Starting July 1, 2026, a new truck toll will take effect in the Netherlands. From that date on, truck owners will pay a fee for every kilometer driven. This will significantly change the current cost structure in road transport. In general, the cleaner and lighter the vehicle, the lower the toll.
The amount of the toll will depend on several factors, including the truck’s weight, its CO₂ emissions, and its Euro emission class. Industry association Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN) estimates that the measure could increase costs for truck owners by as much as 9.8% on average, depending on the type of vehicle and its route profile. The toll will apply to all trucks weighing 3,500 kilograms or more on highways as well as certain provincial and municipal roads. It applies regardless of how the truck is used and whether it is loaded or empty. All affected vehicles must be equipped with an onboard unit to register mileage. The new toll will largely replace the current vehicle tax system, and the mandatory Eurovignette will also be phased out.
A change that will affect the entire supply chain
The introduction of the truck toll follows European directives aimed at encouraging investment in sustainable technologies and greater efficiency across the sector. The revenue generated will be largely used for sustainability subsidies and the expansion of charging infrastructure. At the same time, the toll will also create additional costs for carriers. According to TLN, those costs are expected in many cases to be reflected, at least in part, in transportation rates. That means the impact will be felt not only by carriers, but ultimately across the entire supply chain. This is exactly why sustainability and cost control will need to go hand in hand as much as possible.
Impact on the sector
DHL eCommerce will also need to reflect the higher costs of the truck toll in its rates as of July 1 for business customers shipping parcels and/or pallets, says Chief Commercial Officer Michel Clausing. “This toll will have an impact on the sector, and ultimately that impact will also be felt by our customers. At the same time, we believe it is important not just to communicate about these changes, but also to keep taking steps ourselves in sustainability and efficiency. In that way, we aim to limit the impact wherever we can. The reality, however, is that these additional costs will be felt throughout the entire supply chain.”
Investing in sustainability
DHL has already taken significant steps in sustainable transport and will continue to invest in this area. That helps us not only make our network more sustainable, but also improve operational efficiency and keep costs manageable over the longer term. “We are leading the way in greener transport, with nearly 100% fossil-free transportation in the so-called last mile, the route between the CityHub and the consumer. For that part of our network, we use lighter electric vehicles that are not subject to the truck toll. In addition to that local transport, we also use many trucks that are subject to the toll. The fleet includes diesel trucks in the most favorable emission class, vehicles running on HVO100 biodiesel, and electric trucks. We will continue the further electrification of our fleet. It is also encouraging that HVO100 biodiesel is becoming increasingly available.”
Final percentages by the end of May
DHL believes it is important to prepare customers now for the effects of the truck toll and to communicate proactively. “We expect to be able to announce the final percentages by the end of May. In doing so, we are looking not only at the impact of the toll itself, but also at the investments and measures DHL is taking to further improve the sustainability and efficiency of our network. It is possible that the percentages for parcel shipments will be lower than those for pallet shipments,” Clausing says.