As the push towards a zero emissions future ramps up the road transport industry remains a key target for governments, clients and environmental groups.
At the Alternative Fuel Summit held this week in Victoria the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) launched its Greenstar Transition Pathway Program to help operators find their way forward.
The program is designed to support the transport industry in its vital decarbonisation journey by offering education, resources and tailored transition frameworks to help fleet operators adopt low and zero-emission technologies.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson highlighted the importance of Greenstar, emphasising its potential to drive substantial change in environmental sustainability within the transport sector.
“Greenstar is a game-changer for heavy vehicle operators. By equipping fleets with the tools, training and technologies they need to decarbonise, we can significantly reduce carbon footprints while improving operational efficiencies,” Anderson says.
“Greenstar provides a clear pathway for operators to embrace alternative fuels and innovative technologies, ensuring they are ready to meet government emissions targets and contribute to a greener future.”
Greenstar is a comprehensive four-year initiative that will be rolled out in three key phases, starting with educating and measuring, as the program equips operators with the knowledge and tools to monitor fuel consumption, reduce emissions and identify operational efficiencies.
Then, it’ll aim to reduce carbon footprint by offering technical support and programs to help operators implement best practices and adopt greener technologies, before providing transition support and assisting fleets in adopting alternative fuel vehicles with tailored transition frameworks and partnerships with green fuel companies.
The launch was a highlight of the VTA Alternative Fuel Summit, which brought together experts from government, industry, academia and regulatory bodies to address critical challenges in decarbonising freight transport. The program featured insights on the cost of transition, alternative fuel case studies, keeping pace with regulation and targets, and the support needed to accelerate the transition.
“The Summit demonstrated the collective will of our industry to tackle the challenges of decarbonisation head-on. The support of sponsors Viva Energy Australia and CMV Truck & Bus were instrumental in making this event possible,” Anderson says.
“Their commitment underscores the collaborative effort needed to ensure a sustainable future for transport.”
Major event partners and speakers, including Victorian Minister for Freight & Ports Melissa Horne, and representatives from Swinburne University, Freight Victoria, Volvo Trucks, Daimler Trucks and others, showcased real-world applications of alternative fuel technologies and shared strategies for navigating the transition with confidence.
With Greenstar, the VTA aims to transition over 5,000 heavy vehicles to alternative fuels within the program’s first four years, achieving immediate reductions in fuel consumption and emissions while driving long-term adoption of green technologies.