Measuring freight emissions is a critical part of your footprint, but it can be one of the trickier categories to process. In CarbonTrail, freight data is always measured in tonne-kilometers. Because freight invoices vary wildly in the amount of detail they provide, confirming your Xero data here requires a slightly more hands-on approach.
Here is how to review and add your freight data synced from Xero.
The Challenge with Freight Invoices
While CarbonTrail's AI is powerful, freight invoices don't always play nicely. Some invoices clearly list where the freight traveled from and where it was delivered to, but many do not. Because of this, the AI cannot always automatically calculate the distances your goods traveled. You will likely need to look closely at your invoices and do a quick manual calculation.
How to Calculate Tonne-Kilometers
If your invoice doesn't automatically pull the data, you will need to calculate the tonne-kilometers yourself before entering it.
The Formula: Weight of goods (in tonnes) x Distance traveled (in kilometers) = Tonne-kilometers.
Example Calculation: If an invoice shows you shipped 500 kilograms of goods across 100 kilometers:
Convert kilograms to tonnes: 500 kg = 0.5 tonnes.
Multiply by the distance: 0.5 tonnes x 100 kilometers = 50 tonne-kilometers.
Step-by-Step Guide
Once you are in the Freight section of CarbonTrail and viewing your synced Xero transactions, follow these steps:
Review the Invoice: Open a specific freight transaction and look at the attached Xero invoice to find the origin, destination, and weight of the shipment.
Determine the Distance: If the invoice lists the origin and destination but not the distance, use a quick online mapping tool to figure out the total kilometers between the two locations.
Calculate: Multiply the weight of the freight (in tonnes) by the distance (in kilometers) to get your total tonne-kilometers.
Enter the Data: Select the appropriate freight transport method for that line item (e.g., Road Freight Transport, Air Freight) and type your calculated tonne-kilometers into the field.
Save: Click Save items and continue to lock in your data.
Repeat this process for the rest of your freight transactions.
Need help?
Freight calculations can definitely take a little extra time! If you are having trouble deciphering a complex freight invoice or need help calculating your tonne-kilometers, please reach out to the CarbonTrail team by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right corner. We are always happy to help you get the math right!