From left: Jason Salfi of Dimensional Energy, Kate Danaher of S2G, Matt McLelland of Covenant Logistics and moderator Tasia Malakasis discuss “low-hanging fruit” for sustainability during a Feb. 9 panel discussion. (Seth Clevenger/Transport Topics)
February 11, 2026 11:51 AM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- Fleet operators can achieve progress toward decarbonization through intermediate steps.
- Diesel trucks can be powered with cleaner, renewable fuels to curb emissions in a more cost-effective way.
- Another clear opportunity to reduce emissions is through software and route optimization.
LAS VEGAS — Although zero-emission technologies are now available, fleet operators also can achieve significant progress toward decarbonization through pragmatic, intermediate steps to improve efficiency.
A group of transportation and clean energy leaders discussed this “low-hanging fruit” for environmental sustainability during a Feb. 9 panel at the Manifest 2026 supply chain technology conference.
In recent years, electric-powered trucks have made it possible to transport freight with zero tailpipe emissions, but the higher cost and limited range of these vehicles combined with insufficient charging infrastructure have slowed adoption.
Meanwhile, the trucking industry continues to explore more incremental approaches, such as powering today’s diesel trucks with cleaner, renewable fuels to curb emissions in a more cost-effective way while making fewer changes to their existing operations.
Matt McLelland, vice president of sustainability and innovation at Covenant Logistics, promoted the use of biodiesel and renewable diesel as effective tools in the industry’s decarbonization journey.
Other common strategies include adopting cleaner diesel engines, improved aerodynamics and electric auxiliary power units that eliminate engine idling at night when drivers are sleeping in the cabs.
“These are all things that start to get us to a better place,” McLelland said.
Among the emerging technologies available to the transportation sector, he highlighted Optimus Technologies’ fuel system, which enables heavy-duty diesel engines to run on 100% biodiesel, or B100.
“It’s a relatively affordable investment for customers that really want to make significant inroads into decarbonization without spending as much as it costs to own and operate an electric vehicle,” he said.
Remora’s direct carbon capture technology can be applied to locomotives or trucks. (Remora)
He also mentioned startup firm Remora’s direct carbon capture technology, which can be applied to locomotives or trucks.
In a trucking application, the system captures carbon emissions from the tailpipe and converts it to liquefied CO2 in real time and stores it in a tank. From there, businesses can monetize that CO2 for industrial uses such as concrete production or even carbonated beverages.
Alternative fuels and other intermediate steps toward curbing emissions have regained momentum recently with the Trump administration’s rollback of commercial vehicle emission regulations that would have pushed the trucking industry to adopt zero-emission electric trucks.
“I feel like we’re just now getting permission from this administration to go back and revisit what some of that stuff is,” McLelland said.
However, he noted that some more forward-thinking shippers are less interested in these incremental approaches, instead favoring a more aggressive push toward zero emissions.
Transport Topics reporters Eugene Mulero and Keiron Greenhalgh examine the critical trends that will define freight transportation in the year ahead. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
Covenant, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., ranks No. 35 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.
Apart from renewable fuels and cleaner vehicles, another clear opportunity to reduce emissions is through software and route optimization, said Kate Danaher, a managing director at S2G Investments, a growth-stage investment fund supporting companies in the food and agriculture, maritime and energy sectors.
In the maritime industry, routing software that incorporates intelligence on weather patterns can identify how vessels can realize significant fuel savings by slightly adjusting their course.
“There are actually some capital-efficient ways that are pretty low cost and have a pretty high [return on investment] that you can start implementing immediately,” Danaher said.
Even small improvements to environmental sustainability add up over time, said Jason Salfi, co-founder and CEO of Dimensional Energy, a clean energy company that converts captured carbon dioxide into renewable fuels.
“Every bit matters, and every bit counts as long as we don’t rest on our laurels,” he said. “Progress is really important.”
Panel moderator Tasia Malakasis, CEO of nonprofit startup accelerator The Company Lab, summarized the discussion this way: “Sustainability doesn’t have to come with a great leap. It can come in steps.”
