Transport group dismisses proposed diesel tax cut as too small

Finland’s proposed 3.3-cent-per-litre reduction in the fuel tax on diesel used for professional transport would do little to improve companies’ finances, Rahtarit chairman Juha Nyberg told Yle.

The Ministry of Finance’s consultation on the proposal ended on Tuesday. Nyberg said the reduction would have little effect on the profitability of transport companies, which use thousands of litres of fuel.

“You can calculate it yourself. Filling a 500-litre tank at a little over two euros per litre costs more than 1,000 euros. A 3.3-cent reduction would cut the price of that filling by less than 20 euros. It is far too little,” Nyberg said.

Road maintenance remains a concern

The transport sector is also concerned about the condition of Finland’s roads. Jari Välikangas, chairman of the Finnish Transport and Logistics Association SKAL, said there were few promises of improvement as the government focuses on balancing public finances.

“Decision-makers are worried about how to put public finances in order. They are considering savings measures and, in no way, making investments. When you start saving too aggressively, you can end up shooting yourself in the foot, as has happened with the condition of the road network,” Välikangas said.

Välikangas said transport sector advocacy was highly visible and carried out continuously, despite the sector’s concerns already receiving public attention. He added that transport organisations cooperate in their lobbying efforts because a joint message is stronger.

Rahtarit is active across Finland in discussions with municipalities, cities and regions, Nyberg said. However, he said the sector’s concerns were not always heard by local authorities.

Local groups support regional advocacy

Logistics companies’ assessments of their operating conditions vary by region, according to the 2023 and 2025 Logistics Surveys. The report focuses on the current situation of logistics in Finland and was first published in 1992.

The 2025 survey found that companies in Kainuu, Central Ostrobothnia, and North and South Karelia considered their operating conditions the weakest. Companies in Pirkanmaa, Päijät-Häme, Kanta-Häme and Uusimaa gave the strongest assessments.

Nyberg and Välikangas acknowledged regional differences in transport conditions and advocacy but said the work was carried out equally across Finland. Välikangas said SKAL’s local associations helped ensure that information reached local decision-makers in different regions.

Nyberg said rest areas for heavy vehicles were among the most difficult issues in regional advocacy. Municipalities and cities may lack either the willingness or the resources to include such areas in their land-use planning.

Drivers must comply with driving and rest-time regulations, Nyberg said. More rest areas are needed to allow them to take their required breaks somewhere other than along the street network.