Long-Distance Freight Trucking in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The long-distance freight trucking industry in the European Union operates as the primary artery of the continental supply chain, moving key industrial and agricultural commodities across national borders. According to Eurostat, the EU road transport sector's share in total regional freight performance reached a peak of 25.7% (generating 1,821 billion tonne-kilometres) in 2024, representing the only major landward mode to experience share growth over the preceding decade. In terms of physical volume, road freight transport within the EU accounted for over 13.1 billion tonnes of goods in 2024, highlighting its massive physical footprint. While the industry continues to handle high volumes, it

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What does the Long-Distance Freight Trucking in European Union industry cover?

The long-distance freight trucking industry in the EU comprises the commercial road transport of goods over medium and long hauls, primarily utilizing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and, increasingly, regulated light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Operations encompass domestic long-haul transit within member states, cross-border international haulage, cross-trade (transport between two EU states by an operator registered in a third), and cabotage (domestic transport within a host country by a foreign operator). The sector's operational range is typically characterized by distance classes exceeding 150 kilometres, with a major portion of performance concentrated in the 150-to-999 kilometre range.

• •In 2024, the distance classes from 150 to 999 km accounted for 1,126 billion tonne-kilometres of EU road freight, showcasing the dominance of medium-to-long hauls.
• •International transport and cross-border movements made up 24.6% of total road freight transport performance in the EU in 2024.
• •The industry operates officially under the European statistical framework NACE Rev. 2 code 49.41 ('Freight transport by road').

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European road haulage sector is highly fragmented, with the vast majority of the EU's active road transport enterprises operating as small-scale businesses or owner-operators. Larger multinational logistics firms act as lead logistics providers or asset-light freight forwarders, orchestrating large-scale sub-contracting networks. Activity is heavily concentrated within a few dominant national economies, with carriers from Central and Eastern Europe commanding a significant portion of international cross-border traffic.

• •Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Italy together accounted for almost two-thirds of the total tonnage transported by road in the EU in 2024.
• •Poland has established itself as a dominant geographical force, transporting more goods by road than any other EU nation.
• •The EU road transport sector counts more than 570,000 active companies, employing approximately 3.3 million people across the bloc.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for long-distance road transport is intrinsically tied to industrial output, construction activity, agricultural yields, and retail distribution networks across Europe. The rapid expansion of regional e-commerce has also driven the need for rapid, reliable freight movement between distribution hubs and regional centers. Different goods dominate road freight depending on whether volume is measured in absolute physical weight or transport performance.

• •In terms of tonnage, 'metal ores and other mining and quarrying products' was the largest product group transported in 2024, accounting for 3,007 million tonnes.
• •Measured in tonne-kilometres, 'food products, beverages and tobacco' was the dominant cargo class in 2024, accounting for 312.2 billion tonne-kilometres.
• •Other key demand drivers include 'grouped goods' (236.5 billion tkm) and 'agricultural products' (207.6 billion tkm).

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

Competition in the EU road freight sector is intense, driven by price transparency, fuel cost fluctuations, and strict service level agreements. Large, publicly listed multinational logistics groups compete directly with specialized regional carriers and major cooperative freight alliances. Industry scale is undergoing significant recalibration as major players leverage strategic acquisitions to expand their domestic and cross-border road networks.

• •DSV A/S is a massive global freight forwarder whose road division constitutes one of Europe's largest road transport networks, further scaled by its acquisition of DB Schenker.
• •DHL Group (Deutsche Post AG) operates extensive European less-than-truckload (LTL) and full-truckload (FTL) networks under its DHL Freight banner.
• •Kuehne + Nagel International AG remains a premier multinational competitor managing asset-light road logistics services across the European continent.
• •STEF Group (STEF SA) is a French publicly traded logistics provider specializing in temperature-controlled food transport, reporting French revenue of €2,398 million in 2024.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The long-distance road freight market is managing a complex transition toward alternative powertrains while absorbing higher operational overheads. The ongoing driver shortage across Europe continues to strain capacity, prompting carriers to invest heavily in modernizing their digital freight-matching and routing platforms to maximize driver utilization. Furthermore, the market faces localized volume fluctuations and changes in average trip lengths, with extremely long-distance routes showing a slight contraction.

• •Extreme long-distance road transport over 2,000 km recorded a decrease of 6.3 percentage points in 2024 compared to 2023.
• •Major operators like XPO, Inc. are actively deploying large-scale electric fleets, such as ordering 165 Renault Trucks electric vehicles for European operations.
• •A soft macroeconomic environment in several Western European countries has caused flat or declining domestic tonnage, partially offset by cross-border cabotage growth.

How is the industry regulated?

The European road transport sector is governed by highly stringent regulatory frameworks targeting labor conditions, market access, and environmental impact. The progressive roll-out of the EU Mobility Package has significantly altered the operating landscape for international haulers. In addition, several member states are shifting from traditional time-based vignettes to distance-based, emissions-correlated road tolls to accelerate decarbonization.

• •Effective July 1, 2026, the EU Mobility Package extends smart tachograph (G2V2) mandates and strict driver rest rules to international vans weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes.
• •The Netherlands replaced its traditional Eurovignette system on July 1, 2026, with a distance-based truck toll for all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
• •Belgium updated its Viapass road charging system in 2026 to include a new CO2-based charging element in its Flanders region to penalize less efficient vehicles.

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

• Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics 2024 ·
• Eurostat Freight Transport Statistics - Modal Split 2024 ·
• International Road Transport Union (IRU) Reports 2026 ·
• EU Mobility Package Legislation and National Road Authority Announcements (Netherlands/Belgium 2026)