In the U.S., medium- and heavy-duty trucks make up 23% of the transportation Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.¹
California has recently revoked a regulation mandating truckers to acquire battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. While this might first appear to be an environmental setback, it actually presents an opportune moment for shippers, carriers, and brokers to reevaluate their sustainability strategies and formulate a more nuanced set of approaches to carbon reduction in the upcoming years.
In November 2024, the MIT Freight Lab and the MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab, conducted a roundtable discussion to explore the challenges faced by the trucking industry in achieving net zero emissions (a report from that roundtable can be located here). A significant segment of the discussion focused on regulations and the challenges that single-minded mandates forcing the industry to adopt a specific technology solution (e.g., electric vehicles), the substantial equipment and operational expenses associated with new technology adoption, the distribution of these costs and benefits among key stakeholders, common challenges in measurement and reporting carbon emissions, and the overall financial gains and return on investments necessary to properly implement a sustained and effective transition. It is imperative to maintain flexibility during this transition period. This is an ideal time for industry and academia to explore a variety of innovative solutions.
To assist in decarbonizing the freight transportation industry, the MIT Freight Lab and the MIT Sustainable Supply Chain Lab have joined forces to create the Sustainable Transportation Consortium. Consisting of stakeholders from both academia and industry, the Consortium’s mission is to help the trucking industry dramatically decrease its emissions and achieve its carbon reduction targets as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The Consortium
The Sustainable Transportation Consortium brings together shippers, carriers, brokers, and others to address critical sustainability challenges in the transportation sector. This collaborative effort aims to drive innovation, share best practices, and develop practical solutions to reduce environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency. The objectives of this consortium include:
- Fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders to tackle shared sustainability concerns,
- Conducting cutting-edge research on key issues such as alternative fuels, emissions reduction, and cost-effective decarbonization strategies,
- Developing standardized methods for measuring and reporting Scope 3 emissions,
- Exploring innovative cost-sharing models for sustainable investments, and
- Creating industry-wide sustainability standards and best practices.
This is not just an academic exercise but rather a results-oriented initiative that aims to impact actual freight transportation practices to reduce carbon emissions from freight transportation.
Some of the key research topics include the following:
1. Alternative Fuels and Net Zero Emissions
Exploring the environmental and operational trade-offs of alternative fuels for freight transport, such as electric, hydrogen, and renewable diesel options. This includes assessing their infrastructure and supply chain requirements, as well as evaluating strategies to achieve a 30% emissions reduction through non-electric solutions like renewable fuels, based on the study done by ATRI in 2022.
2. Cost Implications and Value of Decarbonization
Evaluating the long-term financial benefits and challenges of implementing sustainable strategies in freight transport. This includes developing and assessing the effect of cost-sharing models among shippers, carriers, and brokers to support sustainable investments and estimating the impact of environmental regulations on operational costs, such as workforce training and equipment upgrades. The goal is to balance economic viability with regulatory compliance and environmental goals.
3. Scope 3 Emissions Measurement and Reduction
Aiming to identify best practices for shippers to accurately measure Scope 3 and overall emissions while aligning these efforts with company sustainability goals to drive measurable progress. Also examining how a consortium can facilitate simpler and more accurate data collection from brokers and carriers, minimizing questionnaire fatigue and reducing inconsistencies caused by shippers requesting different sets of information. This streamlined approach seeks to enhance accuracy and clarity in emissions reporting across the supply chain. The goal is to provide actionable guidance for shippers to meet their decarbonization objectives effectively.
4. Route Optimization and Empty Miles Reduction
Exploring technologies and strategies for route optimization to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in freight transport. It also focuses on collaborative approaches among shippers and carriers to minimize empty miles and enhancing efficiency across the network. Additionally, we will examine the impact of load consolidation on emissions reductions and overall operational sustainability in trucking.
