Published 04.02.2022

For several decades, Norwegian authorities have repeatedly emphasized the need to move freight transport from road to sea and rail, both to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to lessen the wear on the road network. However, developments in recent years have gone in the opposite direction, despite the authorities' intentions and several supportive measures for greener transport. An important factor behind this development is the strict sulfur emission requirements in the EU directive from 2015, which continue to affect the costs and competitiveness of sea transport. At the same time, the government has allowed both longer and heavier trucks on Norwegian roads, making road transport even more competitive.

In 2015, the EU introduced new sulfur emission requirements for ships, and Norway, as part of the SECA zone (Sulphur Emission Control Area), implemented these. The goal was to reduce air pollution from shipping, but the result has been a significant increase in fuel costs for ships. This has led parts of the business community to find it economically more favorable to shift transport to road, despite the fact that truck transport generates significantly higher emissions per ton-kilometer compared to ships. An analysis by the consulting firm Thema, commissioned by Oslo Port and Norsk Industri, pointed out that these regulations could lead to tens of thousands of extra trucks on the roads annually.

Although environmental requirements have led to cleaner ship fuels, transport costs have risen, which has challenged the competitiveness of sea transport compared to truck transport, especially for short distances. As a result, the directive has had unintended consequences that contradict Norway's own goals for more environmentally friendly freight transport.

Parallel to the economic challenges for sea transport, Norwegian authorities have allowed longer and heavier trucks on Norwegian roads. This was justified by the need to improve the competitive conditions for industry, especially for sectors like forestry and wood processing. However, this change has also increased the strain on the roads, which already have a significant maintenance backlog. According to the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, heavier vehicles are responsible for most of the wear on the road network, leading to higher maintenance costs.

For example, the government has allowed modular trucks that can be up to 25 meters long and weigh up to 60 tons. These large vehicles can transport more goods per trip, but they also contribute to worsening road wear and increasing traffic density, particularly in urban areas and on the main road network. This puts further pressure on a road network that already requires investment and upgrades.

While electric trains and ships are the most environmentally friendly alternatives for freight transport, limited rail capacity and older infrastructure have made it difficult to achieve a real transition. Norway's railway network faces challenges with both capacity shortages and the need for modernization and expansion. For example, there are currently few rail terminals with sufficient capacity to handle a significant increase in freight volumes. Additionally, several of the key routes are congested, leading to delays and logistical challenges for freight operators.

The investments needed to make rail more competitive for freight, both in terms of new capacity and technology, are substantial, and in recent years, developments have largely focused on improving passenger transport. The lack of prioritization of freight transport on rail is therefore hindering the shift from road to rail, which remains an underutilized resource in climate efforts.