Logistics Sector Issues: Still Reliant on Trucks

JAKARTA – The national logistics sector’s reliance on truck-based land transport remains very high, even amid pushes for energy transition and vehicle electrification. Dimas Fadhil, Urban Mobility Manager at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia, revealed that nearly 90 per cent of logistics distribution in Indonesia still relies on truck transport. He explained that the national truck population is only about 4 per cent of the total motor vehicles. However, its contribution to transport sector emissions is very significant, exceeding 40 per cent. This means that, despite their small numbers, trucks are the largest contributors to emissions in the transport sector. This situation provides a strong rationale for more serious policy interventions. On the other hand, efforts to electrify goods vehicles cannot stand alone. Dimas emphasised the importance of a comprehensive approach through the “avoid, shift, and improve” concept, namely distribution efficiency, shifting to modes such as rail and sea vessels, and improving vehicle technology. According to him, improving industrial area spatial planning and reducing empty loads are also important factors in reducing the logistics burden. For long distances, alternative modes like rail and sea vessels are considered more efficient and low-emission. “Electrification is indeed important, but it must be viewed within a broader framework. There are spatial planning issues, logistics efficiency, and also the utilisation of other more environmentally friendly modes,” said Dimas.