Chris Hyde on why organizations should work with the solutions we have today
Ambition is not in short supply when it comes to decarbonizing logistics. Across the sector, businesses are under pressure, and ready to decarbonize their fleets.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are a key part of the solution – and often the most visible – but they’re only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. And right now, they’re bumping against the limits of what current infrastructure can support.
Rather than waiting for perfect conditions, businesses can take proactive steps to decarbonize their fleets using the tools already available. It’s about making the most of what’s at our disposal to cut emissions now. Fleet decarbonization will take effort on several fronts, and much of it is already well within reach.
A critical window for fleet decision-making
We all know about the challenges facing logistics fleets to make electric vehicles a real long-term solution. But focusing solely on these challenges risks overlooking the momentum already being built. There’s plenty that businesses can do now to make huge strides in decarbonization.
We’re entering a decisive moment for fleet operators, not just in terms of environmental impact, but long-term commercial strategy. The fleets being ordered today will still be in operation into the 2030s, after many net-zero targets have kicked in. That means the decisions businesses are making now will directly shape their ability to meet future regulations and expectations.
Forward thinking businesses are already taking practical steps to cut emissions across their operations – steps that reduce emissions today, while laying the foundation for long-term transformation.
Smarter thinking for lower emissions
Alternative fuels, for instance, play a key role in fleet operations. Electrification may be the long-term goal but in the short-term, trials of biofuels, hydrogen, and other lower carbon options are helping to cut emissions on routes where electrification isn’t yet viable.
Smarter route planning is another powerful lever. With the rise of AI and data-driven decision making, logistics providers can plan and adjust delivery routes in real-time, avoiding unnecessary detours and reducing total miles traveled. These don’t just represent efficiency gains on paper but also translate directly to lower fuel consumption and fewer emissions on the road. For one of our customers, we’ve removed in total circa 450,000 miles per annum equating to approximately 600 tons of CO2 emissions through moving from fixed to dynamic planning.
But fuel type and route planning are only half the story. How a vehicle is used matters just as much. There’s huge potential in simply making better use of the fleets we already have. Making sure lorries run full, sharing loads where it makes sense and avoiding empty returns aren’t big fixes, but they’re practical, proven ways to cut emissions and save money over time.
We’re also seeing increasing collaboration across the supply chain – businesses working together to share capacity and optimize backhaul opportunities. It’s a mindset shift from ‘how do I solve this internally’ to ‘how do we, collectively, reduce waste across the wider supply chain.’ That shift is essential for building a lower-carbon, more resilient logistics ecosystem.
Moving forward today
None of these solutions can decarbonize fleets overnight, but they are tangible ways to start moving forward today. And in the end, that is what decarbonization efforts demand: not waiting for perfect conditions but working with what’s available to drive down emissions in the journey businesses are already making.
That’s why the real focus for businesses now should be on what they can control. Some Infrastructure may be challenging in some areas, but there’s plenty that can be done while we wait for it to catch up, and the customers that we work with who are adopting that approach are making great strides to decarbonize their fleets now.
Our forward-thinking customers are working with us to make tangible and meaningful progress. They’re working with us to look at every element of fleet usages – route optimization, driver training, shared loads and back haul, alternative fuels as well as electric fleets where suitable to make a step change in the way their fleets operate day-to-day, without disrupting the flow of goods that their customers rely on.
Building a resilient, adaptable fleet strategy
This proactive mindset is crucial as fleet renewal programs represent a critical crossroad. Over the next five years, many businesses will commit to operating vehicles for the coming decade – a period when net-zero goals become urgent and unavoidable. Unlike some areas of operations that can be updated incrementally, fleet assets can’t be rapidly swapped out, locking companies into emissions profiles and operational constraints. That’s why today’s procurement decisions must balance immediate needs with adaptability, incorporating electrification, alternative fuels, and operational flexibility to stay future-ready.
The good news is that this kind of long-term, holistic thinking is already being embraced by leading logistics operators. The companies leading now in decarbonizing their fleet using this holistic approach will be those that can better capitalize as new and greener technology becomes more affordable, efficient, and accessible. Decarbonization now needs to sit as a core component of fleet strategy influencing operations, training, and procurement, and companies that adopt this integrated approach can unlock significant emissions reductions regardless of external conditions.
Chris Hyde
Chris Hyde is the Managing Director, Food and Beverage, at GXO UK&I. Having started in the logistics industry over 25 years ago after graduating with a degree in business and finance, Chris has worked across many sectors and joined GXO in 2003. Over the course of the last 18 years, Chris has worked his way u