The recent years have been very challenging, both in terms of the future of the economy and consumer behavior. The Estonian economy has been on a downward trend for quite some time, and it seems that tough times in the economy will likely persist for a while. Despite these challenging times, at ACE Logistics, we have put forth our best efforts to maintain the quality of our services and assist our customers in successfully transporting their goods.
One of the major cost components for our transportation service is fuel, and due to its exceptional volatility, we had to implement a fuel surcharge for road transport services in the spring of 2022. When applying the fuel surcharge, we differentiated it in calculations for terminal transport services (aceFlex, aceSpeed, aceB2C, etc.) and for partial and full loads (LTL/FTL service). However, up to this point, the costs of terminal transportation (including the share of fuel) have increased significantly more than we initially predicted in our calculations. New sustainability regulations affecting shipping companies will come into effect in the new year, leading to higher freight prices.
To compensate these additional costs, we have decided to implement a common fuel surcharge calculation procedure, effective January 1, 2024. The fuel surcharge for terminal transport will be equal to the fuel surcharge for partial and full loads (LTL/FTL service). As the price of diesel fuel has decreased in recent months, we do not expect a significant change in the current level of the fuel surcharge for terminal transport. We will publish the January fuel surcharge in the last week of December on the ACE Logistics website and in the e-ace environment.
For clients, the principles of responsible management (ESG) and sustainable practices, along with the reduction of environmental impact, are becoming more and more important when choosing a transport partner. We confirm that ESG principles are important for ACE Logistics, and therefore, we have formed a working group within the company to lead environmental projects. As a notable change, ACE Logistics plans to transition an increasing portion of its Baltic collection and distribution transports to diesel fuel based on renewable raw materials.
Starting from December 1, 2023, Germany’s toll system (MAUT) underwent significant changes with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector. ACE Logistics decided not to apply any surcharges to the valid price lists until the end of 2023. However, from January 1, 2024, surcharges will apply to all shipments to Germany and shipments passing through Germany, including those from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, England, and Ireland. The surcharge is applied to terminal and LTL/FTL transports based on the chargeable weight, taking into account mainly mileage in Germany. Detailed price supplements are available in the e-ace environment. From January 1, 2024, we automatically include price supplements in the calculations, making it most convenient to calculate prices using the e-ace price calculator. For more detailed information, please contact your customer representative or write to road@ace.ee.
Starting from January 1, 2024, there will also be a change in the customs clearance for third countries. Instead of the previous additional page of the declaration (which contained 3 product names), a fee will now apply for each declared product name. For more detailed information, please contact your customer manager or write to cl@ace.ee.
We appreciate your understanding and co-operation!
We wish you peaceful holidays!
ACE Logistics