5. Sustainability Standards and Industry-wide Practices
Focusing on establishing sustainability standards that can be promoted across the trucking industry to drive consistent green practices. It explores how these standards can be tailored to address regional differences in infrastructure, fuel availability, and economic conditions, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness. Additionally, the work would aim to develop frameworks for sustainability reporting and transparency in the supply chain, enabling stakeholders to track progress and ensure accountability.
Expected Outcome
The consortium will be governed by an advisory board with representatives from all stakeholder groups, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of shippers, carriers, and brokers are all represented. Members of the consortium stand to benefit from access to MIT’s world-class research capabilities and expertise, enabling them to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and practices.
We will host roundtable discussions to hear directly from our members about the challenges facing their organizations. Additionally, we will create forums for knowledge-sharing, focusing on common challenges, key areas of improvement, and successes.
Consortium members will evaluate the project’s results and impact, collaboratively shaping the research agenda to meet the needs of the industry. Members can gain early insights into innovations and engage in collaborative problem-solving to address common challenges.
Becoming a member of the consortium allows for shared costs across the industry, making decarbonization more affordable for all. With six-month progress milestones set by the advisory board, your company will stay informed on the research’s progress and alignment with expectations.
As a founding member, we require the following:
- Commitment and Resources: Allocate financial resources to support the initiatives and designate a primary contact from your company to lead collaboration with the MIT team.
- Collaboration: Provide information about your company’s transportation hurdles and be open to sharing with other members without breaching any company privacy concerns.
Benefits for Shippers
By joining the MIT Sustainable Transportation Consortium, shippers will have the opportunity to collaborate in establishing sustainable best practices while sharing both benefits and costs, thereby minimizing redundant efforts. This initiative will enhance supply chain transparency, facilitate the monitoring of emissions, and pinpoint areas with high carbon footprints, all while ensuring the confidentiality of member companies.
Members of the consortium will have the opportunity to acquire preliminary insights into the most effective strategies for advancing towards net-zero and low-carbon technologies, thereby facilitating a reduction of their Scope 3 emissions. Members of the consortium will also have the opportunity to participate in the committee dedicated to developing efficient, sustainable solutions for the transportation system. As members, companies will collaborate to reduce redundancy in their efforts and collectively invest in decarbonization initiatives. Through collaborative efforts, the consortium members will improve the process for delivering emissions data in a newly established global standard format, thereby ensuring consistency and data readiness.
Benefits for Brokers & Carriers
By joining the MIT Sustainable Transportation Consortium, brokers and carriers will have the opportunity to collaborate in establishing sustainable best practices while sharing both benefits and costs, thereby minimizing redundant efforts. This initiative will enhance supply chain transparency, facilitate the monitoring of emissions, and pinpoint areas with high carbon footprints, all while ensuring the confidentiality of member companies.
Members of the consortium will be thought leaders in the industry and will be able to better support their customers. You will have the opportunity to acquire preliminary insights into the most effective strategies for advancing towards net-zero and low-carbon technologies, thereby facilitating a reduction of their Scope 1 or 3 emissions, keeping your business at the forefront of carbon reduction strategies, all while protecting your company’s privacy. Members of the consortium will also have the opportunity to participate in the committee dedicated to developing efficient, sustainable solutions for the transportation system. As members, companies will collaborate to reduce redundancy in their efforts and collectively invest in decarbonization initiatives. Through collaborative efforts, the consortium members will improve the process for delivering emissions data in a newly established global standard format, thereby ensuring consistency and data readiness.
Want to learn more?
We are hosting two webinars to hear from you!
The first is on April 8th @ 11 a.m. ET focused on Brokers & Carriers. You can find information about the event here: https://MITTransportConsort-Broker_Carrier.eventbrite.com
The second webinar is on April 10th @ 1pm ET focused on Shippers. You can find information about the event here: https://MITTransportConsort-Shipper.eventbrite.com
Following that, if you are interested in joining the consortium, we will be hosting an in-person event at MIT on June 9th & 10th.
** This is an active project. Last update as of March 4, 2025.