Category Archives: Sustainability

Trucking industry concerned about SEC’s proposed climate rules

Posted on July 20, 2022 by | 1 comment

This article is interesting because of the dilemma of small trucking firms. The SEC will soon require disclosure of climate impact by companies, which will include how they ship their goods. There are scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions come from the partners used in supply chains. That would mean documenting the emissions from trucking and other cargo movements. It would include also outbound logistics, such as Amazon Prime. Shipper firms would require their suppliers to provide the required information about their emissions. Smaller firms might be at a disadvantage, having to invest in the equipment and people to monitor those emissions and make improvements. Small truck lines think that would offer an unfair advantage to large carriers, because customers would require this information to participate in bidding.

According to the first article by Alyssa Sporrer, large trucking firms support the SEC disclosure rules. That’s because they are already serious about their sustainability efforts, especially environmentally, and it will give them a chance to showcase their efforts.

Sustainability is also in the news in California. CARB, a state agency, has $125 million available for funding for clean off-road equipment, such as that used in ports and freight yards. The program is administered by Calstart, a clean transportation nonprofit. The equipment must be zero-emission, which means electric for the most part. Most of the equipment will be for terminal tractors, on and off-road, refrigeration units, cargo handling equipment, railcar movers and switchers, and airport ground support equipment.

The nice thing about this program is that it does not require firms to retire existing equipment.

The Calstart program prides itself on putting money to work for reduced emissions in places like port communities where excess emissions have caused health problems in the past.

Alyssa Sporrer Thursday, July 14, 2022

Trucking industry concerned about SEC’s proposed climate rules – FreightWaves

Alyssa Sporrer Monday, July 18, 2022

California offers up to $500,000 for purchases of zero-emissions equipment – FreightWaves

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Convoy survey: Trucking divided on sustainability, climate change

Posted on June 23, 2022 by | 1 comment

Small and mid-size trucking operators have mixed views on sustainability, especially on the viability of electric vehicles (EVs). There seems to be some split between younger operators and older ones, with the younger ones much more attuned to an acceptance of sustainable requirements.

Convoy, the surveying organization, operates a load matching service, which helps truckers reduce deadhead or empty runs, and therefore makes a contribution to sustainable operation. , as well as earning more for truckers.

It’s no surprise that the initial cost of new EVs is a serious problem for these smaller truckers. Even with lower maintenance and operating costs, the shortage of charging stations and repair facilities means buying a new EV truck is not an option most of these folks are considering.

However, they are concerned about operational cost savings, and the factors preventing EV use should decline in significance as more of them hit the road. When petroleum fuels are so high-priced, the electric alternative looks more practical.

It will be a few years before the number of charging stations will be large enough for many truckers. However, fleets with shorter day-long routes, roughly 250-300 miles or less, which return to a base station, are natural candidates for EV trucks. If manufacturing can get going, we will see these operations choosing new EVs, since the y can control the needed infrastructure.

It will take longer to satisfy the owner-operator crowd that there are enough charging stations. I have not seen a significant study of the density of charging stations or their placement to support general truck movements, say based on the Convoy to-from waybills. Knowing where charging is needed would go a long way toward defining how to proceed.

Alyssa Sporrer Thursday, September 2, 2021

Convoy survey: Trucking divided on sustainability, climate change – FreightWaves

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Low loads double methane slip on LNG carrier voyage

Posted on June 15, 2022 by | 1 comment

A study by scientists from Queen Mary University oof London scientists measured methane and CO2 emissions from marine power sources. They instrumented a new LNG carrier (2021 completion), on both the main engines and the generator engines.

Note that generator engine emissions are not considered in monitoring the emissions from a ship, according to current standards.

The methane slip, escape of methane through gaps and orifices in the machinery, was found to be quite low, and the generator engines were found to be the biggest source.

This is a quite new ship and one might expect lower emissions from the latest technology. But the study points to the need for including generator engines in the rules and in the monitoring. Studies on other ships and other voyages would be a good idea, and to their credit, the ship owner, Cheniere, has said it will continue to study emissions from its fleet.

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Gary Howard | Jun 14, 2022

Low loads double methane slip on LNG carrier voyage

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Posted in Logistics, Shipping, Sustainability

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