Green logistics: cutting CO₂ in road freight transport
CityFreight · 2026-06-10
Road freight transport is responsible for a considerable share of transport-related CO₂ emissions in Europe. For shippers, the ecological footprint of the supply chain is increasingly becoming a competitive and compliance issue. The good news: CO₂ can be cut concretely at several levers.
1. Increase utilisation, avoid empty runs
The most effective lever is high vehicle utilisation. Empty kilometres are pure emission with no transport benefit. Intelligent dispatch, consolidation and avoiding return journeys without a load reduce emissions per tonne transported significantly.
2. Direct traffic instead of multiple transshipment
Every transshipment via a terminal means additional routes and handling. Transshipment-free direct transport on optimised corridors reduces the total kilometres driven and thus emissions.
3. Route and load optimisation
Modern planning takes into account traffic conditions, topography and load. Even a steady driving style and optimised routes save fuel – telematics and GPS data help to realise the potential.
4. Alternative drive systems and fuels
Battery-electric lorries, hydrogen and HVO fuels are gaining importance. Their use still depends today on range, infrastructure and availability, but is developing quickly – particularly on fixed, predictable corridors.
5. Transparency and reporting
To reduce emissions, you have to measure them. A transparent CO₂ balance per consignment provides the basis for setting targets and providing evidence to customers and regulators.
CityFreight relies on high utilisation, transshipment-free direct traffic and optimised European routes – a contribution to more efficient and lower-emission logistics.