FedEx CEO in Group Calling for Greater Energy Independence

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xecutives including the chairman of FedEx Corp. are urging Congress to take measures to ensure the United States becomes less reliant on imported oil, news reports said Wednesday.

The group, which includes FedEx Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Smith, wants such things as stronger fuel economy standards for both cars and trucks, allowance of more domestic oil drilling and a bigger push for alternatives such as ethanol, the New York Times reported.

The group, which calls itself the Energy Security Leadership Council, also includes former high-level military officers and executives from other transportation and industrial firms including Dow Chemical and Southwest Airlines, the Times said.

It said it will lobby Congress to boost automobile fuel-efficiency standards by 4%, which is opposed by U.S. automakers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

FedEx is ranked No. 2 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.