The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has welcomed the release of the inaugural International Road Transport Union (IRU) Green Compact Survey Report 2025.
The peak body says the IRU report, which includes data and insights provided from around the world, can help guide the policy direction of a cost-effective and equitable transition to decarbonisation in the Australian road transport industry.
NatRoad CEO, Warren Clark, said the report provides evidence-based data for the first time on how Australia’s progress in decarbonising the industry compares on a global scale, particularly the EU.
“The insights contained in the Green Compact Survey Report give us the opportunity to learn from experiences overseas and get the settings right here so we can achieve the most effective transition to a low carbon future, one that is realistic, achievable and cost-effective for Australia’s road transport operators,” said Clark.
“The journey to decarbonising here in Australia must be economically viable for operators who are already dealing with tight margins and uncertainty around costs, and we will continue our calls for governments here to assist with the transition by engaging with the road freight industry and listening to our concerns.”
The NatRoad CEO said one of the key messages to come out of the report is that Australia’s road freight industry is facing similar obstacles as operators around the globe.
“The report reflects what we’re seeing locally in terms of the barriers holding operators back, in particular the commercial reality of engaging with new technology, the lack of available infrastructure, and the unwillingness of customers to absorb higher costs associated with decarbonising,” he said.
Key findings in the survey report include:
- 71 per cent of Australian operators are worried about decarbonisation (82 per cent in Europe).
- 67 per cent of Australian operators aren’t monitoring their carbon emissions, compared to Europe (56 per cent).
It also found that 67 per cent of Australian operators said customers’ unwillingness to cover additional costs was a barrier to decarbonising, as opposed to 58 per cent for Europe.
In Australia, 50 per cent of operators surveyed saw the local infrastructure as not being ready to support new technology, compared to 45 per cent in Europe.
The data revealed that, on average, Australian operators are running older fleets, with half saying their fleet is between 5 and 15 years old.
Only 25 per cent of Australians reported their vehicles were less than five years old, contrasting with Europe where 57 per cent of respondents run vehicles that are five years old or less.
An interesting finding was that 75 per cent of Australian operators said they planned to continue investing in diesel vehicles.
“It’s important to remember emissions reduction can be achieved with technology and tools we already have. The research data shows us many Australian operators are decarbonising by increasing existing diesel vehicle efficiency,” said Clark.
Clark noted that the NatRoad’s ‘Get Fleet Fit’ program was introduced to help the industry decarbonise and reduce operators’ costs with their current diesel fleets through measures, such as efficient fuel management, maintenance practices, and training drivers to use efficient driving techniques.
NatRoad’s recent advocacy efforts relating to decarbonisation and emissions have included a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into cheaper, cleaner energy solutions that support policies aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices of low-carbon fuels; and a submission to the government with recommended improvements to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme.
The latter submission was aimed at making it less complicated and more cost-effective for smaller transport operators to participate in the transition to decarbonisation.
Mr Clark said he appreciated the effort made by Australian operators to contribute to the Green Compact survey and resulting report.
“It’s encouraging to see the local industry participate in this global survey and make sure our voice is heard. We’ll continue pushing for a transition that’s realistic, achievable and fair for all operators – not just the largest players who can afford early adoption,” he said.
The IRU Green Compact Survey Report 2025 is available here.
Read how NatRoad is seeking to have its voice heard on vital issues.
