5 Steps to Adopting Book and Claim for Road Freight Decarbonization 

Road freight is the backbone of the global economy, but it's also a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to research estimates, Road freight share of total international trade-related emissions will grow from 53% in 2010 to 56% by 20502. Decarbonizing this sector is a complex challenge. Unlike aviation or maritime, which have centralized hubs like airports and ports, the road freight market is highly fragmented, with millions of carriers of all sizes operating on countless routes. This can sometimes make physically matching a specific low-emission truck service with a specific shipment a logistical nightmare. 

This is where Market Based Measures (MBMs), specifically the Book and Claim model, offer a powerful solution. As outlined in the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) Voluntary Market Based Measures Framework, Book and Claim decouples the environmental benefits of a low-emission transport solution from the physical flow of goods. For example, a company can invest in (or "claim") the low emission profile from a renewable diesel powered truck in one region and apply it to their own freight emissions from a conventional fossil diesel truck in another. This flexibility accelerates investment where it's most effective, overcoming geographical and operational barriers. 

While solutions like Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and battery electric propulsion are increasingly available, a credible and standardized approach to tracking their environmental attributes is essential to prevent erroneous double counting and ensure real-world impact. The SFC's MBM Framework and MBM Specification provide the robust, verifiable rules needed to do this with integrity. 

For any shipper, logistics service provider (LSP), or carrier looking to take meaningful climate action, here are five essential steps to adopting book and claim for road freight. 

Step 1

Identify a transport service based on the mode of transport, vehicle type, its fuel needs, and the corresponding transport activity performed. 

Step 2

Calculate emissions using the fossil emission factor for kerosene and the emission intensity, relating absolute emissions to the transport activity in tonne-kilometers (tkm). 

Step 3

Create a Low Emission Transport Service (LETS) by implementing a low emission solution—here, options such as renewable diesel, green electricity powered electric trucks and bio-LNG/CNG. It is crucial to understand the reduction potential of the low carbon fuel compared to the respective conventional fossil fuel type and the corresponding emission factor of such. 

Step 4

Calculate the absolute emissions based on the fuel needs identified in Step 1 and the replacement of conventional fossil marine fuel with low carbon fuel. Relate the emissions again to the performed transport activity to determine the new emission intensity of the LETS. 

Step 5

The new absolute and relative emissions are compared to the baseline to determine the delta. The lower emission profile from the LETS can then be included in the overall carbon accounting of the company reporting in Scope 3. The attribute of the transportation had the LETS not been generated for example in road freight most likely fossil diesel is the “reference case” that is provided to non-participants of the decarbonized transport (the LETS). 
By following these five steps, companies can confidently use the Book and Claim model to navigate the complexities of the road freight sector and play a leading role in accelerating the transition to a zero-emission logistics future. 

Ready to deepen your understanding of road freight emissions and learn how to apply these critical calculation frameworks? Enroll in our courses below: 

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