DP World has launched a new low carbon truck programme (LCTP) at its London Gateway logistics hub, offering truck operators access to low carbon fuel in a UK industry first.

A similar operation has been launched at the company's Southamton operation and in total, with more than 4,000 truck visits per day at its two UK ports, DP World will support at least 500 trucks to transition to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable fuel with up to 85% less carbon intensity than diesel.

Truck operators will be able to access the HVO at the same cost as diesel, helping remove financial barriers to greater adoption.

The trial will run into 2027 for truck operators who regularly use DP World's UK ports with fully laden import or export containers. The initiative aims to create a pathway for truck operators to transition to fully electric HGVs, which offer zero emissions at the tailpipe. 

 DP World has partnered with fuel providers Certas Energy and New Era Fuels to supply truck operators with low carbon fuel. 

Every truck that visits a DP World UK port with a loaded container more than 90 times over a three-month period will qualify for up to 5,000 litres of HVO per vehicle per port. The low carbon fuel can be accessed either via bulk delivery to fuel tanks at truck operators' yards or via fuel card at UK refuelling station locations.

 John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World, said: "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." 

Richard Smith, Managing Director of the Road Haulage Association, said: "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. 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."

The Low Carbon Truck Programme will be funded by the Energy Transition Contribution which is levied on all Import Laden Containers transiting DP World UK port facilities.

More information is available at https://www.dpworld.com/london-gateway/low-carbon-truck-programme.