The pandemic has caused a myriad of problems for the trucking industry. Major public health dilemmas and economic issues have arisen since the pandemic started. So, coronavirus has forced the industry to inefficiency by moving smaller freight volumes. Fortunately for us, there is a carbon-neutral shipping method that optimizes truck space, reduces costs for shippers, and introduces green trucking. We are not talking about truckload; we are talking about shared trucking.
Before discussing how green trucking can reduce carbon footprint, let’s look at some data about carbon emissions and why trucks are becoming wasteful.
The Climate Impact:
Fossil fuels burn and release carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. You release harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere whenever you step on the gas pedal. The pandemic presented an excellent chance for scientists to examine the effects of trucking emissions.
The US is one of the most significant contributors of carbon emitters globally. Transportation is the number one source, while freight trucks contribute 23% of transportation in America. Similarly, the European Union, which consists of 27 nations, is a significant contributor to harmful emissions. Since the pandemic, however, the emissions have seen a decrease by 58%.
We can infer from the data provided above that it has never been more critical than now for the trucking industry to reduce the miles traveled and maximize space to pave the way for green trucking.
Smaller Loads Mean Bigger Headaches:
Businesses across the U.S. confirm that freight volumes have decreased tremendously since the pandemic. The driver shortage is another result of this. But the root cause of these problems is business closures due to financial difficulties.
American shipping volumes are constantly seeing decreases since 2020, and you can’t expect this decline to taper off anytime soon. Volumes are likely to pick up temporarily when the produce increases but will re-flatten as seasons end.
LTL Shipping And Truckload:
Shippers are looking to deliver their loads faster and are, therefore, sending smaller loads at one time instead of waiting for a full truckload. They are either using truckload or less-than-truckload, which are not suitable for reducing pollution and emissions.
Freight Pooling Leads To Green Trucking:
Freight pooling is a complicated process that a shipping company manages. They use different algorithms to pinpoint another point of sales. These points are then pooled together to create one large shipment. Shipments that need to go in one direction are all selected at once. These goods travel to their destination without any handling or moving in between.
As a consequence, freight reaches its destination intact and on time. Also, shippers pay for the space they use, which is very cost-effective. With this shipping mode, you can tick the three most essential qualities off your checklist.
- Carbon neutral shipping
- Cost efficiency
- In-time shipping
How Shared Truckload Works?
- Shipments move in a shared truck, reducing carbon emissions by 40% saving fuel and other resources used in LTL shipping.
- A shared truckload is also helpful for carriers. Instead of investing in electric vehicles, they can use their existing vehicles to minimize fuel usage and resource allocation.
- Truckers also are at an advantage here. They receive better packages to deliver shared truckloads instead of LTL shipments.
FAQs
Q1-How can delivery services be made sustainable?
Develop a commitment today as it has become a need of the hour—plan on using eco-friendly vehicles and alternative fuel sources. Ship locally and run micro-fulfillment centers instead of large regional warehouses. Plan shorter routes for deliveries and maximize the cargo loads.
Q2-What is green transportation?
Green transportation is one where we combine smaller shipments into a single one to reduce the number of trips. This OTR method is also known as Less Than truckload. It saves fuel and reduces carbon emissions to a great degree.
Conclusion:
In the end, shipping and co-partnering with a carrier that offers shared truckload service lowers the impact on the environment. The green trucking also helps truckers make the most of delivering partials.
