Four major European transport and logistics organisations – IRU, CLECAT, the European Shippers’ Council, and the Global Cold Chain Alliance – have written a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging her to abandon plans for mandatory zero-emission truck demand targets. While the sector supports the EU’s goal of decarbonising road transport, the signatories warn that coercive measures could harm thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and slow the transition rather than accelerate it.
According to the letter, the transport industry is already investing heavily in zero-emission trucks and technologies wherever conditions allow. In the first half of 2025, EU registrations of heavy-duty vehicles fell by 11%. Yet, sales of zero-emission trucks grew by 40%—proof, the organisations say, of genuine commitment to the transition. However, they stress that “enabling conditions” such as affordable charging infrastructure and sufficient grid capacity are still far from adequate.
The signatories highlight that public truck charging infrastructure must expand tenfold to meet expected needs. Current public charging points are expensive and unreliable compared with depot charging, and grid connection delays are widespread. Most regional and local freight (around 70% of movements) depends on depot-based operations, which are increasingly constrained by limited electricity supply. The upcoming EU Grid Package may help, they acknowledge, but its effects will take years to materialise.
Against this backdrop, the Commission is reportedly considering legislation that would introduce mandatory purchasing or usage quotas for zero-emission trucks. These could apply directly to operators or indirectly through Member States or shippers. The organisations warn such measures would “place the heaviest burden on SMEs and micro-enterprises at the bottom of the logistics chain,” many of which already face tight margins and limited investment capacity.
The letter argues that transport companies make sustainable investments only when “the business case is viable,” not when forced to take on unmanageable financial or operational risks. Mandatory targets could create stranded assets—vehicles and equipment that are unusable because infrastructure, technology, or market conditions are not yet ready.
The sector also points to practical barriers to electrification. Specific freight segments, such as refrigerated transport, construction logistics, and chemical haulage, face higher technical and energy demands. For example, a refrigerated 40-tonne truck requires roughly 10% more electric power than a standard truck. Integrating traction and cooling systems remains complex and costly. Imposing uniform electrification requirements across all freight types, the organisations say, would distort markets and threaten viable businesses.
Instead of new obligations, the signatories call for supportive and pragmatic measures to speed up the transition. Their recommendations include:
- Targeted purchase incentives for zero-emission trucks, which still cost two to three times more than diesel models.
- Massive investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure, particularly at depots, alongside faster grid upgrades and smarter energy management.
- A coherent financing framework, possibly using revenues from the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS 2) and Eurovignette to fund road transport decarbonisation.
The letter concludes by reaffirming the sector’s commitment to the EU’s climate goals but urges Brussels to focus on “creating the practical foundations for a sustainable, competitive and socially fair road transport transition.” According to the signatories, genuine progress will come from enabling conditions, not from punitive obligations.
Walther Ploos van Amstel.