The decarbonisation of road freight is entering a “second wave” in which energy security, resilience and geopolitics will become increasingly important alongside the transition to zero-emission vehicles, according to the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight (CSRF). The changing environment will form the focus of the 13th International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight, which takes place in Cambridge on 7-8 December.

Under the theme “Sustainability and Resilience: The Second Wave of Road Freight Transport Decarbonisation”, the conference will examine how changes in global energy markets, technology, data and policy are beginning to reshape the freight sector. CSRF argues that continuing geopolitical uncertainty and military conflicts have highlighted the vulnerability of logistics operations dependent on fossil fuels and exposed operators to volatile oil prices.

By contrast, greater electrification and the development of sustainable domestic energy systems could potentially provide freight operators with more predictable energy costs while improving wider energy security and resilience.

The conference will also examine the rapid development of heavy-duty electric trucks and charging infrastructure, but will argue that the next stage of the transition cannot be considered purely as a vehicle and infrastructure challenge.

Greater access to logistics data covering routes, loads, energy demand and asset utilisation will be required if operators are to optimise charging, improve vehicle utilisation and coordinate increasingly complex transport and energy operations.

The CSRF believes greater sharing of data could also support new forms of collaboration between hauliers and enable transport networks to respond more effectively to disruption.

Among the subjects under discussion will be platform-based collaboration between carriers, dedicated energy systems for transport, government measures to support electrification, digital waybills and product passports, and the potential dual use of civilian infrastructure and assets.

The event will feature keynote presentations from Stuart Browse of the UK Ministry of Defence’s National Armaments Director Group; Gridserve head of eHGV programme Sam Clarke; and Hajo Ribberink, senior research engineer at CanmetENERGY in Canada. Catalyst presentations will be given by CSRF director Professor David Cebon, logistics academic Professor Alan McKinnon and Professor Phil Greening, director of the CSRF and Heriot-Watt University’s Centre for Logistics and Sustainability. The two-day event will also include a conference dinner in the Old Hall at Queens’ College, Cambridge.

More details: 13th International Workshop on Sustainable Road Freight - The Centre For Sustainable Road Freight

Andy Salter is an independent commercial vehicle and road freight commentator with more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, publishing, events and business leadership. A former editor of TRUCK and Commercial Motor magazines and past Chair of the International Truck of the Year jury, he has spent his career analysing the trends shaping the transport sector, from vehicle technology and fleet operations to regulation, decarbonisation and business strategy. Andy is a regular contributor to Motor Transport and chairs conferences, moderates industry debates and interviews many of the sector’s leading figures. He also advises organisations across the transport, logistics and technology sectors on communications and thought leadership. Combining editorial independence with extensive commercial experience, Andy is recognised for his balanced, informed and practical insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the UK road freight industry.View full Profile

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