How to calculate freight emissions with ISO 14083
Updated · Rotomal
To calculate freight emissions under ISO 14083, split each shipment into legs, work out the transport activity of each leg (usually tonne-kilometres: weight times distance), and multiply by an emission intensity for that mode and vehicle type, either from your carrier's own fuel data or from default values such as those in the GLEC Framework v3.2. Add hub and warehouse emissions where relevant, report well-to-wheel CO2e, and state your data sources and assumptions.
The calculation in five steps
- List shipments with origin, destination, weight, mode and carrier.
- Break each shipment into legs: for example truck to port, ship, truck to customer.
- Calculate tonne-km per leg from the weight and the distance.
- Apply an emission intensity per tonne-km: carrier primary data first, GLEC default values where there is none.
- Add hub emissions if in scope, total the legs, and report well-to-wheel CO2e with the share of primary data.
What to report
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Standard and method version | ISO 14083:2023 and GLEC Framework v3.2 |
| Well-to-wheel and tank-to-wheel CO2e | Questionnaires ask for one or both |
| Transport activity (tonne-km) | Lets readers compare intensity year on year |
| Share of primary vs default data | Shows how much is estimated |
| Exclusions and assumptions | Lets a customer or auditor follow the result |
Common mistakes
- Using straight-line distance without saying so.
- Mixing tank-to-wheel and well-to-wheel figures.
- Leaving out shipments with missing data instead of listing them.
- Using factors from an old GLEC version without saying which.
If you want the report done for you
Haulcount builds the report from your shipment data, following ISO 14083 and GLEC v3.2, starting with a data check, with prices from €290 per annual report.
Questions
Does the GLEC Framework fit with the GHG Protocol?
Yes. In 2019 the GHG Protocol said the GLEC Framework had earned its Built on GHG Protocol mark and is meant to be used alongside its Corporate Standard.
Which GLEC version is current?
The latest version we could confirm in November 2026 is v3.2, reported by Searoutes in October 2025. Smart Freight Centre publishes the framework, so check its site for a newer release; our report always names the version used.
Sources
- BSI Knowledge: ISO 14083:2023 (published 20 March 2023, current) Source: knowledge.bsigroup.com
- Searoutes: GLEC Framework v3.2 (October 2025) summary Source: searoutes.com
- GHG Protocol: GLEC Framework built on GHG Protocol (2019) Source: ghgprotocol.org