the reporting period. TR-RO-320a.3. Description of approach to managing short-term and long-term driver health risks 1 The entity shall describe its efforts to assess, monitor, and reduce exposure of employees to human health hazards, including, but not limited to, fatigue and sleep deprivation, obesity and associated diseases, hypertension, and mental and emotional health. 1.1 Relevant efforts to discuss include, but are not limited to, risk assessments, participation in long-term health studies, health and wellness monitoring programs, and use of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs). 2 The entity shall describe management approach in the context of short-term (i.e., acute) risks and long-term (i.e., chronic) risks. 3 The scope of disclosure shall focus on truck drivers but may include other employees as relevant. 4 The entity may discuss compliance with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations and recommendations for hours of service, scheduling, sleep apnea, and fatigue management. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 14 Accident & Safety Management Topic Summary Road transportation involves inherent dangers, including accidents resulting from mechanical failure or human error. Companies in this industry take measures to train drivers and maintenance staff to minimize accidents. Evidence of injury and fatality rates, associated costs, and investment in safety technologies supports the significance of the issue for the industry. Companies with more effective safety management can improve the efficiency of operations, retain drivers, reduce delays, and avoid costs associated with serious accidents. In contrast, those with poor safety management may experience regulatory penalties, higher insurance premiums, and service disruptions that reduce revenues and brand value. Accounting Metrics TR-RO-540a.1. Number of road accidents and incidents 1 The entity shall disclose the aggregate number of road accidents and incidents. 1.1 An accident is defined, consistent with U.S. 49 CFR 390.5T, as an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a highway in interstate or intrastate commerce that results in: 1.1.1 A fatality; or 1.1.2 Bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or 1.1.3 One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle(s) to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or by other motor vehicle. 1.2 An accident does not include: 1.2.1 An occurrence involving only boarding and alighting from a stationary motor vehicle; or 1.2.2 An occurrence involving only the loading or unloading of cargo. 1.3 An incident is defined as any event involving a licensed motor vehicle while on business use that results in a recordable incident (as defined by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration), vehicle damage, or other property damage. 2 At a minimum, the scope of disclosure includes accidents and incidents reported to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board or to an equivalent national authority. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 15 TR-RO-540a.2. Safety Measurement System BASIC percentiles for: (1) Unsafe Driving, (2) Hours-of-Service Compliance, (3) Driver Fitness, (4) Controlled Substances/Alcohol, (5) Vehicle Maintenance, and (6) Hazardous Materials Compliance 1 The entity shall disclose the percentiles calculated by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System (SMS) for the following Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): 1.1 Unsafe Driving 1.2 Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance 1.3 Driver Fitness 1.4 Controlled Substances/Alcohol 1.5 Vehicle Maintenance 1.6 Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance 2 The entity shall disclose its percentile in each BASIC for the month ending the most recent reporting period. 3 The entity may discuss its percentiles in relation to FMCSA’s Intervention Thresholds. TR-RO-540a.3. (1) Number and (2) aggregate volume of spills and releases to the environment 1 The entity shall disclose (1) the total number of spills and releases of hazardous material to the environment. 1.1 Hazardous material is defined according to U.S. 49 CFR as a substance or material that the Secretary of Transportation has determined is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and has designated as hazardous under section 5103 of federal hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5103). 2 The entity shall disclose (2) the aggregate volume of spills and releases of hazardous material to the environment in cubic meters. 2.1 The volume shall be calculated as the total estimated amount spilled that reached the environment, without netting the amount of such material that was subsequently recovered, evaporated, or otherwise lost. 3 A spill that qualifies as a spill to both soil and water shall be reported as a single spill to water, with the volume properly apportioned to soil and water. 4 The entity may additionally disclose spills to soil and water separately. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 16 5 Where relevant, the entity may provide a breakdown of spills and releases by type, such as: (1) hydrocarbons and (2) hazardous substances. SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARD | ROAD TRANSPORTATION | 17 SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD 1045 Sansome Street, Suite 450 San Francisco, CA 94111 415.830.9220 info@sasb.org sasb.org