The Hidden Cost of Empty Kilometres: How Québec Fleets Can Turn Smarter Logistics into Measurable GHG Reductions
Reducing unnecessary trips, improving vehicle utilization and optimizing freight movements can lower operating costs. Québec's Écocamionnage program creates an additional incentive, but demonstrating credible emissions reductions is essential.
Every kilometre travelled by a truck carries a cost. Fuel, maintenance, driver time and vehicle wear all contribute to operating expenses. When a vehicle travels without cargo, follows an inefficient route or operates below capacity, those costs accumulate without generating equivalent value.
For Québec's transportation and logistics industry, these inefficiencies also represent an opportunity.
While fleet electrification attracts significant attention, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions does not always begin with purchasing new vehicles. It can begin with making better use of the fleet already in operation.
The challenge is not simply identifying improvements. It is determining how much fuel and GHG emissions those improvements actually save, and producing credible evidence to support the results.
With Québec's Écocamionnage program offering financial support for eligible logistics projects, understanding the relationship between operational efficiency, emissions measurement and potential funding has become particularly relevant.
Why Logistics Efficiency Matters More Than Ever
Transportation remains Québec's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the province's 2023 GHG inventory, transportation accounted for 44.8% of Québec's total GHG emissions, with road transportation responsible for 33.4% of the provincial total.
For freight operators, reducing emissions is not simply an environmental consideration. It can also be an opportunity to improve operational performance.
Consider three common situations:
A truck completes a delivery but returns to its depot without cargo.
Two vehicles serve overlapping routes that could potentially be consolidated.
A fleet regularly dispatches vehicles below their available carrying capacity.
These situations may be unavoidable under certain operating conditions. However, when they occur systematically, they can indicate opportunities to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
Improving route planning, coordinating freight movements, consolidating loads and reducing empty trips can help operators improve productivity while potentially lowering emissions.
The business case becomes even stronger when these improvements can be quantified and independently verified.
The Difference Between Operational Improvements and Proven Emissions Reductions
A company introduces new dispatch software and reports that its routes are 10% shorter.
Does that mean its greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 10%?
Not necessarily.
Fuel consumption and emissions depend on more than distance. Vehicle type, payload, driving conditions, fuel efficiency, traffic patterns and changes in transportation activity can all influence the outcome.
A shorter route with heavier loads or significantly different operating conditions might not produce the anticipated fuel savings.
That is why credible emissions quantification begins with an appropriate baseline.
A baseline describes what would reasonably have happened without the proposed logistics improvement. It establishes the reference against which project performance can be evaluated.
For fleet operators, relevant information may include:
Total kilometres travelled and the proportion driven without cargo.
Fuel consumption by vehicle type or route.
Freight volumes and average vehicle loading.
Number of trips and delivery patterns.
Vehicle characteristics and operating conditions.
These data help distinguish actual improvements from fluctuations caused by changing business activity.
The principle is straightforward: a credible emissions reduction must reflect a measurable change, supported by a consistent and defensible calculation methodology.
What Might This Look Like in Practice?
Consider a hypothetical freight operation that travels 1 million kilometres annually.
Its average fuel consumption is 32 litres per 100 kilometres, representing approximately 320,000 litres of fuel annually.
Following a logistics improvement, the operation reduces total distance travelled to 920,000 kilometres while maintaining the same average fuel consumption rate.
Under those simplified assumptions, annual fuel use would decline to 294,400 litres.
Potential annual fuel savings: 25,600 litres, or 8%.
That is a meaningful operational indicator. However, it is not yet a verified GHG reduction.
Before reporting the environmental benefit, the company would need to validate its underlying assumptions, determine whether transportation activity remains comparable, apply appropriate emissions factors and document the results.
This is the difference between an operational estimate and a credible emissions claim.
Illustrative example only. Actual results depend on project boundaries, fuel data, operating conditions and the applicable quantification methodology.
Écocamionnage: Where Logistics Performance Meets Independent Measurement
Québec's Écocamionnage program recognizes the potential of better freight logistics to reduce GHG emissions.
Under its Volet 3, Projet de logistique, eligible projects can include initiatives that reduce empty trips, optimize routes or improve vehicle loading.
According to the program's 2025–2028 framework, financial assistance is subject to three principal limits:
Up to 50% of eligible project expenses.
