The way forward: The transformation of the German toll system
From December 2023, the German toll system will fundamentally change. A new CO2 surcharge then comes into force and the toll rises for each emission class and vehicle type. [spring]. Expanding the toll system to include infrastructure, air pollution, noise pollution and CO2 surcharge will increase toll costs for logistics service providers by up to 83% [spring].
Preparing for the next toll extension
Further changes are foreseeable: Toll changes are planned for natural gas vehicles on January 1, 2024 and for light trucks on July 1, 2024 [spring]. These changes promote the transition to climate-friendly vehicles, which is currently hampered by the limited market availability of zero-emission trucks and the underdeveloped refueling and charging infrastructure.
The toll mechanism and its effects
Toll costs seep through various economic stages to the end consumer and influence product prices at all levels where transportation plays a role. The expected additional revenue from tolls should bring around 30 billion euros to the federal budget between 2024 and 2027 [spring]. In addition, there will be a regular increase in CO2 pricing for fossil fuels by around 5 cents per liter in January 2024.
Effects of tolls on carriers, consumers and small businesses
The toll increase is a significant burden, especially for smaller companies with a fleet of 1 to 5 trucks compared to larger companies. In times of economic downturn, it is particularly difficult to pass on the additional costs of empty runs. Manufacturers and retailers are likely to pass on these additional costs to the end user, with the annual additional costs estimated at around 370€ for a family of four [spring].
Case study: “Muster Saft GmbH” and the toll increase
To illustrate the effects of the toll increase, let's look at “Muster Saft GmbH”, a hypothetical medium-sized company:
- Type of company: Medium-sized beverage retailer that sells its products to grocery stores across Germany
- Annual turnover: 50 million euros
- Fleet size: 20 TRUCKS
- Emission class: Euro 6, >18 & > 5 axles
- Annual mileage per truck: 120,000 kilometers
The financial forecast for “Muster Saft GmbH” is as follows:
- Before the toll increase: The company's annual toll costs are around 456,000€ (at 0.19 €/km).
- After the toll increase: Taking into account the CO2 surcharge, the expected annual toll costs will rise to around 835,200€ (0.348€/km)
This case study highlights a possible increase in annual toll costs of €379,200, which has a significant impact on the company's competitive position and pricing strategy.
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Cargonexx: Transport Management Platform for Efficient Logistics
Cargonexx helps companies such as MusterSaft GmbH to cushion the financial impact of the toll increase:
- Intelligent order bundling: The aim is to reduce the number of kilometers traveled by 20% and thus save around 420,000€ in toll costs annually.
- Optimized route planning: The targeted reduction of toll costs by a further 15% could result in an additional annual saving of 315,000€.
- Accurate toll tracking: Accurate route planning tools for accurate toll cost forecasts that support well-founded budgeting and pricing decisions.
Conclusion and more resources
The upcoming toll increases in Germany underline the need for strategic adjustments in the logistics sector. Advanced tools such as those from Cargonexx can help companies effectively manage the financial impact of these changes and thus promote a more resilient, sustainable and economically viable logistics industry.
For more information, see the following sources:
- Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure: bmvi.de
- European Commission - Mobility and Transport: ec.europa.eu/transport
- Transport Logistic Association (TLA): tla.de
- Cargonexx blog and webinar: cargonexx.com/resources
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