What are the environmental impacts of road transport and what improvements can be made?

What are the environmental impacts of road transport and what improvements can be made?

Transport is a highly polluting sector and is often singled out because of greenhouse gas emissions such as CO₂. Every year, about 7 million people die due to excessive exposure to fine particles. In addition to air pollution, freight transport in general can create very problematic noise pollution and is one of the main factors in water pollution.

These environmental impacts illustrate the need to act to preserve the planet and its habitats as best as possible. The entire Transports Econo Nord team is concerned by this cause and wishes to actively participate in the preservation of the environment.

This may seem a little more difficult in the road transport sector, but there are many ways in which companies in this sector and truck drivers can contribute to a healthier environment. Let’s take a look at some of the possible solutions.

How can the road transport sector reduce its CO₂ emissions?

Road transport is the means of transport that emits the most CO₂ into the atmosphere. This is due to its daily use, regardless of the region of the world. Indeed, road transport is often a major player in the economic development of countries.

Despite the economic interests, it is essential to think about solutions to reduce the impact of freight transport on the environment.

Turning off truck engines during waiting times

When drivers experience waiting times, it is recommended that the vehicle’s engine is turned off during this time. By idling a vehicle, both the fuel used and the greenhouse gases produced increase significantly compared to turning off and restarting the engine.

In addition, it is entirely possible to use auxiliary units for heating or air conditioning to avoid leaving the engine running unnecessarily. All these actions help to drive a truck well.

Maintain vehicle speed during transport

Vehicle speed affects the amount of fuel expended, and therefore the amount of CO₂ emitted. Maintaining a constant speed and avoiding sudden acceleration by anticipating traffic hazards helps to reduce environmental impacts.

In fact, a road vehicle can save an additional 20% of fuel by maintaining a constant speed, and therefore reduces the adverse effects on the environment.

Maintain transport vehicles regularly

When talking about road truck maintenance, it is not just about checking tire pressure or oil levels. It is important to regularly change the oil, oil filters and air filters. Regular maintenance of these items reduces the emission of CO₂ into the air and improves the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

These simple actions can easily be implemented in the road transport sector and bring many benefits. Not only is it good for the planet, but it saves companies money and time.

How can road transport companies reduce their environmental impact?

We have seen above that the road transport sector can implement actions to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the air.

However, it is possible to find more general solutions to reduce the environmental impact of freight transport. Let’s look at some of these solutions.

Optimising LTL road transport loads

Planning is essential to limit the environmental impact of road transport. By optimising loads (no empty or underfilled trucks) and routes (no unnecessary detours or round trips), LTL transport becomes more profitable for companies and thus limits its environmental impact.

This is the job of any good logistics dispatcher. Software also exists to help road transport companies in this task.

Train teams and truck drivers

For road transport companies, there are several ways to make a difference for the environment. For this, education and participatory management are priority actions to be put in place.

Road transport companies also have a duty to educate their drivers. Regular training or meetings to look for ways to improve in this area can only be beneficial, as it shows that the road transport company is truly committed to this approach. What better way than for drivers to propose realistic solutions to limit pollution?

At Transport Econo Nord, in addition to monitoring the driving times of our trucks on a daily basis, we train our drivers to apply the best ecological practices during their journey.

Improving vehicles for greener and quieter road transport

In order to reduce pollution, vehicles must also be improved to make the road transport industry greener.

• Work on the aerodynamics of vehicles to limit wind resistance and reduce fuel consumption.
• Replace engines with newer, more environmentally-friendly equipment.
• Carry out regular vehicle maintenance.
• Use less polluting fuels.

It is important to know that Quebec is implementing an energy policy to promote the use of alternative fuels for road transport by 2030 in order to reduce the use of oil in this industry by about 40%.

For environmentally friendly road transport, contact Transport Econo Nord!

At Transport Econo Nord, we take every precaution to ensure that our trucking operations have the least possible impact on the environment. Our drivers always apply the best practices of environmentally responsible driving.

If you would like to know more about the actions we have taken to limit pollution, call us at 450-530-3323 or contact us using this contact form!