European Road Freight Transport 2026

European Road Freight Transport 2026: The definitive market report on Europe’s road freight sector - sizing the market to 2030, tracking freight rate dynamics, and profiling the operators reshaping the competitive landscape.

European road freight returned to growth in 2025, reaching €440,388m - but recovery is uneven, and 2026 brings a tougher backdrop. Ti’s European Road Freight Transport 2026 report covers market size and forecasts to 2030, freight rates, competitive landscape, AI adoption, and profiles of 10 major operators.

Essential reading for: logistics providers, shippers, investors, and technology vendors navigating a market reshaped by consolidation, rising costs, and AI adoption.

FAQ:

• How big is the European road freight market in 2026?
  • The market reached €440,388m in 2025 and is forecast to grow to €447,638m in 2026, reaching €483,468m by 2030.
• Is the European road freight market growing?
  • Yes, but growth is slower and less secure than headline figures suggest - structurally driven rather than cyclical, with international freight only now recovering after two years of contraction.
• Which European countries have the fastest-growing road freight markets?
  • Spain and Poland are growing at more than twice the rate of Germany, France, and Italy.
• Why are road freight costs rising in 2026?
  • Fuel prices are up 26% since end-2025, driver vacancies stand at 12.1%, and tolls and compliance costs are both rising - making cost pass-through, not efficiency, the key lever for margin.
• Why are contract rates rising while spot rates fall?
  • Contract rates rose in Q1 2026 even as spot rates softened, as carriers recover structural costs through longer-term agreements rather than the spot market.
• What is driving M&A in European road freight?
  • Consolidation is being driven by operators seeking scale and cost discipline, headlined by DSV's acquisition of DB Schenker and CEVA Logistics' acquisition of Borusan Tedarik.
• How is AI being used in road freight?
  • 85% of identified AI use cases are now live rather than pilots, led by route optimisation, real-time visibility, and driver-support tools.
• Is autonomous trucking widely used in Europe yet?
  • No - it remains early-stage compared to agentic software, constrained by regulatory and safety barriers.
• How will the end of the EU's de minimis exemption affect road freight?
  • From July 2026, its abolition will push cross-border parcel flows toward bulk, in-EU fulfilment models.
• Which companies are profiled in the report?
  • CEVA Logistics, DACHSER, DHL Group, DSV A/S, FedEx, GEODIS, KUEHNE+NAGEL, LKW WALTER, RHENUS, and XPO Inc.

Use the research for:

• Support your strategic planning & identify growth opportunities.
• Evaluate M&A activity & capture investment opportunities.
• Compare & benchmark supply chain strategies & performance.
• Support fleet & technology decision making.
• Navigate & understand policy & regulation developments.
• ​Assess supply chain risk & anticipate challenges.
• Identify promising start-ups & innovative technologies.