01/27/2025

SMC³’s Next Generation LTL Carbon (CO₂) Emissions Calculator Accelerates Sustainability and Standardizes Calculations for the Industry

Atlanta, Ga. (Jan, 27, 2025): – SMC³, a leader in LTL freight transportation technology solutions, announced the launch of a new emissions calculator, available within its widely adopted activity-based costing technology, Cost Intelligence System (CIS). Designed to standardize Scope 3 emissions reporting for the LTL industry, the robust, user-friendly calculator automates carbon (CO₂) data reporting and helps industry stakeholders more effectively track and achieve sustainable freight transportation goals.

This innovation represents a significant technology advancement in the calculation of CO₂ emissions. “Report ready” data exports meet the transportation supply chain’s needs for indirect carbon emissions disclosures, increasingly important to a growing number of shippers. SMC³’s calculator technology enables carriers to report more accurate, shipment-specific data, instead of company aggregate emissions totals. It also readies carriers for California reporting requirements.

True to SMC³’s LTL commitment, industry partner collaboration played a vital development role. Estes Express Lines is among those partners. “Estes is working closely with customers, climate experts and industry stakeholders to reduce freight emissions and to provide our partners with accurate emissions estimates related to their LTL shipments.” said Sara Graf, Vice President of Sustainability, Culture and Communications at Estes. “Our work with SMC³ to develop the LTL Carbon Emissions Calculator is consistent with the leadership pathway we have set to focus on collaboration with industry partners to advance sustainability initiatives in the LTL industry.”, said Graf.

PITT OHIO, an industry partner and collaborator, echoed the calculator’s impact to sustainability initiatives. “As a pioneer in carbon calculation for LTL shipments, PITT OHIO understood the need to allocate carbon emissions to each shipment based on the shipment’s movement, said Justine Russo, Director of Sustainability and Business Intelligence, PITT OHIO. “The CIS software we utilized will now have carbon calculations built into it making reporting on emissions easier and more consistent. We are excited to continue our collaboration with SMC³ so that the industry can advance to a common LTL emissions standard, benefiting shippers and other stakeholders with consistent, reliable and improved emissions data.” added Russo.

The calculator draws upon insights from the EPA SmartWay voluntary emissions reduction transport program. For 20 years, SmartWay has supported and assisted its transportation partners to eliminate 170 million metric tons of CO₂, 2.8 million short tons of NOx, and 115,000 short tons of PM emissions, helping protect the environment and keep Americans healthy. SMC³ appreciates the advisement offered by the EPA SmartWay team to advance the value and accuracy of emissions accounting in the LTL freight sector.

This first phase of the calculator will be followed with additional enhancements later this year. SMC³ will remain focused on gathering feedback from carriers, shippers and industry stakeholders to ensure the calculator is continuously improving the accuracy of LTL emissions estimates.

To learn more about the emissions calculator, contact SMC³.

About SMC³

With its range of transportation technology solutions, SMC³ is the one-stop knowledge hub for everything less than truckload (LTL), facilitating business across the supply chain with the right LTL transportation technology solutions, industry expertise and leadership to inform decisions.

Shippers, carriers, logistics service providers and technology providers rely on SMC³ to translate intricate LTL transportation pricing and transit detail into data-centric solutions to optimize the shipment lifecycle whether they move 10 or 100,000 shipments per day.

A trusted industry partner for nine decades, SMC³ is an established thought leader, hosting premier supply chain conferences and educational events across North America.

Media Contact

Beth Malik
Senior Director of Marketing

SMC³
Office: (770) 486-5823
bmalik@smc3.com