February 8, 2022
The contribution of transport infrastructure to world development is huge. It is one of the greatest supporting systems of global supply chains that simultaneously drive growth in social progress. In other words, the transport infrastructure, exceptionally the road transport led by trucking companies like MDB Transportation, is under high pressure as a focus of economic and social developments. While mentioning that it is under high pressure as a focus of multiple developments, it is mandatory to note that agile transport activity in the trucking sector impacts sustainability negatively. The transportation industry news reports that the transport infrastructure is responsible for:
As you can notice, the numbers are of major significance and influence, especially for the environment. If not taken seriously, the sector of sustainability will get the transport infrastructure to face global risks alongside the dislocation of transport supply chains and networks.
In one of the previous articles, “Sustainability in Transportation Industry: Today’s Reality,” it is noted that environmental protection, economic efficiency, and social progress are three aspects of sustainability that the transport infrastructure should take into account. As the transport infrastructure has already tackled economic efficiency and social progress, it is time to think of environmental protection or so-called sustainable development through the proper use of trucking equipment. So, let’s explore today’s reality and the importance of transport infrastructure and sustainability, as well as go over the trending truck equipment types that may change the game for the sector of sustainability.
Usually, the transport infrastructure’s quality is what matters the most. The thing is that when the quality is sustained as needed, the best transportation services provide the maximum return on investment from an economic point of view. To imagine how much transport infrastructure matters for the country’s economic growth, countries spend millions on the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of the transport infrastructure. As everyone understands that the way supply chains and transportation services operate directly affects the economy, neither the government nor businesses save on it. However, whatever country officials implement regarding the transport infrastructure, it is not based on research or experience; all of it is a forecast. The reason behind forecasted results is the lack of definitions, data, comparative case studies, and many more! There are no cross-country comparisons of inputs, efficiency, and outcomes. There are no clear definitions that may help professionals understand the right amount of spending on transport infrastructure. A lack of data for comparing results to previous years and other countries delays the exponential economic growth the country may encounter. Fortunately, years of experience yielded a conceptual framework provided by the System of National Accounts (SNA). It really aids in determining classifications, definitions, and even comparative data.
No matter how people get access to configuring details about transport infrastructure, it has always been a necessity as input for truck services. These enable the market exchange of final goods, which is a crucial uplifting aspect for economic efficiency and social progress. The trucking supplies that may get to different parts of the world because of the transport infrastructure is the biggest win for the economy and society. To comprehend how crucial it is, even COVID-19 didn’t manage to minimize the importance of transport infrastructure. Although many rules and regulations were established that limited a plethora of opportunities, for instance, in the trucking industry, people still found a way out. They started shifting supply chain design by considering globalization patterns, modifying spending habits, integrating digitalization into the businesses, and going for many more features to accommodate the pandemic situation.
Seems like transport infrastructure currently adds to economic efficiency and social progress, right? Still, sustainable development, i.e., environmental protection, gets its stake too. It may be surprising, but sustainability in the transport infrastructure became crucial after COVID-19. At those times, being sustainable and promoting a low-carbon agenda was the number one attractive factor of any transportation business. That is why those businesses that have a sustainable business model are capable of sustaining such a level of sustainability, i.e., MDB Transportation started promoting sustainable transportation systems. But, still, are sustainable development and transport infrastructure closely connected?
At American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition, Glen Kedzie once mentioned, “Lots of people look at sustainability through different lenses….Some look at it as addressing climate change, reducing carbon emissions, others are more expansive in their view of it.” When discussing “more expansive in their view of it,” Kedzie brought up the phenomenon of viewing sustainability as an aspect that requires environmental and social governance. This viewpoint is the one that connects transport infrastructure and sustainable systems. To put it in another way, environmental and social governance are channels for transport infrastructure to address sustainable development.
Establishing a transportation company might be the primary component in the trucking industry, but in reality, there’s a lot more than meets the eye. For example, if we take a deeper look, we can uncover some of the specifics of the transportation company, such as the personnel and trucking equipment. The way the employees perceive sustainability from the side of the transportation business is crucial. For instance, if employees see that the company wants to tackle automation and autonomy, reduce empty miles, improve driving practices for efficient rides, etc., he or she gets motivated to be a part of the distinctive culture. Furthermore, the way the company tackles fundamental questions regarding trucking equipment, i.e., fuel consumption, is another metric that contributes to sustainable development accompanied by other sustainable business ideas.
Indeed, most of the time, the choice of trucking equipment is the indicator of how transport infrastructure will connect with the sustainable sector of the world.
When thinking of how transport infrastructure can contribute to sustainable development, the trucking industry comes in handy with its green trucking equipment. Despite the number of innovations that happen in the industry, technological advancements directed towards minimizing emissions lead the chart.
Many trucking companies are thinking of acquiring electric and alternative fuel vehicles to provide the maximum possible sustainable trucking service, while others already have these. The unique selling point of such vehicles is that instead of being powered by diesel energy sources, these are powered by non-diesel energy sources like renewable natural gas, biodiesel, hydrogen, and many others! These, compared to vehicles that operate on diesel, produce either much-reduced carbon emissions or none. Imagine if trucking businesses minimize their carbon emissions – how big of an impact will overall transport infrastructure have on the world? Some people may look at these as meaningless investments because of the lack of charging stations that fit such vehicles. However, there is always a solution for those who want to lead a sustainable business. Considering that many companies and individual investors put effort, time, and money into expanding the number of charging stations, such a concern will become a trivial one soon.
Even though this one doesn’t come straight with sustainable fuel, it can be accommodated to alternative fuels. The win-win point of this truck is that it encompasses adaptability and versatility at once. Consisting of a cab and a narrow trailer at once, the articulated truck becomes capable of conducting multiple actions, including mining, material and aggregate hauling, construction of a utility, scrapping, and recycling. This means that one truck can simultaneously execute those actions that two trucks managed before. Even if there is no possibility of acquiring alternative fuels, the phenomenon of reducing the number of trucks used for conducting the same procedure already adds value to the sector of sustainability from the side of transportation infrastructure.
These types of truck trailers help carry freight with solid protection from possible damages. Due to its enclosed feature, the truck gives the opportunity of carrying the cargo and protecting it from harmful events like weather, road accidents, and many more. From a sustainable point of view, these, as an addition to transportation company’s truck trailer types, ensure that the freight is safe and there is no need to drive back and forth, consume more fuel, produce more emissions. So, it minimizes the frequency of traveling from one location to another, which saves the environment from additional emissions.
Even though transport infrastructure carries the weight of 64% of global oil consumption, 27% of energy use, 23% of carbon dioxide emissions related to energy, it turns out it contributes not only to economic growth, social progress but also to sustainable development. The connection between transport infrastructure and sustainable development mainly comes through sustainable transportation businesses like MDB Transportation. Through sustainable trucking equipment, like electric and alternative fuel vehicles, articulated trucks, and dry vans, trucking companies ensure the reduction of carbon emissions. Besides this, trucking companies ensure that their employees are on the same page about sustainability. By creating a company culture where sustainability matters, employees become motivated to conduct all the operations in the most sustainable way possible. For instance, truck drivers start driving practices to minimize traveling time, thus fuel consumption. Everything comes within the company, sustainability does, too.
