Transport chiefs fail to monitor noxious emissions

Most transport managers are not using any software to monitor the harmful emissions produced by their vehicles, according to new analysis from Microlise. The findings highlight a major gap in environmental accountability as the UK works towards a net zero future.

The Government has set an 81% reduction target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035, using 1990 levels as a baseline. With road transport remaining the country’s largest source of emissions, fleet managers are seen as having a critical role in tracking and reducing pollutants, especially nitrogen oxides and PM2.5 particles, which are known to worsen respiratory conditions and contribute to thousands of premature deaths annually.

Nadeem Raza, chief executive of Microlise, said: “The first step for companies looking to reduce the amount of harmful gases emitted by their fleets is to track what they emit right now. This can be done using fleet optimisation tools which ensure that routes are planned for better fuel efficiency and reducing empty loads that produce greenhouse gases without any material benefit.
“Once this analysis has been conducted, the fleet or transport manager can then decide on other ways to further reduce their fleet’s effects on the environment.”