New Road Tax: - No One Would Survive If the Bill Wasn't Passed On

A new road tax will hit trucks on Danish roads from January 1st. Initially, it concerns vehicles over 12 tons, and the rules only apply to 10,900 kilometers out of the Danish road network's 75,000 kilometers.

There has been massive criticism of the law, but now it comes into effect this Thursday. At Sax-Trans in Sakskøbing, they have been working all December to get boxes installed that can register everything in the trucks.

And when you ask the director at Saxtrans, Peter Flensted Rasmussen, about the new rules, it's hard not to hear the sigh that comes.

- We have raised the prices and passed the bill on. The costs for this are so large that we would have to close down if we didn't. No one in the industry would survive if they didn't, he says.

At Sax-Trans, they have 55 trucks over 12 tons, which are affected immediately. And from 2027, it will also apply to smaller vehicles over 3.5 tons. And from 2028, on the entire road network of 75,000 kilometers.

- We encounter great understanding among our customers about the situation. But of course, there are some grumpy faces around, says Peter Flensted Rasmussen.

Trucks emit approximately 1.7 million tons of CO₂ per year today, and the purpose of the new tax is to get more green trucks on the roads. The expected reduction in 2030 is 0.4 tons of CO₂.

Here are the points of criticism

1. Increased costs: The tax especially pressures small and medium-sized transport companies.
2. Higher prices: Expected to lead to more expensive goods for consumers.
3. Unequal competition: Foreign trucks risk getting off cheaper.
4. Control issues: Effective collection and control of foreign vehicles is uncertain.
5. Geographical imbalance: Rural areas are hit harder due to dependence on road transport.
6. Small CO₂ effect: The expected reduction of 0.4 million tons in 2030 is criticized as modest.
7. Job losses: The industry fears fewer orders and cutbacks.

Sources: ITD, Dansk Erhverv, Lastbilmagasinet.