The company has managed to offset the losses caused by the crisis thanks to a major increase in air transport. However, the government's fiscal plans are raising concerns with the management of the Luxembourgish enterprise.
According to the financial director of Transports Arthur Welter, Ben Frin, the company had hoped that the sector, which has had a bad reputation until now because of the pollution and noise its lorries produce, would have benefited from public awareness that it is in fact of crucial importance to the functioning of society. Frin stated that they do not understand why authorities are now planning to "punish them" with new taxes and additional excise duties after the end of the lockdown.
More specifically, the company is worried about the increase in excise duty of up to 5 cents on the price of diesel.
The measure was initially planned for this spring but will probably be postponed until next year. This in addition to the CO2 tax, which is also planned for 2021. In total, these measures would cost approximately €1 million more, a cost that would be very difficult for the company to bear.
Transports Arthur Welter has a fleet of 450 40-ton trucks and 400 smaller lorries, as well as an electric van that is hardly ever used. The company makes use of the most modern technologies, e.g. in the construction of the new warehouse in Dudelange or the renewal of its lorries every four years.
A permanent concern for durability which does however not replace diesel-powered lorries whose electric versions are either far too expensive or not advanced enough. The same is true for lorries that run on hydrogen.
This is why the company thinks that it is being sanctioned without having any alternative options to choose from.
However, the numbers do not lie: 60% to 70% of all CO2 emissions in Luxembourg stem from road transport. Without adequate measures, the country will find it very difficult to meet its climate targets.
The Ministry of Energy reacted to the sector's questions on Monday afternoon, and would be ready to hear the grievances of the logistics sector at the end of the summer.
The Ministries of the Environment and the Economy have both announced their willingness to participate in the discussions as well.
