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The transportation industry is one of the top polluters in the United States — accounting for 28% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the EPA. Trucks alone make up 23% of that number.
On top of that, road congestion costs the U.S. economy $179 billion each year — with the average commuter spending 54 hours in traffic, according to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
What can the transportation industry do to help lower emissions and move to a more sustainable environment? Some European countries will phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2030. In the U.S., California and Massachusetts are halting the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The EPA has created standards that reduce the sulfur content of diesel fuels, is cracking down on shops that sell and install aftermarket devices that defeat the emission control systems of diesel engines, and is awarding multi-million dollar grants to states working to support clean diesel projects.
“Greening" the transportation industry will involve much more than deploying fleets of electric trucks. Here are eight steps carriers can take now:
Shipments of U.S. goods are expected to grow 23.5% by 2025, according to the EPA. As the number of shipments increases, strategic investments in carrier efficiency and technology will be key to reducing carbon emissions.
Shaman Ahuja is head of Axele TMS.
Read more of SupplyChainBrain's 2022 Supply Chain ESG Guide here.
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