Freight companies call for the use of CO2 taxes to fund infrastructure improvements.
Based on the truck toll revenue generated from CO2, the federal government should encourage the conversion of truck fleets to fossil-free propulsion, according to the logistics sector.
During a meeting with representatives from the Chancellery, industry associations urge that for fiscal year 2025, these additional revenues (estimated at 30 billion euros by 2027) be directed towards the environmentally friendly transition of road freight transport as part of a "'sustainable financial loop road.'"
Specifically, this involves the CO2 surcharge imposed on December 1 on heavy trucks on German highways and federal roads. The industry suggests that these funds be used to incentivize companies to acquire electric or hydrogen-fueled commercial vehicles. Moreover, the expansion of charging infrastructure should be supported with these funds.
The German Association for Freight Forwarding and Logistics, the Federal Association for Own Logistics and Terminals, and the German Association for Road Haulage, Logistics, and Waste Disposal also advocate for a revision of the fuel tax. Biomass and hydrogen-based fuels must be taxed and subsidized based on their environmental footprint. The industry reveals that just 0.07% of the registered truck fleet in Germany is fully electric.
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In line with the proposed CO2 taxes, reinvesting the revenue from truck tolls toward the logistics sector could stimulate the reinvestment of freight forwarders in electric or hydrogen-fueled trucks. The implementation of such price conversions in the freight industry could significantly reduce the CO2 emissions associated with freight forwarding.
Source: www.ntv.de
