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The road haulage industry is likely to miss government climate change emissions targets, despite producing 10% less CO₂ and carrying a fifth more freight by 2020, says Professor Alan McKinnon, director of the Logistics Research Centre at Heriot-Watt University.

In research published today, McKinnon reveals that the road freight industry will produce less CO₂ while carrying more goods through the better use of vehicle  capacity, improvements to fuel efficiency and making the switch to lower carbon fuels.

However, this reduction will still fall well short of the government's targets of a 34% reduction in CO₂ by 2020. Government and business will, therefore, have to intensify their efforts to decarbonise the movement of freight by road, McKinnon says.

By reducing carbon emissions in other parts of the economy, the government could even increase demand for haulage, making it more difficult to cut emissions in the sector, McKinnon goes on to say.

He continues: "If you're decarbonising the economy to build wind farms to [combat] climate change, that will create additional demand [for road haulage]."

On the other hand, measuring and reducing CO₂ emissions could prove to be a way of winning new business, he argues.

McKinnon adds: "It's going to become an important competitive differentiator. A lot of [technologies] will save money, as well as carbon.  Hauliers and third-party logistics providers, that have systems in place to measure emissions, can work with clients to cut carbon out of the supply chain. They will be in a stronger position, particularly with firms that have a strong corporate social responsibility."

McKinnon will present the results of his findings in an online seminar, which will be hosted on the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader's website today (28 August).