Green Compact Survey Finds Customers Resist Transport Decarbonization
The 2026 survey reveals that most operators struggle with low demand for greener shipping and high vehicle costs.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Would you pay higher prices for goods to ensure they are transported by emission-free trucks?
The 2026 Green Compact survey of 1,000 transport operators shows that high costs and customer unwillingness to pay for decarbonization remain the primary obstacles for fleet emissions reduction. While many larger companies plan to invest in battery-electric trucks, operators face significant financial hurdles that prevent broader industry adoption.
Why it matters
The transition to electric fleets is currently stalled because electric trucks cost two to three times as much as diesel alternatives. With insufficient charging infrastructure, operators are turning to route optimization and eco-driving instead of full fleet electrification.
Electric trucks carry a purchase price two to three times higher than comparable diesel models. Only 1,225 public charging stations across Europe are currently suitable for heavy-duty trucks.
The players
European Union
The political and economic union is implementing the ETS2 carbon market to incentivize emission reductions across the transport sector.
The details
Transport operators are utilizing route optimization and driver training as immediate methods to lower emissions. Currently, only 41% of Western European operators use alternative fuels, though 87% of companies with over €100 million in annual turnover plan future investments in electric trucks.
Timeline
2025: 49% of Western European operators identified vehicle prices as a barrier to fleet updates.
2026: Publication of the Green Compact survey.
2028: The European Union's ETS2 carbon market is scheduled to begin with a carbon price of €60 per tonne.
2031: Electric trucks will no longer be toll-exempt in Germany.
Roadmap
The transition to sustainable logistics is increasingly defined by the regulatory pressures of the EU's ETS2 carbon market. This policy marks a departure from voluntary emissions goals by establishing a mandatory carbon price that forces operators to reconsider the economics of diesel-heavy fleets.
Higher operational costs for freight companies, driven by incoming carbon taxes and tolls, will likely translate into increased shipping prices for consumer goods. Readers should expect potential price adjustments as long-haul transport operators pass on these rising compliance and vehicle transition costs.
The takeaway
The industry faces a catch-22 where electric transition requires massive capital investment that customers are not yet willing to fund. Operators should focus on short-term efficiency gains like route optimization while preparing for the regulatory costs of carbon pricing in 2028.
Further reading
For more information on the transition to sustainable logistics, visit our Electric Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trans.
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Would you pay higher prices for goods to ensure they are transported by emission-free trucks?
