UK businesses “ill-prepared” to track fleet emissions

A significant number of UK businesses remain “ill-prepared or ill-equipped” to calculate, record and report vehicle emissions from their fleets, according to new research released by business mobility provider Alphabet (GB). The findings reveal widespread reliance on outdated processes and a lack of investment in emissions tracking tools, raising concerns about corporate readiness ahead of tightening environmental regulations.

The study, which surveyed 202 fleet managers across various industries, found that 38% still use basic spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel – or even paper – to monitor their fleets’ emissions. Alarmingly, 8% admitted they do not calculate their fleet emissions at all.

Even more striking, only 18% of respondents said their businesses currently have the tools needed to accurately calculate and report on vehicle emissions. Meanwhile, 12% revealed their organisations had no plans to invest in relevant technology or software in the near future.

“Our study reveals that a large number of UK businesses are either ill-prepared or ill-equipped when it comes to calculating, recording and reporting their vehicle emissions,” Turner said. “A significant number have acknowledged their uncertainty about what actions they need to take, and when, and what carbon manager tools are available to ensure they remain compliant with new legislation.”

The research points to major disparities across sectors. Over 40% of logistics companies—despite typically operating large vehicle fleets – still rely on spreadsheets. In some delivery and retail businesses, fleet emissions are tracked using outdated paper records.

The findings also highlight concerns that smaller firms may be caught off guard as regulatory requirements tighten. While the government’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) framework already mandates large businesses to disclose their energy use and emissions in annual reports, Turner warned that these obligations are likely to extend to many SMEs in the near future.

“Fleet managers of smaller organisations cannot rest on their laurels,” Turner said. “Our study is ‘a wake-up call’ for the whole fleet sector, so businesses should start planning now to identify what tools and processes they need,” he added.

Alphabet, which offers fleet management services including a newly launched Carbon Manager tool, hopes the report will push businesses to take more proactive steps toward accurate emissions reporting and improved sustainability practices.

The full research findings will be published in a white paper titled ‘Emissions Reporting: The Biggest Challenge Facing Fleet Decision-Makers in 2025’ in July.