Urban logistics put to the test by low emission zones

19/06/2026
11:17

reading time : 2 min

Lucie Monnot

Content Marketing Manager

The implementation of low emission zones (ZFE-m, zones à faibles émissions mobilité) is causing concern among last-mile logistics players. What are their grievances, and above all what solutions do they recommend to adapt to the constraints of a measure whose validity they all recognize?

What is a low emission zone (ZFE-m)?

Established by the Mobility Orientation Act (LOM) of 2019, low emission zones aim to preserve air quality in the most densely populated areas by banning the circulation of the most polluting vehicles (NOx and fine particles), which are responsible for more than 40,000 premature deaths in France each year.

Under the LOM Act, only 12 metropolitan areas were concerned by the ZFE: Grenoble, Paris (Greater Paris Metropolis), Lyon, Reims, Rouen, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Saint-Etienne, Nice, Aix-Marseille, Montpellier, and Clermont-Ferrand. But as of January 1, 2025, their number will rise to 43 or 45, including ZFE zones in Bordeaux, Lille, Orleans, and Nantes. The Climate and Resilience Act of 2021 made the establishment of a ZFE mandatory in all urban areas with more than 150,000 inhabitants.

How a ZFE-m works

On the ground, the practical translation of ZFE zones is the progressive ban on vehicle circulation based on their Crit’Air sticker, a national classification that takes into account the type of engine and the age of vehicles. Restrictions can vary: some vehicles may be completely banned, while others may only have access at certain times.

The higher the Crit’Air sticker number, the more polluting the vehicle is considered to be. As a result, older diesel vehicles (Crit’Air 4 and 5) are the first to be banned from circulating within ZFE perimeters. At the end of a transition period, which varies by urban area, only Crit’Air 1 vehicles and “zero emission” vehicles (electric and hydrogen) will be permitted.

Vehicles banned from circulation in ZFE-m zones from 2025

From January 1, 2025, vehicles without a Crit’Air sticker, known as unclassified vehicles, will be banned from circulating in low emission zones. This includes:

Petrol and diesel cars registered before 1997 (Euro 1 standard).
Two-wheelers put into circulation before May 31, 2000.
Vehicles whose owner has not applied for a Crit’Air sticker.

Be careful: failure to comply with the rules will result in penalties.

Risks and penalties for non-compliance with ZFE-m rules

Failure to comply with the circulation rules in a low emission zone can result in penalties for drivers. The risks include a fixed fine of 68 euros for passenger cars and 135 euros for heavy goods vehicles, buses, and coaches. These penalties are intended to discourage the use of non-compliant vehicles in ZFE-m zones, where air quality is the priority. Controls will be intensified, and in time, automated control systems may be put in place.

The problem is that these measures directly impact logistics professionals..

The challenges of ZFE-m for professionals

While no one fundamentally questions the principle and purpose of ZFE zones, their implementation conditions are now being strongly criticized, both by citizens and businesses. For all professionals who need to circulate within existing or future ZFE-m perimeters, and especially for urban logistics players, the introduction of ZFE zones translates into an obligation to renew their vehicle fleet within very tight deadlines. Professional transport and logistics organizations denounce 3 main points.

Unworkable timelines

Since the legislator has delegated the implementation of ZFE-m zones to local authorities, each metropolitan area is free to define both the area concerned and the timeline for rolling out circulation bans. As a result, the 12 ZFE zones already in operation follow different and generally overambitious timelines given the actual pace of vehicle fleet renewal.

This is particularly true for the Greater Paris ZFE, whose initial timeline provides for the ban of Crit’Air 3 vehicles from July 1, 2023, followed by Crit’Air 2 vehicles from January 1, 2024. Yet in the current state of the fleet, 13.4% of light commercial vehicles in Greater Paris are classified Crit’Air 3 and 69.8% are Crit’Air 2.

(Source: SDES, Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion)

For Christophe Schmitt, President of the Urban Logistics Commission of the Union of Transport and Logistics Companies, the timelines are simply unrealistic given the time it takes to renew fleets, the insufficient supply of compliant vehicles, and the financial difficulties faced by many companies in the sector.

Inconsistency of rules across local authorities

Each metropolitan area sets its own rules, creating a patchwork of regulations that is very difficult for transport professionals to navigate. A carrier operating across several cities must comply with different perimeters, schedules, and Crit’Air thresholds depending on the area. This lack of harmonization generates additional administrative costs and complicates route planning.

The introduction of additional load breaks

To comply with ZFE-m restrictions, many logistics operators are being forced to introduce additional load breaks on the outskirts of restricted areas. Goods arriving by large vehicles are transferred to smaller, compliant vehicles before entering the zone. This solution, while technically viable, generates additional costs in terms of infrastructure, handling, time, and workforce. It also increases the risk of damage to goods and reduces the overall efficiency of the supply chain.

Solutions for better-organized ZFE-m zones

Proposed solutions

Professionals are calling for several improvements to make ZFE-m zones more workable:

A harmonization of rules at the national level to avoid the current patchwork of local regulations.

More realistic and gradual timelines that are consistent with the actual pace of fleet renewal.

Stronger financial support mechanisms to help companies transition to compliant vehicles, particularly electric and hydrogen models.

Greater collaboration between local authorities and logistics professionals in designing zone perimeters and rules.

The development of urban consolidation centers (logistics hubs on the outskirts of cities) to organize last-mile delivery more efficiently.

Getting support with appropriate software

To navigate ZFE-m constraints more effectively, logistics professionals can rely on route optimization software that integrates ZFE-m zone restrictions. These tools make it possible to automatically exclude non-compliant vehicles from restricted areas, plan routes that avoid ZFE perimeters where necessary, manage mixed fleets with different Crit’Air classifications, and reduce the number of kilometers traveled, thereby lowering both costs and emissions.

Technological innovations for ZFE-m zones

Technological innovation plays a key role in helping the logistics sector adapt to ZFE-m constraints. Several solutions are emerging:

Electric cargo bikes and electric light commercial vehicles are increasingly used for last-mile delivery in urban areas.

Autonomous delivery robots and drones are being tested in several cities as zero-emission alternatives for small parcel delivery.

Shared urban logistics platforms allow several carriers to pool their deliveries in a given area, reducing the total number of vehicles in circulation.

Real-time data and connected fleet management tools help optimize routes dynamically, taking into account traffic, ZFE perimeters, and vehicle compliance status.

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