TRL, a team of expert scientists, engineers and specialists who work to create the future of transport, has acquired the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme, creating a cornerstone for a portfolio of services to help fleet operators in the UK meet decarbonisation, clean air and sustainability goals.

Originally conceived by the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, ECO Stars was a pioneering scheme that provided emissions assessments and recommendations for fleet operators to reduce fuel consumption and lower their emissions in day-to-day operations. The scheme is free to fleet operators with costs recovered from the Scottish and Welsh governments, and Defra. TRL has managed the scheme since its inception in 2009, with many members gaining accolades for their enhanced fleet efficiency and reduced environmental impacts. The scheme has doubled in size in the last five years, which illustrates how the industry is embracing the need to change. 

“With the acquisition of ECO Stars, TRL now has the opportunity to develop the scheme by offering new services that will benefit the members even further,” said Matt Sercombe, Strategic Business Service Director at TRL. “The essence of the scheme aligns seamlessly with TRL's mission to deliver safer, cleaner, and more efficient transportation solutions. The UK’s net-zero and sustainability goals are very real for vehicle fleet operators, who are under increasing pressure to demonstrate progress, even for very small fleets.”

TRL's vision for the scheme will expand its remit with a package of services based on net-zero emissions targets and taking into account a broader range of sustainability objectives.