Freight Logistics Green Mile Case Study
It’s widespread practice for freight carriers to provide a vehicle that is just ‘available’ and not consider its proximity to the collection point, or if there is a load available to fill its return journey leading to a waste of energy resources. Freight Logistics Solutions (FLS) have developed a Green Mile Carbon Saver Calculator using a transport matching algorithm that selects the closest carrier vehicle to the freight collection point (rather than the closest haulier depot) saving customers on cost and reducing carbon emissions.
“Working with Nightingale HQ we have developed a data-driven approach to source and control vehicles more efficiently. We want our customers to benefit from getting the right size vehicle from the best location possible, optimising the route. Also return journeys get considered, planned further and reduce empty mileage, costs, and carbon emissions” Paul Cleverley, Marketing & Communications Director, FLS
Approach
A technology and data driven approach reduces transport emissions. This tool is a practical approach to support FLS’ sustainability goals, reduce costs and help change commercial behaviours by using data and analytics to help customers understand their environmental footprint.
Objectives
- Combine emission data with vehicle locations and route data to produce carbon savings calculations
- Plan return journey to further reduce empty mileage and reduce costs for the end customer.
- Develop a Carbon Dashboard for the end customer to keep track of carbon savings
- Use data to deliver practical results to reduce supply chain Scope 3 emissions.
Achievements
- Enables customers to see how much carbon the journey they are booking will produce and how much they will save on their planned journey.
- Develop a transport matching algorithm that selects the closest carrier vehicle to the fright collection point rather than the closest haulier depot.
- Carbon Dashboard provides management reports to keep on top of data and make better decisions.
Key Results
- Reduction in carbon footprint due to route optimisation
- Carbon Dashboard for data insights
- More engaged customers.
FAQs
What is the Green Mile challenge in freight logistics?
The freight and logistics sector faces a distinctive sustainability challenge: the environmental impact of road transport is large, measurable, and increasingly scrutinised by customers and regulators. At the same time, logistics businesses operate in highly competitive markets where margins are tight and the ability to win and retain customers depends increasingly on demonstrating environmental credentials alongside operational reliability.
The Green Mile initiative addresses this challenge by measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of logistics operations. Data is central to this: you cannot reduce what you cannot measure, and you cannot measure accurately without the right data infrastructure. GoSmarter’s role in the Green Mile project was to provide that data foundation — connecting the operational data that logistics companies already collect to the emissions reporting and analysis that the Green Mile programme requires.
What makes freight emissions data complex?
Calculating the carbon footprint of a freight journey is not as simple as multiplying distance by an emissions factor. Vehicle type, fuel type, load factor, route efficiency, and the emissions intensity of the electricity grid (for electric vehicles) all affect the result. Getting accurate numbers requires connecting data from multiple sources — telematics, fuel records, vehicle specifications — and applying the right methodology.
GoSmarter’s experience with emissions calculation in manufacturing — where we help companies understand the carbon footprint of their steel procurement and production — translates directly to this challenge. The data engineering and emissions modelling skills are the same; the operational context is different.
Why logistics is part of manufacturing's carbon story?
For metals manufacturers, logistics is a significant part of their carbon footprint. Steel is heavy and supply chains are long — the emissions from transporting raw material to the mill, processed material to the stockholder, and fabricated product to the construction site are not negligible. Understanding and reducing those logistics emissions is part of any credible sustainability strategy for a manufacturing business.
GoSmarter’s work in freight logistics emissions therefore connects directly to its work in manufacturing. The tools and methodology developed in the Green Mile project inform how GoSmarter approaches emissions reporting for its manufacturing customers.
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