Turn sustainability insight into supply chain impact
How TQL helps shippers reduce emissions, improve efficiency and build stronger networksBy Shannon Russell
Key points:
- TQL provides Scope 3 emissions reporting with shipment- and lane-level visibility to support smarter supply chain decisions.
- TQL’s Alternative Fuel Map shows where lower-emission fuels can realistically support active freight lanes using infrastructure and routing data.
- The Empty Miles Reduction Program matches capacity with demand through TQL’s carrier network, reducing deadhead miles and improving efficiency.
Across transportation networks, companies are working to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and meet sustainability goals without disrupting service. The challenge is that most freight networks were not designed with those goals in mind.
That gap between visibility and execution is where most sustainability efforts stall.
TQL helps shippers turn data into real emissions impact through tools and expertise that connect emissions data, routing decisions and network design.
Emissions insight
TQL’s Scope 3 emissions reporting gives shippers visibility into the emissions tied to their freight movements.
The data breaks down emissions by shipment and lane, giving shippers a clearer view of how their network performs in real conditions. TQL provides this reporting at no cost and pairs it with guidance from sustainability experts who help customers interpret results and identify opportunities for improvement.
This turns emissions reporting from a static snapshot into something more useful: a planning tool for better decisions.
Related: See how TQL supports more sustainable supply chains
Network optimization
Reducing emissions means understanding the real constraints that shape freight movement.
TQL’s Alternative Fuel Map (AFM) helps shippers and carriers see where lower-emission fueling options exist along active freight lanes. It combines infrastructure data with real routing insight so users can understand where alternative fuels can realistically support their network.
Alternative fuels are not one-size-fits-all. Availability varies widely by region, fuel type and equipment requirements. The AFM helps make those constraints visible before decisions are made.
By aligning fuel access with real freight lanes, shippers can reduce unnecessary detours, improve efficiency and support lower-emission operations where they are practical.
These capabilities are most effective when used together, not in isolation.
Empty Miles Reduction Program
Empty miles, or deadhead miles, are one of the most persistent sources of inefficiency in trucking. They represent trucks moving without freight, which increases cost and emissions at the same time.
Through TQL’s carrier network of 110,000+ carriers, the Empty Miles Reduction Program helps match available capacity with freight demand. This reduces unnecessary travel while improving network efficiency.
Since launching in 2021, TQL has eliminated more than 65 million empty miles.
The Empty Miles Pledge targets an additional 25% reduction by 2030 based on shipment count.
What this means for shippers
Sustainability in freight now depends on understanding how a network operates in practice, not just the fuels it uses.
The most effective improvements come from aligning emissions data, routing decisions and capacity together rather than treating them separately.
When shippers can see how their network behaves, they can make better decisions about cost, service and emissions at the same time.
Watch: How is TQL driving toward a more sustainable future?
The TQL advantage
TQL helps shippers move from sustainability reporting to sustainability action. By combining emissions insight, network visibility and operational execution, we help customers build freight networks that perform better and operate more efficiently in the real world.
That commitment to measurable results is reflected in TQL’s own sustainability efforts. TQL has been a SmartWay Transport Partner since 2010 and was named PepsiCo’s 2023 Broker Sustainability Carrier of the Year for Most Improved.
Partner with TQL for sustainable supply chain solutions that strengthen your network and support value-driven decisions. Reach out to your dedicated account representative or email Sustainability@TQL.com.
