Road freight
Calculate the emissions of road freight shipments from the route or distance, the cargo weight and the vehicle. SQUAKE supports two methodologies for road freight.
Choose a methodology
| Methodology | Coverage | Basis | Inputs you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIN EN 16258 | Not stated | DIN EN 16258 (March 2013), the European standard for transport services | origin and destination or distance_in_km, weight_in_tonnes; optional truck_type, energy_scope | Four truck size classes (under_7.5_t to under_40_t). The response includes tank-to-wheel and well-to-wheel energy (MJ) and emissions. |
| GLEC | Regional factors, including dedicated ones for China and India and North American truck types | GLEC Framework v3.2 (2025) | origin and destination or distance_in_km, weight_in_tonnes; optional truck_type, fuel_type, load_characteristic, energy_scope | Applies uplifts for some regions and for temperature-controlled freight. Fuels include electricity, hydrogen, lng and bio-lng. |
Both methodologies support audit records with audit.
How to decide
- Use GLEC when you know the fuel or energy type, or the cargo is temperature-controlled: DIN EN 16258 has no
fuel_typefield and no temperature uplift. - Use GLEC for trucks in North America or China, which have their own
truck_typevalues. - Use DIN EN 16258 when you only know the truck's weight class and want energy consumption in MJ alongside emissions.
- GLEC v3.2 aligns with ISO 14083 and the GHG Protocol for Scope 3 categories 4 and 9, according to the GLEC v3.2 update.