Logistics News
Polish Road Freight Faces Major Change as Europe’s Transport Market Evolves
Poland remains one of the most important players in European road freight. According to Eurostat, Polish operators accounted for around 32% of the EU’s international road freight transport performance in 2025 - the largest share of any Member State.
But scale alone is no longer enough to secure a comfortable position in the market. EFL’s new -Ciężarówka na rozdrożu- report shows that European heavy transport is entering a period where competitiveness increasingly depends on technology, workforce availability and the ability to adapt quickly.
The most immediate challenge is the shortage of drivers. IRU estimates that around 502,000 truck driver positions remain unfilled across Europe, while approximately 660,000 existing drivers are expected to retire by 2030. In Poland, only around 1.5% of truck drivers are under 25.
The impact is already visible. European operators increasingly report difficulties accepting additional contracts because there are simply not enough professional drivers available.
Technology is becoming another dividing line. Industry data referenced in EFL’s analysis indicate that around 64% of European fleets use AI for route planning. Some 69% of companies using these technologies reported shorter delivery times, while 61% achieved a return on investment within a year.
At the same time, environmental standards, driver working-time rules and customer expectations for real-time visibility are becoming more demanding. Competing primarily through lower rates is therefore becoming increasingly difficult.
For businesses purchasing transport services, these changes matter directly. Limited vehicle and driver availability can affect both freight rates and transit times, particularly during periods of high demand. Earlier booking and realistic route planning are becoming increasingly important.
LOADSTAR follows developments across the European freight market and plans shipments around available capacity, route restrictions and current operating conditions.
But scale alone is no longer enough to secure a comfortable position in the market. EFL’s new -Ciężarówka na rozdrożu- report shows that European heavy transport is entering a period where competitiveness increasingly depends on technology, workforce availability and the ability to adapt quickly.
The most immediate challenge is the shortage of drivers. IRU estimates that around 502,000 truck driver positions remain unfilled across Europe, while approximately 660,000 existing drivers are expected to retire by 2030. In Poland, only around 1.5% of truck drivers are under 25.
The impact is already visible. European operators increasingly report difficulties accepting additional contracts because there are simply not enough professional drivers available.
Technology is becoming another dividing line. Industry data referenced in EFL’s analysis indicate that around 64% of European fleets use AI for route planning. Some 69% of companies using these technologies reported shorter delivery times, while 61% achieved a return on investment within a year.
At the same time, environmental standards, driver working-time rules and customer expectations for real-time visibility are becoming more demanding. Competing primarily through lower rates is therefore becoming increasingly difficult.
For businesses purchasing transport services, these changes matter directly. Limited vehicle and driver availability can affect both freight rates and transit times, particularly during periods of high demand. Earlier booking and realistic route planning are becoming increasingly important.
LOADSTAR follows developments across the European freight market and plans shipments around available capacity, route restrictions and current operating conditions.
