Environmental Stewardship in the Trucking Industry: How MBM Logistics Reduces Its Carbon Footprint
On a crisp Minnesota dawn, an MBM tractor-trailer eases away from the fuel island—not on straight diesel, but on a locally blended B20 biodiesel that cuts greenhouse-gas emissions before the wheels even roll. Inside the cab, an AI dash-cam scores the driver’s acceleration habits while the engine’s idle-shutdown timer ticks down from five minutes. These little moments, multiplied across a fleet, add up to tons of CO₂ kept out of the atmosphere—and real savings for shippers.
Why Trucking’s Carbon Footprint Matters
Heavy-duty trucks represent only 4 % of vehicles on U.S. roads but burn roughly a quarter of all highway fuel, making them a prime target for efficiency gains. New federal standards call for a 24 % improvement in truck fuel economy between 2021 and 2027, underlining the sector’s outsized climate impact.
(Source: WIRED)
1 | Fuel Smarter: B20 Biodiesel as the Minnesota Baseline
Since 2018 Minnesota has required a 20 % biodiesel blend (B20) during warm-weather months—the first state to write that ambitious target into law. MBM leans into the rule rather than fighting it: every summer gallon delivers up to 17 % fewer lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions than straight diesel, while supporting local soybean farmers who supply the feedstock.
(Source: Biodiesel Magazine )
2 | Benchmark & Improve with EPA SmartWay
MBM enrolled in EPA’s SmartWay program in 2017, benchmarking its CO₂ per-mile performance and adopting the agency’s recommended technologies—side-fairings, trailer skirts, and calibrated speed governors. SmartWay partners have collectively saved $55 billion in fuel costs and slashed carbon output across the freight sector, proof that efficiency pays its own bills. MBM’s scores now rank in the top 10 % of SmartWay carriers for carbon efficiency.
(Source: US EPA )
3 | Kill the Idle, Save the Planet
A long-haul tractor can guzzle up to 2,400 gallons of fuel a year just idling, emitting about 21 tons of CO₂ per truck. MBM outfits sleepers with battery HVAC systems and auto-shutdown timers, cutting idle time by 65 % and saving clients money the moment freight leaves the dock.
4 | Roll Easier, Burn Less
Low-rolling-resistance (LRR) tires shave the energy it takes to keep an 80,000-lb rig moving. Even a modest drop in rolling resistance can save several cents per mile, a figure that compounds across millions of fleet miles. Pair those tires with aerodynamic fairings (which alone can trim fuel use by up to 10 %) and you have quick-payback upgrades that put downward pressure on both emissions and freight rates.
(Source: WIRED , Work Truck Online )
5 | Let Data Drive the Difference
Telematics suites stream speed, idle, and route data in real time. MBM’s dispatch team calculates “empty-mile” percentages nightly, re-routing trailers to backhauls that cut deadhead legs by 12 %. SmartWay’s own guidance flags telematics-enabled route optimization as one of the fastest paths to lower freight emissions.
(Source: US EPA)
6 | Pilot the Future: Electric & Hybrid Heavy Trucks
Electric trucks once sounded far-fetched in sub-zero winters—until Minnesota fleets began testing battery-electric semis in 2024, proving the drivetrains can handle both extreme cold and 80,000-lb gross weights. MBM is onboarding two Class 8 battery electrics for metro deliveries and a hybrid-electric yard tractor that eliminates diesel idling during dock moves.
(Source: CBS News )
7 | Measure, Report, Repeat
Every quarter MBM rolls telematics fuel data into a carbon dashboard shared with customers, capturing Scope 1 emissions (fuel burned) and Scope 3 on-road logistics where requested. If performance slips outside SmartWay targets, a cross-functional “green sprint” tackles the weakest metric—be it driver coaching, tire maintenance, or route design—before the next report goes out.
What Shippers Gain from a Greener Fleet
Sustainability Lever & Shipper Benefit
B20 Biodiesel + LRR Tires
Immediate CO₂ reductions without special infrastructure
SmartWay Certification
Verified efficiency metrics for ESG reporting
Idle-Reduction & Telematics
Lower fuel surcharge exposure
Electric & Hybrid Pilots
Pathway to zero-tailpipe-emission deliveries in metro lanes
Efficient equipment doesn’t just protect the planet; it cushions freight budgets against volatile diesel prices and keeps deliveries on time by preventing breakdowns and regulatory delays.
Ready to Green Your Supply Chain?
MBM Logistics offers a free carbon-impact analysis of your current freight lanes—complete with SmartWay benchmarking and idle-time ROI estimates. Let’s move your cargo and your sustainability goals forward, mile after efficient mile.
