Abstract
Global concerns about climate change, energy use and environmental impact require new and different approaches to planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining transportation solutions and systems. Transport operations activities contribute heavily to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and their impact cannot be ignored. Implementation of environmentally sustainable practices (ESP) is likely to influence operational performance (OP). However, the actual impact on trucking companies is unknown. The purpose of the research was to investigate the impact of ESPs on OP of trucking companies in the Western Cape in South Africa. The ESPs considered were fuel efficiency, driver behaviour, and advanced technology. The questions that were asked centred on finding the level of implementation of the ESPs, the challenges faced in the implementation process and their impact on the operational performance of trucking companies in the Western Cape. The gathered and analysed data revealed that there is a positive but weak relationship between ESP and OP, with advanced technology being a major contributing practice to the positive relationship. It was also noted from the results that most of the companies were aware of ESPs and were implementing them, with the major challenge to implementation being the non-availability of adequate funds. Other challenges were lack of information and clear policies at firm level. This study will help the trucking industries realise the best ways of reducing the environmental impact of their activities while also improving their operational performance.