A maximum of $500,000 per project.
A ceiling of $400 per tonne of GHG emissions reduced, calculated cumulatively over a maximum of three years.
This creates a direct relationship between a project's expected emissions reductions and its potential financial support.
Notably, the government's project evaluation criteria assign 40 out of 100 possible points to the project's GHG reduction impacts.
In other words, the ability to demonstrate credible environmental benefits is central to both project evaluation and the calculation of potential assistance.
How GHG Reductions Can Affect the Amount of Funding
Consider a hypothetical logistics improvement project with $200,000 in eligible project expenses and an estimated cumulative reduction of 150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over three years.
Under the program's financial criteria, the calculation would be:
Funding criterion | Calculation | Potential limit |
Eligible project expenses | $200,000 | $200,000 |
50% funding limit | $200,000 × 50% | $100,000 |
Emissions-based limit | 150 tonnes × $400 | $60,000 |
Maximum per project | Program ceiling | $500,000 |
Limiting amount | Lowest applicable ceiling | $60,000 |
Although the 50% expenditure limit would allow up to $100,000, the emissions-based ceiling would restrict potential project assistance to $60,000.
In this example, the estimated GHG reductions, rather than the project expenditures, would determine the maximum potential funding.
The calculation illustrates why credible emissions quantification is an important part of project planning, not simply a reporting requirement.
For comparison, if the same project were expected to reduce 150 tonnes of CO₂e annually for three years, its estimated cumulative reduction would be 450 tonnes. The emissions-based ceiling would then be $180,000, making the $100,000 expenditure-based limit the constraint instead.
These examples are illustrative. They assume the stated expenses and reductions meet program requirements. Actual assistance depends on eligibility, approved quantification, government evaluation and applicable program conditions.
There is also an important distinction between project funding and the cost of independent GHG assessment.
The program provides for separate reimbursement of eligible quantification and verification report expenses up to a combined $15,000:
Up to $5,000 for the quantification report.
Up to $10,000 for the verification report.
This reimbursement is additional to the approved project assistance and does not count toward the project's financial assistance calculation.
Why Independent Quantification and Verification Matter
The Écocamionnage framework distinguishes between two important stages of assessing GHG reductions.
1. Quantification: Establishing the Expected Reductions
Following the preliminary evaluation of a project, an independent quantification report is required to support the assessment of anticipated GHG reductions.
The report must be prepared and signed by a person holding the specified Canadian Standards Association (CSA) training certificate for ISO 14064-2.
The quantification process provides a documented basis for understanding the project's expected environmental performance, including its assumptions, baseline and estimated reductions.
2. Verification: Confirming the Reductions Achieved
After implementation, a verification report is required to certify the GHG reductions actually achieved.
The report must be prepared and signed by a person holding the specified CSA training certificate for ISO 14064-3.
Importantly, the government's applicant guide requires that the person preparing the verification report be different from the person who prepared the quantification report and must not belong to the same organization.
This separation helps preserve the independence of the assessment.
The distinction also has financial implications.
The program provides for two payments: an initial payment of 25% of the approved assistance, subject to the required documentation, followed by a final payment of up to 75% upon completion and submission of the independent verification report.
If the verified emissions reductions fall below the objectives established in the quantification report, the government reserves the right to reduce its contribution.
The financial value of a logistics project therefore depends not only on its expected performance, but also on its ability to demonstrate the results achieved.
For fleet operators, this makes early planning especially important.
Organizations that establish reliable data collection procedures before implementing a project are generally better positioned to document their results and support subsequent verification.
From Better Fleet Data to Stronger Business Decisions
The benefits of reliable transportation emissions data extend beyond participation in a government funding program.
Major freight customers increasingly seek better information about emissions associated with their supply chains.
The US Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program, for example, supports shippers, carriers and logistics providers in measuring and benchmarking freight transportation efficiency.
Its approach recognizes the importance of consistent emissions data, comparable performance metrics and cooperation between freight operators and their customers.
For transportation companies, credible data can support:
More informed decisions about fleet utilization and route planning.
Identification of opportunities to reduce fuel consumption.
Stronger communication of environmental performance to customers.
Better documentation for procurement and sustainability reporting.
More reliable evaluation of future efficiency investments.
