Purpose: Among a multitude of initiatives that can contribute to decarbonize freight transport (McKinnon, 2018), electrification has surficed as a main strategy (Li et al, 2022). The transition towards electrification has commenced, but in particular for long-haul transportation it is slow. Obstacles to the transition include the price of the new technology, lack of infrastructure and lack of policy incentives. In addition, the technology is new to all actors. This new-ness, together with the acknowledged complexity of the transition to electrified freight proposes learning challenges for all involved actors, for example vehicle manufacturers, haulier firms, logistics service providers and shippers. The necessary knowledge to navigate and operate the freight transport system cannot reside in one single orchestrator of the supply chain, but must be shared among actors, which in turn highlight the need for interaction with the purpose to share knowledge and experiences, and to jointly build new knowledge. 

This paper aims to address how learning among actors in the supply chain can contribute to accelerate the electrification of freight transport.

Design / Methodology / Approach: This conceotual paper presents a framework for describing and analysing learning between actors in a supply chain. The framework takes a stance in a model for organisational learning (Crossan, Lane & White, 1999) adapted to the context of inter-organisational learning. This model will be adapted to the context of electrification of freight based on findings from a range of ongoing research projects into electrification of freight transport. 

Findings: The paper presents a model for describing and analysing learning between organisations in a supply chain. The model is conceptual and is intended to be used for analysing multi-actor learning processes in the context of electrification of freight.

Practical implications: The results of the paper include suggestions for how learning between actors in supply chains can increase, by which the transition towards electrification of freight can be accelerated.

Relevance / Contribution: Supply chain collaboration has only scaresly been analysed with a learning perspective. The application of learning as mechanisms for supply chain integration in a context of ongoing transition suggests that the results are both novel and relevant.