Some 97% of shippers are reporting progress towards their sustainability goals, as they seek to balance ESG compliance with cost control, a new study by Breakthrough has found.
The sustainable fuel and freight solutions provider’s third-annual State of Transportation report found that cost efficiencies are top of mind for US-based shippers and carriers in 2025, in response to economic and governmental headwinds.
Proactive steps
As it noted, shippers and carriers are being proactive when it comes to embracing sustainability and emissions reduction, with 52% of shippers are focusing on tracking Scope 1 transportation emissions, while 38% are tracking Scope 3 emissions.
Some 37% of shippers state that they are contracting ‘more sustainable carriers’, while 30% are increasing their usage of alternative energies.
Shippers are also investing in technology and equipment to upgrade the fuel efficiency of their fleet, with 67% of carriers stating that cost savings drive their sustainability initiatives.
With this in mind, 41% are upgrading to fuel-efficient equipment, 39% are integrating fuel-efficient technologies into vehicles, and 39% are optimising route planning to enhance fuel consumption.
‘The right balance’
“2025 will test whether the industry can strike the right balance between resilience and sustainability,” commented Jenny Vander Zanden, chief operating officer at Breakthrough. “As economic pressures evolve, shippers are staying committed to their broader sustainability goals. Now they are focusing on adapting these strategies to build on the level of success they’ve seen so far.
“Transportation plays a critical role in sustainability efforts, and we’ve seen that world-class shippers who continue to make progress toward emissions reduction goals are taking proactive, diversified approaches within their transportation strategies to navigate uncertainty in a cost-effective manner.”
Other tactics being employed by shippers include 55% stating that they are expanding the use of additional transportation modes, and 47% increasing volume with core strategic carriers.
At the same time, only a quarter (24%) state that they are optimising routes and consolidating shipments for cost efficiency, which Breakthrough describes as ‘potentially a missed opportunity’.
Breakthrough surveyed 500 US-based transportation leaders, including both carriers and shippers, in conducting its survey. Read more here.
