When the news media and trade journals discuss sustainability, the focus is almost invariably on new technologies. Electric and alternative vehicles, robotics, drones, etc. all have a role to play in reducing the carbon footprint of last-mile deliveries, and they have the added benefit of generating lots of clicks for publishers.
Let’s be honest, new technology is cool. Readers are much more likely to click on an article titled “How robots will eliminate carbon emissions” than on an article titled “Reducing carbon footprint by maximizing vehicle utilization and eliminating empty miles.” But here’s the thing - while electrification and alternative vehicles are critical to the future of the logistics industry, adoption will be slow (think decades), costly (tens of billions of dollars), and painful for carriers, retailers, and consumers.
By contrast, reducing carbon footprint by maximizing vehicle utilization and eliminating empty miles can be accomplished today using existing technology. A recent Freight Waves article by AxleHire CEO Adam Bryant explains how operational changes using existing technology can shorten the last mile and reduce the carbon footprint of every delivery. You can also view to this article on Yahoo Finance.
AxleHire is committed to creating a sustainable future. Its micro hub and dynamic routing strategies are shortening the last mile and optimizing vehicle utilization to reduce the carbon footprint for each package. As of this writing (May 2023), more than 15% of our daily deliveries are accomplished using electric, hybrid, or other alternative fuel vehicles (including electric bicycles). That’s a higher percentage than any of the national carriers, and we’re aggressively pursuing opportunities to increase that number.
To find out more about how AxleHire can help you provide more sustainable deliveries to your customers, connect with one of our logistics experts.