The value is not merely in reporting lower emissions figures.
It is in understanding which operational changes generate measurable benefits and using that knowledge to guide future decisions.
A company that can demonstrate the relationship between improved logistics, reduced fuel consumption and credible emissions data is better equipped to communicate the business value of its investments.
Is Your Fleet Ready to Measure Its Emissions Reductions?
Before investing in a logistics improvement project, transportation companies can assess their readiness by answering six questions:
Readiness question | What it helps establish |
Can we clearly identify the logistics inefficiency we intend to address? | Project objectives and boundaries |
Do we have reliable historical kilometres and fuel consumption data? | Baseline measurement |
Can we distinguish empty trips from loaded journeys? | Vehicle utilization and improvement potential |
Can we track freight volumes and changes in operating conditions? | Comparability of results |
Do our systems retain sufficient supporting records? | Traceability and evidence quality |
Have we considered independent quantification and verification requirements? | Project planning and assurance readiness |
If some answers are uncertain, the first step may be a review of existing fleet data rather than an immediate technology investment.
The objective is to identify what can be measured reliably, what additional information may be required and how the project will demonstrate its results.
For companies considering Écocamionnage funding, early planning also helps avoid costly administrative mistakes.
The program generally requires eligible project expenses to be incurred after the date specified in the funding confirmation letter, with an exception for the required preliminary quantification report. Applicants should therefore review funding conditions before committing project expenditures.
Under the currently published requirements, applications for Volet 3 may be submitted until March 31, 2028, subject to the program's terms and approval process.
A More Strategic Approach to Freight Decarbonization
The transition toward lower-emission freight transportation will require multiple approaches. New vehicle technologies, alternative fuels and electrification will play important roles.
But operational efficiency remains an essential part of the equation.
A better-coordinated fleet can potentially reduce unnecessary trips, make more productive use of available vehicles and lower fuel consumption without waiting for a complete fleet replacement.
Programs such as Écocamionnage provide an additional reason to evaluate these opportunities carefully.
Ultimately, the strongest projects are not necessarily those built around the most sophisticated technologies. They are those that address a genuine operational challenge, establish measurable objectives and demonstrate credible results.
For transportation companies, the opportunity is to turn better logistics into better business performance, supported by emissions data that can withstand independent scrutiny.
Planning a Logistics Improvement Project?
Reliable GHG quantification and independent verification are important components of demonstrating emissions reductions under Québec's Écocamionnage program.
Zenith Net-Zero provides SCC-accredited greenhouse gas validation and verification services, helping organizations strengthen the reliability and credibility of their environmental reporting.
Our team can discuss your project's GHG assessment requirements and the appropriate scope of independent support, subject to the program's specific qualification and independence requirements.
Discuss your GHG verification requirements with Nick Houseman, CEO, Zenith Net-Zero.
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Sources and Further Reading
1. Gouvernement du Québec, Écocamionnage, Volet 3: Projet de logistique
Official program overview covering objectives, eligibility, funding limits, independent assessment requirements and application deadline. Last updated July 13, 2026.
2. Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable, Modalités d'application 2025–2028 du programme Écocamionnage
Official program framework. Section 6.3, particularly Sections 6.3.5 to 6.3.9, covers project selection, eligible expenses, funding limits and payment conditions.
3. Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable, Guide d'accompagnement pour une demande d'aide financière, Volet Projet de logistique, November 2025
Detailed guidance for applicants, including GHG quantification requirements, verification independence, report qualifications and reimbursement limits.
4. Gouvernement du Québec, Inventaire québécois des émissions de gaz à effet de serre en 2023 et leur évolution depuis 1990
Official provincial emissions inventory, including the transportation sector's contribution to Québec's total GHG emissions.
5. US Environmental Protection Agency, SmartWay Sustainability Accounting and Reporting
Information on freight emissions measurement, reporting consistency and supply chain performance.
6. US Environmental Protection Agency, How SmartWay Supports CSR and Sustainability Reporting
Discussion of how shippers, carriers and logistics providers use emissions information to monitor and communicate environmental performance.
Program information reviewed November 2026. The examples provided are illustrative and do not constitute estimates of funding eligibility or confirmed emissions reductions. Actual project requirements, assistance and results depend on the applicable program rules and government evaluation.
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