Review of Oil Demand Restraint Policies for Heavy-goods Vehicles

Abstract

Supply disruptions in the petroleum sector are a major cause for concern as these can lead to large transport fuel price spikes and physical shortages of supply. Transport demand restraint measures can play a role in mitigating the impact of supply shortages by providing increased flexibility for consumers. Heavy-goods vehicles and road freight are highly dependent on fuel availability to maintain the flow of goods within the economy. This article examines measures for reducing fuel consumption in road freight with a focus on potential emergency management measures and the feasibility of fast implementation of demand-side restraints. These include operational, logistical, and rationing allocation policies, which are examined based on their feasibility to be implemented quickly at the onset of a crisis. While no quantitative results are derived, a list of potential demand restraint policies and their likely effectiveness and feasibility is presented based on the review.

Keywords:

• demand restraint
• energy security
• heavy-goods vehicles

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and we thank Klaus Jacoby for his support. The contents of this article reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the accuracy of the paper. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the IEA.

Notes

¹EU regulations, under the Road Transport Directive limit the working hours of lorry drivers. Included in this is a nighttime restriction of no more than ten hours in a day if any work is carried out between 0:00 and 4:00 hours. Other countries have similar regulations of varying degrees of strictness.