The aim of the initiative, developed by Ceva Logistics in collaboration with Avolta, an international group active in travel retail and food services, is to combine environmental sustainability, operational efficiency and technological innovation in road freight transport. The project involves deploying three double trailer trucks, known as Duo Trailers, along the Barcelona-Madrid corridor, powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).
According to estimates, this new model could prevent up to 520 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 180 kilograms of nitrogen oxides from being emitted annually, achieving an efficiency equivalent to removing 440 conventional lorries from circulation. This result is made possible by combining a high-capacity transport configuration with a low-emission alternative fuel. Duo Trailers consist of a tractor unit pulling two semi-trailers, offering a load capacity of up to 70 tonnes per trip.
The service runs three days a week using Duo Trailers, while on the remaining days the same routes are served by articulated lorries also powered by HVO. The pilot project could potentially be extended nationwide. According to the Dirección General de Tráfico, the eighty current permits for Duo Trailers in Spain could help avoid up to 35,200 journeys by traditional articulated lorries each year, saving around 21 million kilometres driven and cutting emissions by over 19,000 tonnes of CO2 and 6,646 kilograms of nitrogen oxides.
From a technical standpoint, Duo Trailers are made up of two 13.60-metre-long semi-trailers connected by a dolly axle that allows for articulation. The full combination reaches a total length of 32 metres and requires prior verification of access points and road infrastructure to ensure safe operation. The service is subject to specific regulations, including continuous access to loading bays, scheduled stops and an annual review of operational costs starting in 2026, taking into account inflation, tolls, taxes and other logistics-related expenses.
