Introducing the truck levy in 2027 will create a gap of 750 million euros, intended to make the transport sector more sustainable in time. As a result, the sector is in danger of not achieving the climate targets, warns Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN).

“This decision came out of the blue,” responds TLN chairman Elisabeth Post. “The return of the revenues from the truck levy is the foundation of our sustainability transition. This was also underlined by many political parties in the run-up to the elections. But that foundation is now crossed with one stroke of the pen. ”

Sledgehammer
The introduction of the truck levy was planned for 2024, but outgoing Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen recently informed the House of Representatives in a letter that the levy cannot be implemented before 2027. A sledgehammer for the sustainability transition of the transport and logistics sector. The revenues from the truck levy - approximately 250 million euros per year - would be used to help the sector in the sustainability task. Now that the implementation can be postponed for at least three years, the sector is missing out at least 750 million euros. And that while the clock is running.

Objectives in the climate agreement, such as emission-free transport in 30 to 40 inner cities, will be put at risk by this decision, emphasized TLNPresident Elisabeth Post: “When drawing up the climate agreement, we have proven that we are an ambitious sector. We want to contribute to making freight transport more sustainable, but we simply cannot do this alone. In order to achieve the climate objectives, clear agreements have been made with the cabinet on the introduction of the truck levy and the return of the revenues. But the minister is now suddenly drawing a line. A new cabinet must close this gap as quickly as possible. ”

Subsidy
At the moment there are only 160 trucks with an emission-free drive in the Netherlands. In order to supply cities emission-free from 2025, at least 5000 electric trucks will be needed, but such a truck costs about three times as much as a diesel truck. With the revenues from the truck levy, transport companies could partly finance these large investments by means of a subsidy, according to TLN on their website.

With this sudden decision, the government is not proving to be a reliable partner. Extremely bad, because trust is crucial to achieve the climate goals, says Post: “The challenges we face together are major. And if we want to achieve that, clarity is needed. Clarity for the sector, but above all for entrepreneurs. Precisely now that the formation will be about the recovery of the economy and the recovery of businesses after the crisis, confidence and clarity are indispensable. But both are hard to find at the moment. ”

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