Truck CO₂ emissions calculator
Enter the distance, the weight of the load and the vehicle; see the emissions and how other vehicles compare.
How it is calculated
Emissions (kg CO₂e) = load weight (tonnes) × distance (km) × the vehicle’s factor (kg CO₂e per tonne-km).
Factors are averages for vehicles at an average load, empty running included. A full truck emits less per tonne than the average, a half-empty one more.
Assumptions
- Factors: UK government DESNZ “Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2026” (v1.2, July 2026), freighting goods, direct emissions (fuel production excluded).
- For reporting under GLEC or ISO 14083, the carrier’s own fuel and load data is more accurate.
Questions
What is a tonne-km?
One tonne of freight moved one kilometre. A 20-tonne load over 500 km is 10,000 tonne-km.
Why does a van emit so much more per tonne?
A van carries little weight for the fuel it burns, so each tonne of its load accounts for far more emissions than in an articulated truck.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
