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Nearly Half of Swedish Container Trucks Run Empty, Study Finds

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Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have quantified a persistent inefficiency in container logistics: between 44 and 46 percent of all container truck trips in Sweden operate without cargo. This empty-running phenomenon accounts for roughly one-third of total freight traffic mileage, representing substantial costs, wasted fuel, and unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions across the sector.

The study analyzed Swedish freight data between 2016 and 2019 and identifies geographic imbalances as the primary driver, particularly in port-heavy regions where imports exceed exports. Supply chain professionals should recognize this finding as both a documented problem and a clear opportunity for operational improvement through better coordination, load planning, and information sharing between haulers and shipping companies.

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