In early September 2024, a consortium of German and Spanish companies, led by the German Automobile Industry Association, initiated a one-year pilot project in Germany to test the EcoDuo transport solution, developed by Schmitz Cargobull. The EcoDuo consists of two semi-trailers connected to a single road tractor, spanning a total length of 31.7 meters. This system has already been successfully trialed in Spain and Scandinavia.
Now, for the first time, Germany will be the stage for this pilot phase, during which the potential benefits of this innovation will be assessed, particularly in terms of reducing carbon emissions and optimizing combined transport efficiency. The primary advantage of the EcoDuo lies in its ability to transport standard-length semi-trailers, which can easily be loaded onto trains. This feature sets it apart from previous long truck combinations, whose non-standard trailer sizes were incompatible with rail transport.
The project envisions regular EcoDuo journeys between Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg factory and the MegaHub in Lehrte, near Hannover, approximately 70 kilometers away. From Lehrte, the semi-trailers will be loaded onto trains and transported over 1,700 kilometers to Spain via Kombiverkehr services. At a transshipment station in Barcelona, the semi-trailers will be reconnected into an EcoDuo combination and driven by road to their final destination.
Global logistics provider Sesé, appointed by Volkswagen, will manage the road-rail transport, collaborating with German transshipment companies Deutsche Umschlaggesellschaft Schiene-Straße and Kombiverkehr. The entire project is overseen by TÜV-Rheinland, ensuring compliance with road regulations and academic standards. The primary objective of this pilot is to assess the efficiency and sustainability of the EcoDuo system.
Volkswagen, in partnership with the various project stakeholders, aims to develop a logistics solution that significantly reduces the environmental impact of road transport, while maintaining the flexibility and efficiency required to manage a complex international supply chain.
Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull, explained: “Unlike previous long truck concepts, existing semi-trailers can continue to be used without costly investments. When modern trailers equipped with the latest axle and brake technologies are used, the EcoDuo meets all safety standards. The EcoDuo combination is ideal for combined transport and directly reduces carbon emissions per ton transported in road traffic.”
Massimiliano Barberis
