European hauliers cite customer reluctance to fund greener transport
About seven in ten surveyed European road freight operators say customers will not pay the extra cost of decarbonisation, according to the new Green Compact survey.
IRU and Trimble’s 2026 Green Compact survey identifies financing as a major obstacle to cleaner road freight. Among respondents, 70% in Western Europe and 71% in Eastern Europe said customers were unwilling to pay additional decarbonisation costs.
Vehicle prices were cited as a barrier to alternative-fuel adoption by 66% of Western European operators and 78% in Eastern Europe, up from 49% and 52% respectively in 2025. Routing optimisation and eco-driving remained practical emissions-reduction measures.
The wider survey involved more than 1,000 operators across 36 countries and also examined Australia. These findings describe respondents’ views, not a census of hauliers or a measured change in pallet transport prices.
Source attribution
- Source organisation
- IRU and Trimble
- Original date
- 22 Oct 2026
- Published by us
- 23 Oct 2026
Pallet News publishes a short original summary only. Copyright in the original update remains with the publishing organisation.
Community
Discuss this topic in the forum
No discussion is created automatically.
More from this section
Related stories
Budget extends 5p fuel-duty cut through June 2027
The government plans to retain the temporary 5p-per-litre cut until 30 June 2027 and defer the inflation increase until 1 July, extending relief for road freight operators.
UK weekly diesel average edges down to 199.22p per litre
DESNZ’s 26 October observation puts petrol at 174.07p/litre and diesel at 199.22p, down 0.50p and 0.11p respectively over the week.
Source Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Original date 27 Oct 2026
Read the original update ↗
Singapore supplies 5,000 tonnes of bioethanol to Maersk container ship
Maersk Halifax received approximately 5,000 tonnes of certified bioethanol at Pasir Panjang Terminal while container handling continued, according to Singapore’s maritime authority.