A further £1 million will be invested in the next phase of Scotland’s SME Fleet Analysis Support fund, following strong interest from road transport operators across the country.
The scheme, which forms part of the Heavy Goods Vehicle Market Readiness Fund, offers businesses up to £15,000 per fleet for tailored analysis.
The support is intended to help small and medium-sized hauliers review their current operations, identify suitable zero-emission technologies and develop realistic investment plans.
Rather than directly funding vehicle purchases, the programme focuses on providing practical, business-led advice to operators considering how and when to replace diesel HGVs.
£900,000 allocated to skills projects
The Scottish Government is also making £900,000 available through the next phase of the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle Skills Challenge Fund.
The funding will support projects demonstrating best practice or new approaches to workforce development. It will also be used to raise awareness of relevant career paths and improve access to the skills required to decarbonise heavy-duty vehicles.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said Scotland’s haulage industry played a crucial role in keeping goods moving and supporting businesses across the country.
He said the level of interest from operators showed that companies wanted practical assistance in planning the transition.
“Reducing emissions from HGVs is essential to delivering our Climate Change Plan, but that cannot be done without the required skills,” Flynn said.
He added that the funding would help operators take “informed, realistic steps” towards zero-emission fleets while improving productivity and resilience across the sector.
