Boston, April 27th 2026 – Investors in the multibillion-dollar shipping company ArcBest voted Friday on a Green Century Capital Management (Green Century) proposal requesting that the company set targets to reduce the climate emissions from its fleet and operations. The proposal received 30% of votes cast.
“ArcBest has the opportunity to cut down the carbon emissions that pollute the air, sully its industry’s reputation and harm its bottom line,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century. “A clear target shows investors that ArcBest is serious about reducing the emissions it directly controls.”
The trucking industry’s outsized emissions have an equally large impact on its profitability. Aging infrastructure combined with extreme weather results in destruction and delays. In a business where time is money, climate-related disasters have cost the trucking industry as much as $8.3 billion in one week.
Increasing emissions slows down trucking industry
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation industry’s total emissions grew more than those of any other economic sector between 1990 and 2022. Trucks and vans account for most of the climate impact of transporting goods, because they move cargo much less efficiently than ships, which can transport freight in bulk.
ArcBest lagging behind industry rivals on plans and actions to fight air pollution
ArcBest has reported the emissions footprint of its fleet and energy use for three years. But the company hasn’t publicly displayed the drive of its trucking peers when it comes to specifics about how to reduce those emissions.
Nearly 250 of ArcBest’s peers have already set or committed to setting science-based climate targets as of April 2026. For example, Knight-Swift shared short- and long-term goals to cut carbon emissions in 2020. Some of ArcBest’s competitors have already reduced their contribution to the risks of a warming planet. Notably, C.H. Robinson exceeded its science-aligned target for 2025 two years early.
Beyond addressing risks, climate-friendlier policies and goals can create cost-saving opportunities. Fleet electrification and efficiency make up for higher prices at the pump. Technologies that improve miles per gallon resulted in savings of $512 million for 75,000 trucks in a 2023 study. In 2024, FedEx reported pick-up and delivery costs were 30% cheaper for its electric vehicles compared to combustion engine counterparts, proof of the company’s anticipation of additional return on investment.
“In an industry where cutting carbon cuts costs, setting emissions targets is smart business for ArcBest,” said Green Century Shareholder Advocate Giovanna Eichner. “By joining the race to reduce emissions, ArcBest would make a good move both for its bottom line and for the planet.”
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