Second call for the Logistics Efficiency Promotion Project closes at 5 p.m. on November 19; relay trucking addedMoney is available for projects that move freight by handing it over partway
On November 2, MLIT announced the start of the second call for applications under the FY2026 Logistics Efficiency Promotion Project (a subsidy program). The second call adds two forms of support for relay trucking operations based on an approved relay transport implementation plan: (1) support for the cost of drawing up the plan, and (2) support for first-year operating costs of an approved project. Applicants must be a council made up of shippers, logistics operators and other parties involved in logistics. Applications must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19.
Key points
- The application period runs from Monday, November 2, 2026 to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2026, and documents must arrive by that time
- Eligible applicants are councils made up of shippers, logistics operators and other parties involved in logistics
- Newly added in the second call are (1) support for plan formulation costs and (2) support for first-year operating costs of an approved relay trucking project
- For plan formulation projects, the subsidy is a fixed amount up to JPY 2 million plus up to one-half of costs capped at JPY 3 million, for a total ceiling of JPY 5 million; for other projects it is up to one-half capped at JPY 5 million plus up to two-thirds capped at JPY 5 million, for a total ceiling of JPY 10 million
- Applications are submitted to the District Transport Bureau that covers the main area of the project plan
What to do in practice
- Settle the make-up of the council and a draft project plan early, and confirm the submission point and forms with the District Transport Bureau that covers your area
- Because documents must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, work backwards to check that postal delivery or hand delivery will arrive in time
When freight travels a long distance by truck, one driver does not have to take it all the way. Instead, the load can be handed over to another driver partway along the route. This is called relay transport. On November 2, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism opened the second round of a program that pays part of the cost of such efforts. Applications can be made by a council, a group formed by the companies that ship goods and the companies that carry them. Applications close at 5 p.m. on November 19.
- 1. GatherThe companies that ship goods and those that carry them form a council
- 2. PlanThey draw up a plan setting out how the hand-over will work
- 3. SubmitThey file the documents with the District Transport Bureau covering the area
- 4. DeadlineSend it so that it arrives by 5 p.m. on November 19
Points
- Relay transport means carrying a long-distance load by handing it from one driver to the next
- From this round, the cost of drawing up the plan and the first year of running the service can be supported
- Applications run from November 2 until 5 p.m. on November 19
What the words mean
- Relay transport
- A way of carrying freight in which the load is handed over to another driver partway along the route
- Council
- A group in which several companies and other parties involved come together to discuss and decide things
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT): MLIT: Start of the second call for applications under the FY2026 Logistics Efficiency Promotion Project (subsidy program)
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