Sustainability will shape logistics into a more lucrative industry.You don’t want to miss out on that sweet green cash!
What are the choices that freight providers have?
Biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, biogas, and propane.
Just regarding electricity as a power source the USA has over 12,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks. There are over a hundred thousand natural gas vehicles that could use biogas as a more sustainable power choice.
In 2022 according to the U.S. Department of Energy alternative fuel data center base there were over 50 000 stations for electricity and over 10 000 other alternative fueling stations.
The initiative to push towards carbon neutrality is high globally. Cost efficiency is the devil in disguise that we can’t allow to be the end of civilization. There are plenty of examples of operating alternative fuel fleets profitably.
The purchase of an alternative heavy-duty truck is way more than your old faithful diesel truck, but it could make you better returns on a longer period.
The quick fix for lowering emissions is biodiesel which would not require any changes from the fleet or the fueling stations. Going forward electricity, biogas, and hydrogen will dominate the freight game.
Customers can’t afford to use anything else in the future!
For example, loans can already be tied to emissions targets. 196 parties signed the international treaty on climate change regardless of religion or form of government.
You can find thousands of companies globally declaring their targets to reduce emissions. Shipping freight is a major source of emissions! This gives the shipper a real chance to solve a problem for the customer. Lowering emissions is financially not an easy task and buyers will need all the help they can get!
It might start with one lane or a short discussion. Nothing is stopping you from having it out there in discussions and differentiating yourself!
I’ll end this with a question:
You’re sending freight – 20 pallets from Miami to New Orleans. Would you always choose the lower emission option if cost-wise the two options would be the same?
