Road freight prices in 2026: causes and steps for shippers

Road freight rates in 2026

European road freight rates rose in 2026, and spot rates rose fastest in the second quarter. In Q2 2026 (April to June), the contract rate index of Upply, Ti and IRU reached 148.0 points. That is 15.2 points, or about 11%, above Q2 2025. The spot rate index reached 146.8 points, up 14.6 points in one quarter.

The benchmark follows rates on 36 main international lanes in Europe. Both indexes are 100 in January 2017. The report for Q3 2026 is due in November 2026 (checked October 2026). Until then, Q2 2026 is the latest benchmark data.

Carriers raised rates because their own costs rose. The table shows the main cost drivers in 2026, with the period and the source for each number.

Diesel prices in 2026

Diesel was the main cost driver in 2026. In Q2 2026, the EU average diesel pump price was 1.91 EUR per litre, 27% more than a year earlier. The figures come from the European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, taxes included.

Diesel stayed expensive after the spring. In Q3 2026, the EU average was 2.03 EUR per litre, 32% more than in Q3 2025. The weekly average reached 2.24 EUR per litre on 28 September 2026, the highest price this year. On 12 October 2026, it was 2.14 EUR per litre, 40% more than a year earlier.

In Lithuania, diesel cost 2.21 EUR per litre on 12 October 2026, according to the same bulletin. That is about 50% more than a year earlier.

Carriers add higher fuel costs to their rates. The CNR index measures the running costs of a long-haul truck. In Q2 2026, it was almost 10% higher than a year earlier, according to the Upply, Ti and IRU benchmark.

Tolls and CO2 charges in 2026

Tolls rose in several EU countries in 2026, and Poland had the largest increase. Polish tolls for a standard Euro 6 truck and semi-trailer rose by 33% in February 2026. Over one year, the increase was 40%, according to the Upply, Ti and IRU benchmark for Q1 2026. By road, trucks between Germany and the Baltic states cross Poland.

Since 1 July 2026, the Netherlands charges a truck toll per kilometre on almost all motorways. The rate depends on the truck’s weight and CO2 emissions.

Drivers and free trucks

Fewer drivers and fewer free trucks also raised rates. In its 2025 survey, IRU found that 13% of truck driver positions in Europe were unfilled, about 502,000 jobs. IRU expects 660,500 European drivers to retire in the next five years. A truck without a driver cannot take a load.

Freight exchanges show the same gap. On the Timocom exchange, freight offers in Q1 2026 were 41% higher than a year earlier. Truck capacity on the exchange was 7% lower. When more loads wait for fewer trucks, carriers can ask higher prices.

Outlook for road freight prices to the end of 2026

The Upply, Ti and IRU benchmark for Q2 2026 expects more upward pressure in the second half of 2026. Carriers add their high costs to rates. Weaker demand from industry may limit the rise, the report says.

In the IRU survey for Q2 2026, 31.9% of respondents expected a large rate increase, up from 4.9% in Q1. Only 4.3% expected rates to fall. EU diesel in Q3 2026 averaged more than in Q2 2026, so the cost pressure continued after the summer.

RNJ Transport uses freight exchanges to find extra trucks. On these exchanges, a load booked at short notice gets a spot price. In Q2 2026, spot rates rose almost twice as fast as contract rates. The steps below help shippers depend less on last-minute spot prices.

Five steps to limit higher freight costs

Shippers cannot change the diesel price or the tolls. They can change how and when they book. The five steps below give carriers more trucks to choose from and fewer empty kilometres. Our guide to booking mistakes lists every detail a carrier needs.

1. 1

   Book earlier

   Book as soon as you know the loading date. At short notice, fewer trucks are free near your loading place, and spot rates rose fastest in Q2 2026.

2. 2

   Give the exact pallet count and weight

   Send the number of pallets, their size, whether they can be stacked and the gross weight. Wrong data can mean a second truck or a new date.

3. 3

   Offer flexible loading days

   If you can load the goods on two or three different days, say so. Flexible dates give us more trucks to choose from.

4. 4

   Agree regular loads on a fixed lane

   For regular loads on the same route, agree the volumes and the price with one company for a longer period. In Q2 2026, contract rates rose more slowly than spot rates.

5. 5

   Combine small orders

   Group small orders into fewer, larger loads. A full truck usually gets a lower price per pallet than several small loads.