Monitoring and increasing carbon efficiency in road freight transport by today's improved computerized routing and scheduling and vehicle telematics

Abstract

This dissertation proposes a method for automatic assessment of a trucking company's transport efficiency, without manual reporting routines. It focuses primarily on reducing freight transport-related carbon emissions. The goal is to define an instrument which shows the development of key performance indicators such as utilization (weight and volume), route efficiency, fuel use and carbon efficiency. The method could be used to monitor the reactions of trucking companies to external changes in order to find out which legislative measures are most relevant to carbon emissions and which operational efficiency measures are most effective. The monitoring method was developed while surveying the technology sector of computerized routing and scheduling systems and vehicle telematics. The dissertation asks whether the introduction of such systems will enhance transport efficiency in trucking companies with corresponding decreases in carbon emissions, and secondly whether it is possible to obtain further reductions in emissions by improving computerized routing and scheduling systems and vehicle telematics. Quantitive and qualitative methods produced positive answers to both questions.