International haulier Fercam is ramping up its commitment to decarbonisation with a major shift to HVO across its European fleet, including in the UK, as part of its 2030 sustainability roadmap.
Speaking to MT at the Transporeon Summit in Amsterdam, Carlo Pinamonti (pictured), sales director Europe, said HVO now powers “100% of our new-generation trucks,” with supply no longer a constraint thanks to improved fuel station coverage across Europe.
“We started in Italy, transporting HVO ourselves to our depots,” he said. “Now we’re running on it across Europe, including in the UK. It’s a direct replacement for diesel and cuts CO₂ emissions by up to 85% - with no need to retrofit engines.”
Fercam continues to lean on its long-running intermodal operations, Pinamonti explained, first introduced in 1975 - to reduce emissions, with more than 40,000 full truckloads moved by rail each year.
Alongside HVO, the company has also begun deploying battery-electric trucks and Bio-LNG in specific domestic operations in Italy. However, he said electric remained too much of a challenge for many operators.: “We have two electric trucks, and more are coming, but they cost three times as much and there’s nowhere to charge them,” he said. “Electrification will be part of the solution, but it won’t cover the full truckload sector for many years.”
He also warned that while shippers are vocal about sustainability, few are willing to pay more for greener services. “Customers want green transport, but they don’t want to fund it,” he said. “Even in high-pressure sectors like chemicals, the message is: we want it, but not at extra cost.”
Fercam closed 2024 with €620m (£525m) in revenue, up slightly from €610m in 2023 - a modest 1.5% increase that came from higher rates, not additional volumes.
“Volumes are flat,” Pinamonti said. “The increase is driven by rising costs - energy, insurance, wages, maintenance. The market has been difficult for 18 months and we don’t expect much change for the rest of this year.”
Fercam’s UK operation is based in Rainham, Essex. The firm continues to move significant volumes into the country from the continent but faces a persistent imbalance on backhauls. “The UK consumes a lot, but there’s less freight going out,” Pinamonti said. “That imbalance means higher rates one way and lower rates the other,”
Despite this, Fercam is investing in the UK market, including recruitment and a push to grow the local customer base, while continuing to serve the market through its wider European branch network. “We’d like the UK operation to grow faster, but we’re seeing steady demand,” he said.
The company’s diversified customer base - spanning FMCG, packaging, food and drink, paper and automotive - is a key part of its strategy to manage market risk. “We don’t specialise in a single sector because we want to spread risk,” he explained. “If one sector struggles, we’re still resilient.”
Fercam also continues to invest heavily in digital tools through its long-standing partnership with Transporeon. These include assignment flow tools integrated into customer TMS systems, real-time visibility to reduce empty mileage, paperless documentation using eCMR, and market intelligence dashboards to monitor rate trends. “These tools save time, cut costs, and help us reduce emissions. We’re a traditional logistics business, but with strong technology at the core,” he said.
Capacity is increasingly supported through a large network of more than 11,000 regular SME haulier partners, most operating 1-10 trucks. These smaller firms are not competitors, he noted, but integrated into Fercam’s freight management system. “We work with them to keep trucks full in both directions. They help us manage capacity flexibly and they get steady work in return.”
Amid increasing driver shortages Fercam is now working with universities in South America to identify Spanish-speaking drivers willing to relocate to Europe. “It’s very difficult to find young drivers. We’re looking globally for solutions,” Pinamonti said.
He added that despite ongoing changes in UK customs rules, the company has avoided serious disruption thanks to its experience and infrastructure. “For us, Brexit is manageable. We have the customs know-how and high-frequency traffic. But for smaller firms, it’s still a real barrier,” he said.
Beyond its environmental focus, Fercam is also investing in social sustainability. One initiative, known as Ecolab, employs refugees to upcycle damaged wooden pallets into furniture, which was recently showcased on the company’s stand at the Munich Transport & Logistics Fair. “All the furniture on our stand was made by refugees from recycled pallets,” he said. “Customers were so impressed, some placed orders. It’s about giving people a chance and creating circular solutions, not just ticking a CSR box.”
Looking ahead, the company remains cautious. “We expect stability for the next six months,” he said. “Beyond that, it depends on global events. A new crisis in Ukraine, Gaza, or even Taiwan could change everything. But we’re focusing on what we can control - decarbonising, digitising, and staying close to our partners.”
For more coverage from the Transporeon Summit, visit motortransport.co.uk
