Old Dominion Freight Line Releases 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement
Old Dominion Freight Line, one of North America’s leading less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation providers, has announced the release of its 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement, providing stakeholders with detailed information about the company’s sustainability-related performance, environmental data and reporting practices.
The publication represents another step in Old Dominion Freight Line’s efforts to provide greater transparency around its environmental, social and governance-related activities. The company has developed the supplement using recognized sustainability reporting frameworks, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Road Transportation Sustainability Accounting Standard and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
The company has also obtained a limited assurance verification opinion from an independent third party covering its 2025 Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. Independent verification provides an additional level of confidence for stakeholders reviewing the company’s reported greenhouse gas information and demonstrates Old Dominion’s focus on strengthening the reliability and transparency of its sustainability disclosures.
The 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement, together with the independent third-party limited assurance verification opinion for the company’s GHG inventory, is available through the Corporate Responsibility section of Old Dominion Freight Line’s investor website.
Sustainability Reporting in the Transportation Industry
Sustainability reporting has become increasingly important across the transportation and logistics sector. Freight carriers operate large vehicle fleets, maintain extensive service-center networks and consume significant amounts of fuel and other resources. As a result, environmental performance, fuel efficiency, emissions management and operational efficiency are becoming increasingly important considerations for transportation companies and their stakeholders.
For an LTL carrier such as Old Dominion Freight Line, sustainability is closely connected to the efficiency of its transportation network. LTL transportation involves moving shipments from multiple customers through a network of terminals and service centers before delivering them to their destinations. Efficient routing, freight consolidation, equipment utilization and fleet management can therefore influence both operating performance and environmental impacts.
By publishing a dedicated sustainability data supplement, Old Dominion provides stakeholders with a centralized source of information concerning its sustainability-related performance. The use of established reporting frameworks also helps create greater consistency and comparability for stakeholders evaluating companies across the transportation industry.
Alignment With SASB Standards
The 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement has been informed by the SASB Road Transportation Sustainability Accounting Standard. SASB standards were developed to identify sustainability-related topics that may be financially material to companies and investors within specific industries.
For transportation businesses, sustainability considerations can include areas such as fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, employee health and safety, accident rates, operational efficiency and other factors that can affect long-term business performance.
Using an industry-specific framework allows Old Dominion to organize its sustainability information around issues that are particularly relevant to the road transportation sector. This can help investors and other stakeholders better understand how sustainability-related factors intersect with the company’s operations and long-term business strategy.
The transportation industry continues to face changing expectations surrounding environmental performance. Customers, investors, regulators and other stakeholders are increasingly interested in how carriers manage emissions, improve efficiency and prepare for evolving environmental requirements.
Reporting With Reference to GRI Standards
In addition to SASB, the company reports its sustainability information with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative standards.
GRI provides a widely recognized framework for sustainability reporting and is designed to help organizations communicate their economic, environmental and social impacts. Reporting with reference to GRI standards gives stakeholders another framework through which to evaluate Old Dominion’s sustainability information.
The combination of SASB and GRI approaches enables the company to address sustainability information from both an industry-specific and broader stakeholder perspective.
For transportation companies, this type of reporting can be particularly relevant because environmental and operational issues are closely connected. Fuel consumption, fleet efficiency, emissions and infrastructure investments can affect both sustainability performance and operating costs.
Independent Verification of Greenhouse Gas Data
One of the notable elements of Old Dominion’s 2025 sustainability reporting is the independent verification of its greenhouse gas inventory.The company received a limited assurance verification opinion from an independent third party for its 2025 Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG Inventory.
Scope 1 emissions generally represent direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by a company. For a transportation carrier, this can include emissions associated with company-operated vehicles and other fuel-consuming assets.Scope 2 emissions generally relate to indirect emissions associated with purchased energy, such as electricity consumed at company-operated facilities.
Because transportation operations can involve substantial fuel and energy consumption, tracking these emissions is an important component of environmental reporting.
