# Does a milk run cut emissions compared with direct deliveries from each supplier?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/milk-run-vs-direct-delivery-emissions

Compare the fuel of one truck collecting from several suppliers on a loop against separate trucks from each supplier. Multiply litres by 2.68 kg CO2 per litre for each case. A milk run usually cuts distance and empty running, provided the truck is full enough.

## What to compare

- Total distance for the loop against the sum of direct trips.
- Litres per km for each truck size, from fuel records.
- Load factor, since a half-empty loop truck saves less.

## Where it is reported

Inbound freight you pay for is Scope 3, Category 4. Your own trucks running the loop are Scope 1.

## Record it

Keep the planned and actual routes and fuel. A before and after figure from real fuel use is stronger than a modelled one.

## Worked example: five suppliers (one trip, illustrative inputs)

- Direct: five suppliers, five trucks, 120 km each at an assumed 5 km per litre: 600 / 5 = 120 litres x 2.68 = 321.6 kg CO2
- Milk run: one truck, 140 km loop at an assumed 4.5 km per litre: 31.11 litres x 2.68 = 83.38 kg CO2
- Saving: 238.2 kg CO2 a trip

Distances and mileages are assumed inputs.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads fuel invoices and fuel card statements (diesel 2.68 and CNG 2.69 kg CO2, IPCC 2006 defaults) into a fingerprinted Scope 1 record. Hired transport goes to the Scope 3 evidence trail, and distance or tonne-km estimates are labelled as estimates.

- [Truck freight emission factor India](https://senseible.earth/answers/truck-freight-emission-factor-india)
- [Hired trucks: Scope 1 or 3?](https://senseible.earth/answers/hired-trucks-scope-1-or-scope-3)

Sources: [GLEC Framework for logistics emissions (Smart Freight Centre)](https://www.smartfreightcentre.org/en/our-programs/emissions-accounting/global-logistics-emissions-council/), [GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-value-chain-scope-3-standard), [IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy (fuel defaults)](https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html)

Last reviewed 2026-10-21.