How to make transport sustainable in your operation

Sustainable transport is frequently discussed at logistics and transport events and gatherings. These practices are increasingly required and implemented to reduce environmental impacts and make better use of operational resources.

This need comes from society and environmental protection institutions, leading companies to adopt measures that reduce natural resource use and protect ecological and social systems.

New environmental challenges constantly arise, along with methods to contribute to these goals. So take a look:

• What sustainable transport is;
• Why it is important to discuss sustainability in freight transport;
• How sustainability works in freight transport;
• Which actions the operation needs to take for sustainable transport.

What is sustainable transport?

In freight transport, sustainability refers to mobility techniques used to reduce harmful environmental effects and natural resource depletion, thus ensuring better quality of life for future generations.

The concept of urban mobility is already a challenge, since growth in vehicles on the roads has considerably increased concerns about road expansion in large cities.

However, environmental problems such as deforestation, excessive oil exploitation and pollutant gas emissions also grow with the use of road freight transport.

This is why strategies emerge around sustainable transport, services and systems that help reduce negative ecosystem impacts.

Why is it important to discuss sustainability in freight transport?

The primary reason is awareness, and fleets have a duty to work with environmentally responsible practices. Trucks, the main vehicles used in this type of transport, are highly polluting, emitting harmful gases into the atmosphere and even contributing to noise pollution.

To operate properly, they also need fuels whose production can cause major environmental damage through natural resource exploitation.

Furthermore, tires, essential transport assets, take about 600 years to decompose. Even when properly discarded, their production also requires many natural resources.

For all these issues, among others, measures are needed to help reduce environmental impacts. For example, implementing management methods that increase tire durability, maintaining correct calibration so tires last longer, contribute to fuel economy and work more safely, or purchasing more economical, environmentally friendly truck models.

A sustainable company becomes a model in its market because it puts into practice what we call the ideal — what should predominate in all transport companies in Brazil and worldwide.

Environmentally aware consumers also understand the importance of these actions and tend to prioritize companies adopting sustainable practices. This also improves business image by conveying social and environmental responsibility.

How does sustainability work in freight transport?

With the number of events promoting the importance of ecosystem care, sustainable transport in Brazil is moving toward greater investment in services that help address the issue.

Despite the large numbers of older, more polluting trucks still on highways, efforts to find solutions are visible from the government, through specific laws, and from logistics companies.

In fleets, besides complying with legislation, you should seek to optimize services, reduce waste generation, raise driver awareness of more economical and safer driving, reduce unnecessary idling and use technologies that support management decisions.

To learn more about some actions that make fleet transport sustainable, see the next section:

Which actions does the operation need to take for sustainable transport?

Use Arla-32 correctly

Arla-32 should not be treated as an isolated device or an optional accessory in everyday work. In sustainable management, the point is to check whether the fleet uses, stores and records this input according to the technical guidance applicable to its vehicles.

The operation should therefore maintain a clear routine for refilling, storage and checking use. This care prevents the subject from being disconnected from everyday work and helps link correct use of the input to the fleet’s other environmental practices.

Carry out preventive maintenance

The importance of preventive maintenance for effective fleet vehicle operation is undeniable. It also contributes to cleaner, more efficient transport by helping vehicles run properly and conserve fuel over time.

Practice eco-driving

A vehicle’s pollutant emissions are also influenced by how its driver drives.

With appropriate driving, without sudden acceleration or braking, it is possible to save fuel and preserve the environment. Aggressive driving can reduce fuel economy on both highways and urban roads, while driver training programs can help fleets save fuel and money and improve air quality. Therefore, invest in training fleet drivers.

Properly dispose of fleet components and waste

Disposal of batteries, tires, oils and lubricants deserves special attention because they can pollute soil and water.

In these cases, partnering with companies that collect and properly dispose of waste is fundamental to a more environmentally friendly company. It is also worth acting before disposal: keeping track of wear, retreading, life cycle and cost per tire helps extend asset use while it is still in a safe and technically suitable condition to run.

Renew the fleet

The older a truck, the greater the challenge tends to be to keep fuel consumption, maintenance and emissions under control. Instead of adopting a fixed cutoff by year of manufacture, assess age, mechanical condition, maintenance cost, fuel consumption, usage profile and applicable operational environmental requirements.

Fleet renewal can be good for the environment, operating cost savings and company image. More efficient, less polluting vehicles help along this path, but the decision should be planned alongside preventive maintenance, economical driving and proper component disposal.

Use logistics technology

Using systems and apps for managing fleets and their equipment makes it possible to plan routes focused on safety and good road infrastructure, as well as reduce kilometers driven, stops, time in traffic and even the number of vehicles needed in certain operations.

This way, you can keep track of process operation more efficiently and identify which activities are sustainable and economical in the company. You can also assess opportunities to introduce new, more environmentally friendly processes.

Here at Prolog, we develop the Tire Management and Electronic Checklist apps, both of which support fleet sustainability.

With them, you can replace paper in transport operation routines, carry out digital inspections on a phone with automatic work order creation and environmental compliance, and control each tire by wear, retreading, life cycle and cost. This gives the operation greater organization, safety and sustainability in fleet management.

Learn more about Prolog solutions and their role in the fleet’s daily work.