The National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) recommendations for reducing road freight emissions are simplistic and won’t inspire confidence, says the Road Haulage Association.
The Commission’s Better Delivery: the challenge for freight report urges the government to ban the sale of new diesel HGVs by 2040 in a move to help the sector become carbon-free by 2050.
But the RHA says the NIC’s report lacks a clear roadmap and makes assumptions about technologies and infrastructure that haven’t yet materialised.
RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said: “Their recommendations are simplistic and fail to spell out how government should lead a realistic, supportive transition from diesel.
“New technology is welcome but it needs to be practical and affordable. A premature switch to zero-emissions lorries would disproportionately impact small freight operators.”
He said the call to ban the sale of new diesel lorries by 2040 is not credible given there are no viable alternatives on the market.