Independent assurance does not represent an absolute guarantee of the accuracy of every piece of information reported. Rather, limited assurance provides an additional level of review over the information covered by the assurance engagement. For stakeholders, the independent verification of Old Dominion’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 inventory can therefore provide greater confidence in the company’s reported greenhouse gas data.
Sustainability and LTL Operations
Old Dominion Freight Line operates as an LTL carrier serving regional, inter-regional and national freight transportation markets.
The company’s network model is designed to connect shipments through an extensive system of service centers across the continental United States. This integrated approach enables Old Dominion to transport freight for multiple customers while providing coverage across different geographic markets.
Operational efficiency is particularly important within the LTL business. Shipments that do not require an entire truckload are consolidated with other freight, creating opportunities to maximize equipment utilization and coordinate transportation movements.
Service-center density, freight planning, route optimization and fleet management can all influence the efficiency of an LTL network. Improvements in these areas can potentially support business performance while also contributing to more efficient resource utilization.
Old Dominion’s sustainability reporting provides stakeholders with information that can be considered alongside these operational activities when evaluating the company’s broader approach to sustainability.
Broader Business and Environmental Considerations
The release of the sustainability supplement comes as transportation companies continue to operate in an environment shaped by changing economic conditions, regulatory developments, technological advances and evolving sustainability expectations.
Old Dominion acknowledges that its business is exposed to a wide range of factors that could affect future performance. These include inflation, changes in domestic economic conditions, customer relationships, equipment availability and costs, real estate expenses, third-party transportation costs and fluctuations in diesel fuel prices.
Fuel prices are particularly relevant to motor carriers. Changes in diesel prices can influence operating expenses, while fuel surcharge programs are intended to help carriers mitigate some of the effects of fuel-price fluctuations. However, the company notes that the effectiveness of fuel surcharges can vary.
The company also faces seasonal trends within the LTL industry, as well as potential disruptions caused by severe weather conditions and natural disasters.
Technology and Transportation Innovation
Technology is another important consideration for Old Dominion’s future operations.
The company identifies the ability to adapt to new technologies as a factor that could influence its competitiveness in the LTL and broader transportation industry. Transportation companies are increasingly using technology to support freight management, fleet operations, customer communications, safety programs and network optimization.
Failure to keep pace with technological developments could negatively affect a transportation company’s ability to compete. At the same time, technology infrastructure itself introduces risks, including system failures, cybersecurity incidents, malware, ransomware and disruptions involving third-party technology providers.
Old Dominion therefore recognizes the importance of maintaining reliable technology systems while continuing to adapt to developments across the transportation sector.
Regulatory and Climate-Related Risks
Environmental regulations and climate-related policies also form part of the company’s broader risk environment.
Old Dominion notes that compliance with existing and future governmental laws and regulations, including environmental requirements, could affect its costs and operations. The company also identifies legal, regulatory and market responses to climate change concerns as potential factors that could influence its business.
Emissions-control and fuel-efficiency regulations could result in higher operating expenses as transportation companies adapt their fleets and equipment to meet evolving standards.
At the same time, stakeholder expectations surrounding sustainability are continuing to evolve. These expectations may influence the type and level of sustainability information companies are expected to disclose.
The publication of the 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement demonstrates Old Dominion’s ongoing participation in this evolving reporting environment.
Workforce and Safety Considerations
Sustainability within the transportation sector extends beyond environmental performance. Employees, safety, labor conditions and access to skilled workers are also important considerations.
Old Dominion identifies labor-market challenges and the availability of qualified drivers and maintenance technicians as factors that could affect its operations. Employee compensation and benefit costs can also increase as companies compete for skilled workers.
The company additionally identifies potential changes involving unionization and legislation or regulations that could facilitate unionization as factors that may influence its business.
Safety and regulatory compliance are similarly important for a major motor carrier. Old Dominion faces requirements associated with transportation regulators, including the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The company notes that the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability initiative could affect its ability to hire qualified drivers, achieve growth projections and maintain customer relationships.
