Road freight association Transporting New Zealand will launch an online “green fleet” self-assessment tool to help operators estimate emissions and identify ways to reduce them.
The ten-question survey will go live after a Road Freight Decarbonisation Update event in Auckland later this month, which will include updates on Low Emission Freight Certificates, EECA’s Low Emission Heavy Vehicle Fund and other programmes.
“This is a practical guide that enables operators to identify what they’re already doing to reduce emissions, and what more they could do,” Transporting NZ chief executive Dom Kalasih says.
“For many businesses and ordinary Kiwis alike, a brand-new zero emission vehicle isn’t feasible just yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done.”
The survey outlines actions such as fuel-efficient driver training, route optimisation and backloading to cut empty trips, and preventative maintenance and regular servicing.
“Not only do these strategies reduce emissions, but greater fuel efficiency reduces costs, which is imperative for operators in what is a highly competitive sector,” Kalasih says.
Transporting NZ cites NZTA data showing up to a 35% difference in fuel use between efficient and inefficient drivers.
“Customer demand for greener business practices has been growing for years. But many of the more transformative zero emissions technologies for heavy vehicles are still in their infancy, and tight margins present a challenge to investment here,” Kalasih says.
“Transporting New Zealand hopes that our members and the wider industry will find value from this tool and use it to communicate their decarbonisation efforts with customers.”
The launch is scheduled at TR Group’s Auckland premises on October 24. Interested attendees can contact events@transporting.nz before October 14.
