Rising fuel costs force local firms to rethink logistics and cut expenses
Small businesses in Verlaine and Waremme are reshaping their delivery routes and considering electric vehicles to offset soaring diesel prices.
At a Verlaine-based electrical-equipment business, Pierre Rouhard highlights that daily operations rely on 15 vans using roughly 3,000 litres of diesel monthly, making fuel price spikes a critical threat to the company's viability. To curb waste, his sister Delphine adjusts client schedules, grouping nearby villages and even re-calling customers to shift appointments, thereby saving time and fuel. Across the border in Waremme, heating contractor Adem has long restricted its service area to a 35-40 km perimeter to keep transport costs from inflating client bills, a rule reinforced by founder Georges Deman.
New manager Maxime Lopez Sanchez acknowledges the universal challenge and is scouting alternatives such as electric vans, though he admits the transition is still premature. Both firms aim to preserve cash flow and protect the livelihoods of the 20-30 families linked to their operations.
