How DP World’s HVO Trial Cuts Truck Emissions by 90%

DP World has opened its Low Carbon Truck Programme in the UK, targeting the logistics sector’s heavy reliance on diesel with a cleaner alternative.

The scheme, aimed at HGV operators using London Gateway and Southampton ports, combines discounted access to renewable fuel and carbon literacy training in a push to reduce transport emissions.

It focuses on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable diesel substitute that cuts emissions by up to 90% compared with fossil fuels. It offers fleet operators a financial incentive to trial HVO while learning more about supply chain carbon reporting.

The move supports the wider logistics sector as it transitions towards full electrification.

The Low Carbon Truck Programme is structured around port throughput. Any company with HGVs moving through DP World’s Southampton or London Gateway terminals at least 90 times during a three-month window becomes eligible to claim up to 5,000 litres of HVO per vehicle at diesel prices.

The programme caps usage at 50,000 litres or 10 trucks per business per port. Eligibility is tracked through DP World's existing Vehicle Booking System (VBS), the digital tool that manages truck access and terminal scheduling.

HVO is chosen for its compatibility with existing diesel engines, meaning no vehicle modifications are needed. It is already approved by many OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), giving hauliers a ready-made option for carbon reduction. This avoids the cost and downtime associated with vehicle changes while providing near-term emission cuts.

DP World brings fuel suppliers on board as partners, managing the delivery and distribution of HVO once companies enrol. Registration involves signing programme terms, submitting up-to-date vehicle registration data and designating a point of contact.

Once this is complete, the fuel supplier takes over the commercial relationship and begins delivering HVO following each qualifying period.

Training hauliers on emissions

The programme is not just about fuel. DP World also asks participating companies to attend an eight-hour Carbon Literacy training workshop.

The free course is customised for the road freight and logistics sector and focuses on CO₂ reporting, emissions categories, and decarbonisation planning. Its aim is to improve understanding of carbon within logistics operations, particularly around Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions.

Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, like an HGV fleet.

Scope 3 includes indirect emissions, such as those from outsourced transport providers. For cargo owners and freight forwarders, Scope 3 is often the largest source of carbon, and choosing low-carbon transport partners helps reduce their total footprint.

“Cargo owners and freight forwarders can significantly reduce their supply chain Scope 3 emissions if they use trucking companies that participate in the programme,” says John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World.

“This is an innovative first for the container sector and we estimate that more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be reduced each year if all our trucking partners register.

“Our hope is to encourage early adoption as a transitional step towards the eventual goal of electrification. With the forthcoming launch of the new driver welfare facility at Southampton, we’re delighted to be doing more for road hauliers and we’re confident that the trial will mirror the success of our industry leading Modal Shift and Carbon Inset Programmes.”

The trial runs for 28 months and forms part of DP World's wider carbon strategy across its global logistics footprint. The group has already rolled out electric transfer vehicles at its Brisbane port and continues to invest in low-carbon infrastructure across its terminals.

Industry voices back HVO 

The wider haulage industry is supportive of using renewable fuels as an interim solution on the path to zero emissions. According to the Road Haulage Association, HVO plays a practical role while fully electric and hydrogen-powered HGVs remain in limited supply.

“Hauliers want to reduce their emissions and our recent Net Zero Survey highlighted how operators see low-carbon fuels achieving this as an interim step to net zero,” says Richard Smith, Managing Director of Road Haulage Association.

“Appropriately sourced HVO offers a way for them to do this and we welcome DP World’s ‘Low Carbon Truck Programme’ together with the accompanying carbon literacy training to support hauliers on this journey.”

The logistics sector faces a clear challenge. While rail and sea offer lower-emission options, the last leg of freight movement often depends on HGVs. Diesel remains dominant and solutions like HVO give companies a way to begin cutting emissions without disrupting supply chains.

For those interested in joining the trial, DP World makes the process straightforward.

Once companies complete the registration form, agree to terms and submit required vehicle data, the fuel supplier handles the next steps. The HVO allowance is confirmed after each qualifying period, and the business receives support from both DP World and the fuel provider.

The scheme blends practical logistics with environmental targets. It rewards frequent port users with a fuel incentive, raises industry knowledge through education and gives operators a chance to trial a working low-carbon solution.

With logistics emissions under pressure and demand for sustainable freight rising, the Low Carbon Truck Programme puts cleaner fuel directly in hauliers’ tanks.