First electric Scania at Jan de Rijk Logistics

Breda, November 5, 2025 – Jan de Rijk Logistics has taken delivery of the first of a total of seven low-deck Scania electric trucks. This makes the international logistics company the first in the Netherlands to operate this unique configuration. The order is in line with Jan de Rijk’s sustainability strategy, which aims to play a leading role in the electrification of European road transport.

First: low electric tractors
The seven electric Scania trucks ordered by Jan de Rijk are equipped with a low fifth wheel height – a first in the Netherlands. The configuration is particularly suitable for transporting bulk goods in the automotive sector and air freight. “We transport a lot of light goods, and with a low fifth wheel you can carry more volume without exceeding the height restrictions of viaducts. This ensures optimal deployability. We often use the truck in an LZV combination. This allows us to carry an additional 40% of freight, still emission-free,” explains Gerard Vegter (CEO).

The first electric Scania has now been delivered and will be used exclusively for Scania Production Zwolle and Scania Logistics Zwolle. “That makes it extra special: Scania is not only our supplier, but also our customer,” says Vegter. “This truck runs daily on the Rijnsburg–Zwolle route. This also gives the Scania factory a first on its own premises.” The remaining six vehicles will be delivered later and distributed across various fixed routes within the Netherlands and Germany.

Electric driving in practice
The electric tractors are equipped with Scania’s largest battery pack, with an installed capacity of 624 kWh. This allows them to operate effortlessly in daily operations. The regular drivers have undergone special training from Scania to make optimal use of the vehicles. “We want to experience in practice what electric driving means: how it affects our planning, what the charging times are like, and how customers respond to it,” says Vegter. Jan de Rijk now has its own charging park at its headquarters in Roosendaal. The initial experiences with the Scania BEV have been so positive that the company is now in talks with the Scania dealer about possible further expansion.

Sustainability as a structural pillar
Focusing on sustainability is nothing new for Jan de Rijk. The company has been driving trucks with HVO100 vehicles fuel for years and was an early pioneer with the Scania plug-in hybrid. In addition, the fueling stations at the home bases are equipped for HVO100, making it easy for drivers to refuel sustainably. “Many of our customers ask for sustainable solutions. We want to realize that ambition with technology that really works in practice. With tractors running on HVO100 and LZV trailers behind them, we can also carry more freight and reduce our CO₂ emissions by 90%,” emphasizes Vegter.

With the arrival of the electric Scania’s, Jan de Rijk Logistics is once again taking a big step towards emission-free logistics. “We know that the future will be electric – we are contributing to that step by step,” concludes Vegter. “And the fact that we are the first with this low configuration makes us even prouder.”