Dutch NGO wants further tax incentives to reduce empty truck miles

Natuur & Milieu has called for the incentives following the results of the research it had commissioned and issued to CE Delft.

The comments from the NGO also come amid plans for higher truck tolls for the Netherlands in 2026. It is estimated the new tolls will bring in an extra €250 million per year while also encouraging sustainability in road haulage.

According to CE Delft’s research, 55% of the capacity of the trucks travelling on Dutch roads is not being used.

“A large number of trucks are now driving around empty or almost empty and that needs to change. Increasing the load factor ensures that fewer kilometres have to be driven. This is not only positive for CO2, nitrogen and particulate matter emissions, but also for combating traffic jams and road safety. It is very good that the proceeds from the truck tax will be used for this,” says Nienke Onnen, Natuur & Milieu’s Mobility Program Leader.

For the research, CE Delft analysed five measures that in theory have a lot of potential, such as the reuse of containers and cross chain control centres.

The researchers found that the level of digitalisation, as well as the culture in the sector, are key barriers hindering the introduction of several sustainability measures.

For example, Natuur & Milieu says that bundling loads or using different modes of transport can only be achieved if companies set different priorities and work together. However, CE Delft found that this is not yet engrained in company culture in the industry.

“The savings potential of collaboration is estimated at at least 10%, but this requires a cultural change. Data sharing, aimed at discovering collaboration opportunities between companies to reduce transport kilometeres, could help. However, many companies do not yet have the necessary data or are unable to share it,” says Natuur & Milieu.

The NGO has thus advised the government to use the income from the truck tax to remove the aforementioned barriers – by changing the existing culture and making digitalisation more widespread.

“By focusing on digitalization and a change in culture, the government creates the preconditions that entrepreneurs need to take steps. This way, companies can determine for themselves which resources best suit their situation,” argues Nienke Onnen.

In addition to this, Natuur & Milieu says the research it commissioned confirms that a financial incentive, such as the truck tax, increases the need for more efficient logistics. The organisation therefore advocates increasing the average truck tax rate from 15 cents per km to 30 cents per km.

“An increase makes it really uninteresting to drive idle kilometers. Moreover, this is in line with future rates in Germany. The starting point for the rate setting was that it should be comparable to those of our neighboring countries and with the current 15 cents per km that is certainly not the case,” claims Onnen.