The upcoming toll increase on 1 December is causing a stir in the German haulage industry, including in the fruit and vegetable haulage sector. The planned massive increase in the toll rate will lead to a significant increase in freight costs, which will have to be passed on to the freight payer. FreshPlaza.de spoke to several fresh produce hauliers about the measures and the consequences for fruit and vegetable transport.
Further tightening of the market environment
"As a logistics provider, we have no choice but to accept the cost increase," emphasises Stefan Streuer, Managing Director of Landgard's logistics subsidiary Fresh Logistics System GmbH, which has locations and partners throughout Germany (FreshPlaza.de reported). "On the one hand, it is of course essential from a sustainability perspective to achieve the climate protection targets. The planned increase in the lorry toll will certainly create incentives to make freight transport more climate-friendly. However, the question is whether it is the right instrument at the present time. Alternative drive systems and the associated infrastructure, which would make it possible to reduce toll costs, are not yet available on the scale that would be necessary for their use in logistics."
Stefan Streuer from Fresh Logistics System GmbH
In combination with the other cost increases that have already taken place or are currently expected in the green sector, this would further exacerbate the situation in an already very tight market environment, Streuer added. "Ultimately, rising freight costs will lead to higher supply prices in the trade and thus to rising consumer costs. This will be clearly noticeable at the latest when urban delivery traffic is also affected by the next planned toll increase in July 2024."
'Further reduction in margins feared'
"The planned toll increase would also be really problematic for us," says Geoffrey Reinhard from Berdin GmbH in Saarlouis. The Saarland-based company operates as a wholesaler, but also acts as a logistics service provider for third parties, using some of its own lorries. "Everyone now has to think about it in a hurry. Allegedly, the toll is set to roughly double, which in turn would have a massive impact on prices. Ultimately, the respective service provider will bear the bulk of the costs, as the costs cannot be passed on in full to the customer."
"In the national sector, fixed prices are already agreed and the toll is calculated separately, similar to the diesel surcharge. It also has to be said that the margins in the haulage industry are already very low," continues Reinhard.
'Cost drivers instead of cost brakes'
"Under the guise of environmental pollution, attempts are being made to reduce road transport, which I can partly understand and agree with. However, there have already been several measures, such as diesel surcharges and CO2 taxation, so that we hauliers are confronted with a double burden. In my view, this is not a cost brake, but a cost driver," explains Andreas Vortkamp, Managing Director of the company of the same name with locations in Ahaus and Billerbeck (FreshPlaza.de reported).
Transport costs will rise across all segments, according to the haulier, who also specialises in fruit and vegetable transport. "The cost pressure, whether tolls, CO2 surcharges, insurance premiums or labour costs, will only continue to increase, which ultimately plays into the hands of the large hauliers in particular. For medium-sized hauliers, the main task is to assert themselves in their niche and score points with quality and special services. Fruit and vegetables, for example, are a quality-sensitive sector. You always have to put the freight costs in relation to the value of the goods. From this perspective, it is also a kind of insurance to use a reliable haulier instead of paying high insurance premiums."
'Further reduction in the refrigerated transport industry looms'
The planned 83 per cent increase in tolls will have a huge impact on long-distance transport in particular, predicts a fruit and vegetable haulier in western Bavaria. "The empty kilometres in particular will have a massive impact. In the fruit and vegetable sector in particular, it happens from time to time that a pallet is refused and has to be driven somewhere. This high complaint rate compared to other areas of the food sector will have a noticeable impact here. In line with the current trend, the refrigerated transport sector will probably continue to shrink. The reserves, if they exist at all, could already be used up by December."
'Financial burden on the population exacerbated'
The toll increase on 1 December 2023 is extremely problematic for the end consumer, according to Konstantin Popov (right), Managing Director of PS Food Logistics and Chairman of the Board of the Federal Association of Logistics & Transport (BLV) in a statement. "More than 80 per cent of everyday goods are transported by truck, and these additional costs are often passed on to the consumer. This leads to rising prices and contributes to galloping inflation, which exacerbates the financial burden on the population."
Stefan Streuer
Fresh Logistics System GmbH
Veilingstraße A1
47638 Straelen-Herongen
Tel +49 2839 59-4153
Fax +49 2839 59-4159
Mail: [email protected]
www.freshlogistics.de
Geoffrey Reinhard
Hans Josef Berdin GmbH
Langwies 36
66802 Überherrn
Telefon: 0049 (0)6836 / 91 999-0
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.berdin-gmbh.de
Andreas Vortkamp
Hubert Vortkamp GmbH
Zentrale: Harmate 24
48683 Ahaus
Telefon: +49 (0) 25 61 - 98 01 - 0
Niederlassung Billerbeck:
Fon.: +49 (0) 2543 / 25 188
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.vortkamp-logistik.de
Konstantin Popov
Bundesverband Logistik & Verkehr-pro e.V.
Schulzendorfer Straße 20
15806 Zossen
Telefon: +49 (0) 7132 4522131
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.blv-pro.de