On January 1, 2020, a decision to reduce the permissible sulfur content in fuel from 3.5% to 0.5% came into force for marine vessels. The measure was adopted to combat the growing threat pollution poses to the world’s environment.

Road transport emission regulations are also undergoing a transformation. Starting in 2020, plans call for a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 3% every year. By 2025, CO2 emissions from trucks will be reduced by 15% of today’s levels. And by 2030, emissions will be 30% lower vs 2019.

Road transport volume increases every year and, according to preliminary estimates, will grow by 60% by 2050. Automotive manufacturers are already fined for every gram of carbon dioxide that exceeds legislated limits. Before long, logistics industry players will face similar fines.

To reduce CO2 emissions, transport companies are turning to the Internet of things (IoT). According to research by British telecommunications company Inmarsat, 44% of transport and logistics companies are implementing environmental monitoring solutions. 65% of companies in the industry plan to introduce IoT solutions promoting sustainable development.

With the IoT, transport and logistics companies can better manage their vehicle fleets. For example, IoT-enabled GPS monitoring allows these companies to track their trucks’ locations in real time. Accurate geolocations help transport providers automatically select return-trip orders to minimize empty runs. This more effective fleet management reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Vitaliy Eremenko, Deputy Director of the AsstrA Road Transport Operations Department, shares his comments:

“AsstrA corporate group experts strive to organize round-trip shipments with vehicles loaded during all stages. Round trips have a number of advantages over one-way shipments. One is lower CO2 emissions thanks to the efficient use of rolling stock. They are also more cost-effective for our transport partners, who don’t have to account for empty mileage when forming loads. Additionally, they encourage loyalty among transport partners who appreciate the wise use of fleets.

 

 

AsstrA specialists also rely on advanced IT solutions to organize environmentally friendly road transport. AsstrA’s Suppliers’ Cabinet application automatically provides registered transport partners with a list of orders available to be filled within 100 km of the destination of their current load.

Also, AsstrA’s Supply Chain Visibility project uses multiple GPS providers to collect real-time vehicle geolocation and trip progress information. This information helps carriers minimize downtime and empty mileage.

“AsstrA is committed to streamlining business processes in multiple ways, including the use of IoT solutions. The rational use of resources is one of our top goals. This helps the environment – and helps customers get competitive rates on optimal routes,” summarizes Vitaliy Eremenko.