Financial and Operational Risks
While the sustainability supplement focuses on sustainability-related information, Old Dominion emphasizes that its future performance remains subject to numerous financial and operational risks.
The company’s ability to execute its growth strategy depends on consistently providing high-quality transportation services that meet customer expectations. Economic downturns, inflationary pressures and changes in customer demand can affect freight volumes and pricing.
Changes in relationships with significant customers can also influence business performance. Meanwhile, the availability and cost of equipment, parts and suitable real estate can affect the company’s ability to expand and maintain its transportation network.
Old Dominion also faces risks related to claims involving cargo loss and damage, property damage, personal injury, workers’ compensation and healthcare. Insurance costs and claims exceeding coverage levels can create additional financial exposure.
The company also identifies risks related to acquisitions, international business relationships, taxation, capital availability, used-equipment values and changes in financial markets.
Climate and Sustainability Expectations
As sustainability reporting becomes increasingly integrated into corporate communications, transportation companies face growing expectations from investors, customers and other stakeholders.
Old Dominion recognizes that sustainability considerations and related reporting obligations continue to evolve. The company notes that varied stakeholder expectations could affect its approach to sustainability disclosure.
This environment makes consistent data collection and reporting increasingly important. Independent verification of greenhouse gas information and the use of recognized reporting frameworks can help companies communicate their sustainability performance in a structured manner.
For stakeholders, the 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement offers an opportunity to examine Old Dominion’s sustainability information alongside its broader operational and financial performance.
Continuing Commitment to North American Freight Transportation
Old Dominion Freight Line remains one of the largest North American LTL motor carriers. The company provides regional, inter-regional and national LTL transportation through a single integrated, union-free organization.
Its service offerings include expedited transportation, supported by an extensive network of service centers throughout the continental United States. Through strategic alliances, the company also provides LTL services across North America.
Beyond its core LTL business, Old Dominion provides several value-added services designed to support customers’ broader transportation and supply chain requirements. These include container drayage, truckload brokerage and supply chain consulting.
Together, these services allow the company to participate in multiple areas of the freight transportation ecosystem while maintaining LTL transportation as its core business.
Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors
Old Dominion’s announcement includes forward-looking statements made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The company cautions that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
Among the risks identified by the company are challenges associated with executing its growth strategy, economic conditions, customer relationships, equipment availability, fuel prices, industry competition, international trade policies and changing regulatory requirements.
Other risks include cybersecurity incidents, technology disruptions, third-party service interruptions, environmental regulations, climate-related regulatory responses, healthcare costs, legal proceedings and changes in tax laws.
Old Dominion also highlights potential risks associated with stock ownership, dividends, share repurchases, stock-market volatility and provisions within its corporate governance documents and Virginia law that could discourage or delay a change in control.
The company states that its forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions using information available when those statements are made. It cautions investors not to place undue reliance on such statements because they are neither predictions nor guarantees of future events.
Old Dominion also notes that assumptions, beliefs, expectations and projections concerning future events may differ materially from actual results. The company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements to reflect developments occurring after the statements are made, except where required by law.
Greater Transparency in Transportation Sustainability
The release of Old Dominion Freight Line’s 2025 Sustainability Data Supplement underscores the increasing importance of sustainability disclosure across the transportation and logistics industry.
By reporting with reference to GRI standards and informing its disclosures through the SASB Road Transportation Sustainability Accounting Standard, the company is providing stakeholders with structured information relevant to its industry and broader sustainability performance.
The independent limited assurance verification of its 2025 Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas inventory further strengthens the transparency surrounding its reported emissions data.
As freight transportation continues to evolve, sustainability is becoming increasingly connected to operational efficiency, technology, regulatory compliance, fleet management and long-term business planning. Old Dominion’s latest sustainability disclosure provides stakeholders with additional information for evaluating how the company is addressing these issues while continuing to operate an extensive North American LTL network.
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