DP World is cutting road freight emissions with its new low carbon truck programme, offering truck operators access to a more sustainable fuel option
DP World is launching its Low Carbon Truck Programme (LCTP) in a bid to offer truck operators access to more sustainable fuel.

In what represents a UK industry first, truck operators can opt for low-carbon fuel at DP World’s London Gateway and Southampton hubs.

The logistics and transportation giant is set to support at least 500 trucks in the transition to this alternative fuel, with the trial scheduled to run for 28 months.

The Low Carbon Truck Programme
Every day, DP World welcomes more than 4,000 trucks to its two UK ports, bringing with them several tonnes of emissions.

To counteract this, DP World has introduced a series of programmes to offset carbon emissions, as a means to create more sustainable supply chains.

Using a baseline from 2022, DP World is hoping to:

Cut Scope 1 emissions by 42% by 2030
Cut Scope 3 emissions by 28% by 2030
Achieve net-zero emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 by 2050
DP World’s Low Carbon Truck Programme is the latest in a long line of end-to-end solutions aimed at cutting emissions and boosting efficiency.

From September, the company will provide UK HGV fleet owners with the opportunity to use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel at no extra cost. HVO is a cleaner, renewable alternative, with up to 85% less carbon intensity than diesel.

Promoting ease and efficiency
To help with the switch to sustainable fuel, DP World has partnered with Certas Energy and New Era Fuels.

Trucks which visit the ports with loaded containers more than 90 times over three months will qualify for the programme.

Fleet owners will be able to claim up to 5,000 litres of HVO for each vehicle, with a capped maximum allocation of 50,000 litres or 10 vehicles per Group of Companies per Port.

To make this more efficient, the fuel can either be delivered in bulk to the truck operators’ yards, or there will be UK refuelling station locations which operators can access with a fuel card.

John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World, speaking at Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE
John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World, says: “Cargo owners and freight forwarders can significantly reduce their supply chain Scope 3 emissions if they use trucking companies that participate in the programme.

“This is an innovative first for the container sector and we estimate that more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be reduced each year if all our trucking partners register. Our hope is to encourage early adoption as a transitional step towards the eventual goal of electrification.

“With the forthcoming launch of the new driver welfare facility at Southampton, we’re delighted to be doing more for road hauliers, and we’re confident that the trial will mirror the success of our industry leading Modal Shift and Carbon Inset Programmes.”

A helping hand
DP World is offering the HVO programme as means to help truck operators make the switch away from fossil diesel and towards a stronger, more reliable decarbonisation journey.

As HVO can be used in diesel engines, it is the easiest switch towards a sustainable transition and is is approved by a range of DP World’s Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s).

Part of the programme also involves the Carbon Literacy Training course which is intended to help strengthen the understanding of truck operators and suppliers.

This will help them learn about carbon emissions, reporting and decarbonisation strategies which are specifically tailored to their industry.

Richard James Smith, Managing Director at Road Haulage Association
“Hauliers want to reduce their emissions, and our recent Net Zero Survey highlighted how operators see low carbon fuels achieving this as an interim step to Net Zero,” says Richard Smith, Managing Director at the Road Haulage Association.

“Appropriately sourced HVO offers a way for them to do this, and we welcome DP World’s Low Carbon Truck Programme, together with the accompanying carbon literacy training to support hauliers on this journey.”

DP World’s programme has the potential to significantly reduce Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions across transportation and will help truck operators take the first step towards decarbonisation.

As an industry first, the hope is that it will inspire other port operators to sponsor such programmes in the future.