Logistical efficiency. Assessment of potential measures

From 2026, the truck levy will replace the Eurovignette in the Netherlands. This is expected to result in net revenue of €250 million per year. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat) plans to channel this money back to the sector for sustainability and innovation. Some of the money is expected to be spent on logistical efficiency. It is still unclear which measures will be effective and what the money will be used for. CE Delft was commissioned by the Foundation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection (Stichting Natuur en Milieu) to assess a range of possible measures for the purpose of discussing the use of the revenue from the truck levy.

From the list compiled of identified measures, five measures remained for further analysis based on four criteria (Technology Readiness Level, impact on CO2 emissions, dependence on external factors and expected cost) and some additional considerations. These are:

• Support a culture change among SME shippers
• Support the development of control centres for coordination across chains (4C)
• Encourage reuse of containers
• Decentralisation of distribution through the use of urban logistics hubs
• Matchmaking involving data sharing and the use of open data platforms

Based on our analysis of each measure, where we specifically assessed current barriers and the added value of financial support to achieve more efficient logistics, we reach the following conclusions:

• Focusing only on specific instruments (such as 4C, matchmaking and city hubs) does not automatically lead to logistical efficiency.
• The behaviour/culture within the industry must change so that choices are made that contribute to social logistics efficiency. This is an important condition for the success of the specific instruments.
• One way to do this is to have an awareness campaign focused on the choices made within logistics and the consequences these choices have on efficiency.
• However, more is needed to get the industry moving, such as financial incentives. One example of a price incentive is the truck levy, which can in itself lead to logistics efficiency.
• Finally, a second important requirement for more efficient trip and load planning is a higher level of digitisation within the industry.