Future of FReight
Scotland’s freight system is polluting, inefficient, and overlooked — we must explore better ways of moving goods that better support Scotland’s economy, public health, and the climate.
How do we move goods better? A discussion in Parliament
Freight keeps Scotland moving. Whether it’s supermarket shelves being stocked, construction materials delivered to site, or parcels arriving at our doors. But the way we move goods today is taking a toll: on our roads, on our towns and cities, and on the people who live in them.
Last-mile deliveries, mostly by vans and light trucks covering short distances, are increasingly clogging urban areas, adding to congestion and pollution.
Meanwhile, cross-border freight by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) remains dominant, but there’s a huge untapped opportunity to shift much of this freight onto rail. With a typical freight train carrying the equivalent of 76 HGVs, rail freight can significantly reduce road traffic, lower emissions, and cut road damage. Within Scotland, over 50 million tonnes of freight travel more than 100km – mostly by road – but rail currently captures only a small fraction of this market.
For international freight, there are clear opportunities to further reduce truck traffic by shifting more international goods to sea and rail rather than road or air.
The Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Sustainable Transport led an inquiry into the Future of Freight, to explore how to build a smarter, cleaner, and more efficient freight system for Scotland’s economy, environment, and communities. Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections, Transform (as secretariat for the Group) set out a series of recommendations for the Scottish Government.
Find out more about the CPG’s work here and check for upcoming meetings here.
Cross Party Group
Transform Scotland provides the secretariat for the Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Group on Sustainable Transport.
7 steps to cleaner freight: A plan from the Sustainable Transport Cross Party Group
1 April 2026
The Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Sustainable Transport inquiry has set out a seven-point plan to clean up Scotland’s supply chains, from zero-emission zones in city centres to reinstating…
How do we move goods more sustainably? A new focus for transport Cross Party Group
12 August 2025
Following a series of inquiries this parliamentary session into traffic reduction, public transport electrification, and inequalities in transport, the Cross-Party Group on Sustainable Transport is turning its attention to a…