Air France KLM teams up with Jan de Rijk on biofuel truck

Air France KLM Martinair (AFKLMP) Cargo and Jan de Rijk Logistics have teamed up on the use of biofuel-powered truck.

The new Long Heavy Vehicle (LHV) will be run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil 100 (HVO100) and also offers a larger capacity to reduce the amount of driving.

This new fuel, HVO, also known as “blue diesel”, can reduce CO₂ emissions by as much as 89%, the partners said.

Meanwhile, the larger capacity means the truck can carry six ULDs instead of the usual four.

“This means that using an LHV for two trips saves an entire truck trip, therefore substantially reducing CO₂ emissions as well,” AFKLMP Cargo explained.

The LHV will be utilised on trucking services between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Frankfurt am Main, aroute selected because of the high volume of cargo transported between the two hubs.

Adriaan den Heijer, executive vice president Air France KLM Cargo & managing director Martinair, said: “To achieve greater sustainability, we in the logistics sector are especially aiming to forge alliances to promote innovative and effective solutions.

“I’m therefore extremely proud of our partnership with Jan de Rijk Logistics in creating this sustainable combination of an LHV powered by HVO, specially developed for air cargo. This initiative contributes towards our goal of reducing CO₂ emissions further.”

Fred Westdijk, chief executive of Jan de Rijk Logistics, added: “We’re extremely proud of AFKLMP Cargo for being the first airline to join us to invest in further reducing CO₂ emissions.

“Jan de Rijk Logistics has actively promoted the use of Long Heavy Vehicles (LHVs) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in recent years and is pleased to welcome AFKLMP Cargo as a ‘first mover.

“Now that the first airline has joined us, we hope that others will follow soon to reduce the impact on our climate.”