On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Truck Levy Act. The amendment is necessary because of new European rules and is an important step towards a more sustainable and fairer road network for heavy traffic. For Van der Helm and the entire transport sector, this means looking ahead and preparing.

Why this change is needed now

Although the truck levy law was already passed in 2022, its introduction is not planned until the summer of 2026. In the meantime, European rules have changed, obliging the Netherlands to adapt its legislation accordingly. With this amendment, our national law will soon be in line with the revised Eurovignette Directive.

The amended law introduces, among other things:

• a CO₂ component in the levy;
  
• exemptions for zero-emission trucks;
  
• a return of revenues to the sector, intended for sustainable investments.
  

Attention is also paid to possible diversion of truck traffic to smaller roads. Monitoring of this is done in cooperation with road authorities.

What does this mean for Van der Helm and our customers

The arrival of a CO₂ component makes it clear that sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in transport policy. At Van der Helm we have long been working on more efficient and cleaner transport, for example by using alternative fuels, optimizing routes and smart bundling of loads.

The exemptions for zero-emission vehicles and the recoupment scheme offer prospects for further sustainability. At the same time, we are keeping a close eye on implementation and final costs.

Proceedings of the debate in the House

The debate on March 26 showed that a parliamentary majority favored the change. NSC, GroenLinks-PvdA, VVD and D66 voted in favor. PVV and BBB were critical. The PVV submitted a motion about the risk of freight traffic swerve onto provincial roads, but according to Minister Madlener, monitoring is already in place for this.

There were also questions about implementation costs, charging infrastructure and the use of extra-long trucks. The minister made commitments on several points.

We’ll keep you posted

At Van der Helm we closely follow the developments surrounding this law. We continue to invest in future-proof logistics and like to think along with you about what these changes mean for your transport.

Want to learn more about the impact of the truck levy on your shipments or look at sustainable alternatives together? Feel free to contact us.