NatRoad, the National Road Transport Association says it has welcomed the release of the inaugural International Road Transport Union (IRU) Green Compact Survey Report 2025, describing the data and insights provided from around the world as a help guide the policy direction of a cost-effective and equitable transition to decarbonisation in the Australian road transport industry.
NatRoad CEO, Warren Clark said the report provides evidence-based data for the first time on how Australia’s progress in decarbonising the industry compares on a global scale, particularly the European Union.
“The insights contained in the Green Compact Survey Report give us the opportunity to learn from experiences overseas and get the settings right here so we can achieve the most effective transition to a low carbon future, one that is realistic, achievable and cost-effective for Australia’s road transport operators,” Clark said.
“The journey to decarbonising here in Australia must be economically viable for operators who are already dealing with tight margins and uncertainty around costs, and we will continue our calls for governments here to assist with the transition by engaging with the road freight industry and listening to our concerns.”
One of the key messages from the report is Australia’s road freight industry is facing similar obstacles as operators in other parts of the world.
“The report reflects what we’re seeing locally in terms of the barriers holding operators back, in particular the commercial reality of engaging with new technology, the lack of available infrastructure, and the unwillingness of customers to absorb higher costs associated with decarbonising,” Clark said.
Key findings in the survey report include that 71 per cent of Australian operators are worried about decarbonisation compared with 82 per cent in Europe.
It also revealed that 67per cent of Australian operators aren’t monitoring their carbon emissions, behind Europe where the figure drops to 56 per cent, while .67 per cent of Australian operators said customers’ unwillingness to cover additional costs was a barrier to decarbonising. This compares to 58 per cent for Europe, while 50 per cent regarded infrastructure as not being ready to support new technology as another roadblock.
The report also revealed that Australian operators are running older fleets on average, with half saying their fleet is between five and 15 years old., while only 25 per cent of Australians reported their vehicles were less than five years old, contrasting with Europe where 57 per cent of respondents run vehicles that are five years old or less.
It also revealed that 75 per cent of Australian operators said they planned to continue investing in diesel vehicles.
“It’s important to remember emissions reduction can be achieved with technology and tools we already have. The research data shows us many Australian operators are decarbonising by increasing existing diesel vehicle efficiency,” Clark said.
“Our Get Fleet Fit program was introduced to help the whole industry decarbonise and reduce operational costs with their current diesel fleets through measures like efficient fuel management, maintenance practices, and training drivers to use efficient driving techniques.”
NatRoad’s recent advocacy efforts include a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into cheaper, cleaner energy solutions supporting policies aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices of low-carbon fuels, and a submission to the government with recommended improvements to the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme to make it less complicated and more cost-effective for smaller transport operators to participate in the transition to decarbonisation.
Clark added that he appreciated the effort made by Australian operators to contribute to the Green Compact survey and resulting report.
“It’s encouraging to see the local industry participate in this global survey and make sure our voice is heard. We’ll continue pushing for a transition that’s realistic, achievable and fair for all operators – not just the largest players who can afford early adoption,” he said.
