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Reducing CO2 emissions from road transport and logistics requires “a more rounded approach”, focusing not just on the vehicles, but the environments they are operating in.

This is the finding of the International Road Transport Union’s (IRU) Commercial Vehicle of the Future report.

The report calls for cooperation from partners, in both the public and private sectors, to increase their efforts, if emissions reduction targets are to be met.

Mark Billet, who leads the IRU’s road freight transport and environmental affairs in Europe, said the sector was well on its way to meeting a voluntary reduction target of 30% of CO2 emissions by 2030.

“But it will be very difficult to reach this without close cooperation with partners in the public and private sector, such as European institutions, national governments, vehicle and component manufacturers, fuel producers, ITS providers, clients and NGOs,” he admitted.

An IRU spokesperson told The Loadstar there would be a much better chance of reducing emissions if these bodies worked together and looked at vehicle development, logistics and road infrastructure.

“We are talking about things like intelligent transport systems (ITS) and how they’re used, combined with what is on the roads,” said the spokesperson.

The report calls for EU-wide solutions, including the deployment of ITS, which would improve efficiency.

ITS can provide drivers with up-to-date information and equip vehicles with computerised systems that assist the driver with, for example, lane-holding, according to industry body ITS UK.

It added: “Intelligent transport systems will also have beneficial effects on the environment, by reducing air and noise pollution on highways and by helping to create traffic-free zones in cities.”

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