New rules for road freight emissions kick in from 2027
Starting in 2027, road freight transport will be required to disclose the cost of carbon dioxide emissions. This move is expected to influence pricing and policy decisions, as officials in Madrid explained during a roundtable at the Corredor 360 Conference. As European measures to curb emissions take effect, the concept of emissions as a real cost will become a central consideration for the sector, including road transportation.
The general secretary noted that a political stance had been taken during the campaign to suspend tolls on all motorways. While toll collection has been rolled back, other tools to address emissions have not been abandoned. The new emissions accounting framework will require road transport companies to assess their emissions, which could mean higher costs or opportunities for compensation where reductions are achieved.
Convincing the public about emissions pricing
Carlo Secchi, the European Union’s Atlantic Corridor coordinator, underscored that the EU continues to rely on the principle of polluter pays. How governments implement this remains their choice. Tolls are already in use on some motorways in Italy, while Germany has a heavy-vehicle toll aimed at funding road maintenance, totaling many billions of euros annually. In Switzerland, restrictions on heavy traffic are part of broader efforts to shift freight toward cleaner options. The approach is a mix of carrots and sticks, penalizing carbon-intensive transport while prioritizing emissions-free modes of transport.
Secchi called for public understanding of the reasons behind penalizing carbon-dioxide-emitting activities. He highlighted the potential of emissions trading schemes to price pollution, punish polluters, and incentivize cleaner energy railways as an important complement to other measures.
Beyond the rail corridors
Medway’s general manager, Bruno Silva, and Pablo Antolín of Railsider Mediterráneo examined the Mercancias 30 Plan. The aim is to shift at least 10% of road freight to railways. Silva described the plan as ambitious and optimistic due to its integration with port-connected corridors and fleet renewal. He added that price signals will be a major driver of change. Antolín argued that secondary railway infrastructure not currently part of corridor systems should not be forgotten, since improvements could still unlock new traffic flows, including shorter train services. Flores echoed this vision, stressing that business cases and logistics plans will be the key to making any shift feasible. The saying about cats and mice was invoked to illustrate the practical focus on outcomes over rhetoric.
Economic and budget outlook
Looking ahead, Secchi warned that transport policy debates will intensify as the new European budget framework for 2028 to 2034 begins to take shape. Investments aimed at building a cohesive, barrier-free European network are already underway, with rail increasingly connecting countries across the continent. He estimated that more than 30 billion euros could be required to reach the stated goals. The economic landscape could also shift as post-Covid recovery funds wind down in 2026 and geopolitical tensions in regions like Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine create uncertainty.
In the North American context, observers note that similar movements toward a transparent emissions pricing framework could influence freight operators, shippers, and policymakers. The trend toward integrating land transport with cleaner rail options, better planning, and long-term investments is seen as a way to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and support healthier transportation ecosystems across Canada and the United States, even as local conditions shape exact policies and incentives.