Dutch military seeks civilian trucks as fears of Russian offensive grow

The Dutch Ministry of Defense is urgently seeking civilian freight trucks, heavy transport vehicles, and qualified personnel to prepare for potential rapid military deployment in response to escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, AD reports.

The military is expected to announce by July what it will require from Dutch transport companies, according to Defense Ministry officials. In exchange for long-term paid contracts, companies may be asked to supply trucks, low-loaders capable of transporting tanks, and specialized vehicles for hazardous materials such as ammunition.

The push is driven by growing concern over the risk of a sudden Russian military mobilization, particularly in Kaliningrad. Sources told AD that up to 300,000 Russian troops could be assembled there with as little as two days' notice. “Imagine 300,000 Russian troops in Kaliningrad. That makes you nervous,” a defense source told AD. “You won’t know until 48 hours in advance if it’s just an exercise or something much more serious. As a NATO country, you must be able to move large amounts of equipment quickly to that location.”

At present, the Dutch military reportedly lacks both the transport capacity and personnel to carry out such operations on its own. Emergency powers allowing the government to requisition private equipment do not apply unless the Netherlands is officially at war. To address the gap, the Ministry of Defense has been negotiating with logistics companies to ensure the availability of vehicles and personnel during both peacetime and crisis situations.

“This is no longer happening behind closed doors,” one source told AD. “Recently, Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans made an appearance at a business association dinner in the port of Rotterdam. His message was crystal clear: We are not at war, but we are not at peace either. The transport sector is critically important right now.”

Brekelmans, who has been visiting military sites such as Volkel Air Base to reinforce the message, is reportedly working to build trust between the government and the private sector. The ministry is currently drafting a new public tender, expected by July, aimed at bringing more transport companies on board. While the full scope of the request has not been disclosed, insiders allegedly expect the contracts to involve long durations and significant financial commitments.

Van der Vlist, a transport company based in Schelluinen, and Jan de Rijk from Roosendaal are already under contract with the Ministry of Defense. Details of those agreements are confidential, and all parties are prohibited from speaking publicly about them.

Entrepreneurs in the logistics sector now face an unprecedented dilemma. Arnold, a pseudonym for one transport company owner, told AD he had never seriously considered the threat of war or how it might impact his business—until a few weeks ago. He now must decide whether to supply trucks or make employees available to the armed forces.

“That we are even having this conversation is bizarre,” Arnold said. “Few Dutch people want to put on a green uniform and fight, but as business owners, we are willing to roll up our sleeves together.”

Elisabeth Post, chair of Transport and Logistics Netherlands (TLN), the industry’s main trade organization, stressed the importance of rapid mobilization. “If you can’t get the right things to the right place at the right time to protect your security, then we have a problem,” she told AD.

But the challenge goes beyond merely providing trucks. Companies must demonstrate they can meet military needs without interrupting essential services such as supermarket deliveries or hospital logistics. They must also consider the makeup of their workforce, which often includes a high percentage of Eastern European drivers.

“If a Dutch company mainly employs Estonian drivers and something suddenly happens in Estonia, those guys will likely be called up by their own government. Then the trucks here stop moving,” Post said.

A 2023 Defense Ministry market survey underscored the Netherlands’ dependence on foreign drivers. When companies were asked how many trucks they could provide using only Dutch personnel, the number dropped sharply. Available trucks fell from 1,590 to 660. Forklift availability also plummeted—from 600 to 130.

The Defense Ministry is now taking a keen interest in reservists—civilians willing to serve part-time in the military. The ministry is asking logistics companies to identify staff who may be willing to serve as reservists, a role that includes participating in training and potentially being called up for deployment.

Arnold said he has already been asked how many reservists he could supply. “I don’t know of anyone on my team who’s already a reservist. But I understand that the tender will ask how many people you can provide—ten, twenty, maybe more—who are willing to become one.”

That raises the most difficult question: who will drive the trucks if they are needed near or within a war zone? Military transports are considered legitimate targets under international law.

“Can you, as an employer, ask your staff to take that risk?” a defense source asked. “Or do you only hand over the vehicles and let military personnel drive them?”

Arnold is still weighing the decision. “If it’s a training exercise, I dare say we would drive ourselves. But if it’s actual war, that’s different. You can’t guarantee your employees’ safety. We can’t make that decision for them. They have to decide for themselves.”