Local Freight Trucking in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The local freight trucking industry in the European Union comprises short-distance, regional road transport services carrying diverse goods within national borders. According to Eurostat, national road freight transport, which includes localized shipping operations, accounted for 61.4% of all EU road freight transport performance in 2024, experiencing a modest increase of 0.8% compared to the previous year. The industry is shifting toward greener fleets and enhanced logistics efficiency, driven by European Green Deal standards and decarbonization initiatives.

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What does the Local Freight Trucking in European Union industry cover?

The sector consists of the transport of goods by road on a local, sub-national, or short-distance basis. While international long-haul transport crosses EU borders, local trucking focuses on regional distribution, last-mile delivery, and national supply chain connections. It covers a wide range of specialized hauling services including temperature-controlled food, bulk agricultural products, and dry goods.

• •Typically operates within distances under 150 km, which Eurostat notes represents a key portion of the domestic distribution network.
• •Includes diverse specialized transport types such as bulk logistics, refrigerated distribution, and heavy specialized haulage.
• •Acts as a critical intermediary, connecting maritime ports and rail terminals with local warehouses and retail centers.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The EU local freight trucking market is highly fragmented, with a vast majority of operators running small fleets of fewer than ten vehicles. Despite the presence of large multinational logistics conglomerates, thousands of regional micro-enterprises and independent owner-operators dominate localized distribution. This structure creates intense price competition and keeps profit margins relatively thin across EU member states.

• •Over 80% of road transport enterprises in the EU are classified as micro-enterprises, operating small commercial vehicle fleets.
• •National haulage accounts for almost two-thirds of the total road freight volume in the EU, standing at 61.4% of total tkm in 2024.
• •Five member states, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Italy, accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total physical tonnage moved by road in the EU in 2024.

What drives demand in the industry?

The primary demand drivers for local freight trucking are regional economic activities, manufacturing volumes, and retail consumption patterns. The expansion of e-commerce has significantly increased the demand for last-mile and localized urban distribution services. Additionally, the transport of consumer staples like food, beverages, and industrial raw materials provides a stable baseline of demand.

• •In terms of transport performance, food products, beverages, and tobacco represented the largest product category, accounting for 312.2 billion tonne-kilometres in 2024.
• •Industrial activity directly influences the transport of 'metal ores and other mining and quarrying products', which was the largest product group by absolute weight at 3,007 million tonnes in 2024.
• •Urbanization and localized retail distribution networks require continuous, daily short-haul truck replenishment cycles.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The market features intense competition between large integrated logistics providers and localized hauling companies. Leading multinational players leverage massive, asset-heavy or asset-light networks to secure contracts with major retail and industrial clients. Notable operators active in this landscape include both diversified transport giants and dedicated road haulers.

• •Deutsche Post AG (operating as DHL Group) runs extensive regional and domestic road networks across all EU Member States.
• •DSV A/S, a global transport and logistics giant based in Denmark, manages massive local and cross-border European road operations.
• •Girteka Group, headquartered in Lithuania, operates the largest asset-based road transport fleet in Europe, including extensive domestic EU services.
• •Waberer's International Nyrt., a major logistics company listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange, is a dominant domestic and regional carrier in Central Europe.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is actively addressing decarbonization through fleet electrification and the adoption of alternative fuels like hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Fleet operators are investing in digital routing systems to optimize vehicle loads, reduce empty runs, and lower fuel expenditures. The ongoing shortage of qualified heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers remains a key challenge for local and regional operators.

• •The shift to zero-emission logistics is accelerating, influenced by the EU's goal to phase out fossil-fuel heavy-duty vehicles by 2050.
• •To combat driver shortages, companies are raising wages and offering regional routes with predictable schedules to improve work-life balance.
• •Short-distance domestic shipping has shown resilience, with EU national road transport growing by 0.8% in 2024 while international road freight declined.

How is the industry regulated?

The EU road transport sector is heavily regulated to ensure fair competition, road safety, and environmental protection. Major compliance areas include strict rules on driver working hours, mandatory tachograph installations, and emission performance standards. Additionally, the Mobility Package regulations govern cabotage (domestic transport within one EU country by a carrier from another) to prevent social dumping.

• •Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 strictly governs maximum daily and weekly driving times, minimum breaks, and daily rest periods.
• •The EU Mobility Package mandates the use of smart tachographs to record border crossings and control cabotage operations automatically.
• •Euro emission standards (such as Euro VI and the upcoming Euro VII rules) enforce stringent limits on nitrogen oxides and particulate matter for newly registered trucks.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics 2024 ·
• European Commission Road Safety and Transport Policy Documentation ·
• European Commission NACE Rev. 2 Structure and Explanatory Notes ·
• Waberer's International Nyrt. Public Disclosures