Finnish transport firms now required to plan for societal crises as EU directives tighten

A decade ago, Finnish truck drivers never had to consider how fuel shortages or geopolitical conflicts might disrupt their routes—today, crisis preparedness has become central to the industry’s daily operations, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The shift follows years of upheaval, from the coronavirus pandemic to regional wars, which have forced logistics companies to rethink resilience while elevating the sector’s role in maintaining societal function. “Before, you just drove to the station and filled up. No one worried about where fuel would come from,” said Kimmo Nykänen, emergency preparedness chief at the Finnish Transport and Logistics (SKAL) advocacy group. “Now, logistics is recognized as the backbone of every supply chain.”

New EU regulations will soon formalize these demands. The Critical Entities Resilience (CER) directive, set to take effect in Finland by July 17, 2026, mandates that authorities identify and bolster critical infrastructure—including transport and logistics—against disruptions. Firms designated as essential will face stricter continuity planning and oversight.

At RL-Trans, a 70-year-old family-run haulage firm in Ostrobothnia, the changes are already visible. The company, now in its third generation under Matts Lindedahl, moves raw materials for plastics, agriculture, and process industries—sectors deemed vital to national preparedness. “We used to joke that a truck only needed one working brake,” Lindedahl said. “Now we’re mapping how to keep operations running if a crisis hits. That wasn’t even a conversation before.”

Fuel supply remains a key vulnerability. Lindedahl cited the ongoing Middle East conflict as a potential flashpoint: “Without fuel, these trucks don’t move. We’ve sketched contingency plans, but nothing concrete yet.” Still, he insisted the firm could adapt to sustain critical deliveries even in wartime.

Nykänen emphasized that preparedness isn’t just about aiding authorities—it’s about ensuring businesses can function so civilian life continues. “The goal is to keep society running, no matter what,” he said.

RL-Trans, which operates 350 vehicles and up to 8,000 square meters of storage for strategic goods, exemplifies the sector’s growing role. As SKAL marks its 90th anniversary this weekend, Nykänen expects crisis resilience to dominate discussions among members.