Road Transport Price Per Km in Europe 2025
How much does road freight cost per kilometre in Europe? This guide covers FTL and LTL rates on key corridors, country-level benchmarks, and the factors that drive pricing.
Key Corridor Rates
FTL and LTL rates per km on major Spain export corridors. LTL rates are expressed per LDM-km equivalent.
| Corridor | Distance | FTL €/km | LTL €/km (per LDM) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain → Germany | 1,700–2,200 km | €1.05–€1.28/km | €0.095–€0.115/km (per LDM) | Via Lyon A9 or Irun |
| Spain → France | 650–1,400 km | €1.10–€1.40/km | €0.085–€0.110/km (per LDM) | Via Le Perthus or Irun |
| Spain → Italy | 900–1,800 km | €1.00–€1.25/km | €0.100–€0.140/km (per LDM) | Via Frejus or Barcelona Sea |
| Spain → Poland | 2,300–3,000 km | €1.00–€1.20/km | €0.080–€0.100/km (per LDM) | Via DE transit |
| Spain → UK | 1,150–2,600 km | €1.30–€1.65/km | €0.110–€0.145/km (per LDM) | Includes Channel crossing |
| Spain → Switzerland | 1,050–1,600 km | €1.15–€1.45/km | €0.100–€0.130/km (per LDM) | Non-EU customs process |
| Spain → Netherlands | 1,700–2,000 km | €1.00–€1.20/km | €0.088–€0.108/km (per LDM) | Via FR/BE transit |
| Spain → Belgium | 1,450–1,750 km | €1.05–€1.25/km | €0.090–€0.110/km (per LDM) | Via FR transit |
| Spain → Romania | 2,500–3,200 km | €0.90–€1.10/km | €0.070–€0.090/km (per LDM) | Via HU/AT transit |
| Spain → Portugal | 200–700 km | €1.40–€2.10/km | €0.110–€0.160/km (per LDM) | Iberian Peninsula |
Domestic FTL Rates by Country
Average domestic FTL rates per km within each country. Spot rates reflect current market; contract rates reflect annual tender agreements.
| Country | Spot Rate | Contract Rate | Fuel Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €1.10–€1.40/km | €0.95–€1.20/km | 18–22% |
| France | €1.05–€1.35/km | €0.92–€1.18/km | 16–20% |
| Italy | €1.00–€1.30/km | €0.88–€1.15/km | 16–21% |
| Spain | €1.00–€1.25/km | €0.85–€1.10/km | 15–19% |
| Poland | €0.80–€1.05/km | €0.70–€0.92/km | 14–18% |
| Netherlands | €1.15–€1.45/km | €1.00–€1.25/km | 17–22% |
| Belgium | €1.10–€1.40/km | €0.95–€1.20/km | 17–21% |
| Switzerland | €1.50–€1.90/km | €1.30–€1.70/km | 19–24% |
| Romania | €0.75–€1.00/km | €0.65–€0.88/km | 14–17% |
| United Kingdom | €1.30–€1.65/km | €1.15–€1.45/km | 20–26% |
| Sweden | €1.20–€1.55/km | €1.05–€1.35/km | 18–23% |
| Austria | €1.10–€1.40/km | €0.95–€1.20/km | 17–21% |
Factors Affecting Cost Per Km
| Factor | Impact | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Direction imbalance | +10–25% | Empty return legs on popular import corridors increase rates going the other way. |
| Seasonality (Q4 peak) | +8–20% | Pre-Christmas demand surge drives rates up from October to mid-December. |
| Cargo type | +5–35% | Dangerous goods (ADR), temperature-controlled, and oversized loads attract surcharges. |
| Toll roads | +3–12% | Heavy-vehicle tolls in FR, DE, CH, AT, IT are typically included in the base rate but vary. |
| Distance band | −15–25% | Longer hauls (>1,500 km) achieve better per-km rates due to fixed cost dilution. |
| LTL vs FTL | −30–60% | FTL rates per km are typically 40–60% lower than equivalent LTL rates per km. |
LTL vs FTL: Cost Per Km Comparison
When comparing LTL and FTL on a per-km basis, it is important to understand how each is priced. FTL rates are straightforward: the total truck cost divided by distance gives the cost per km. LTL rates, however, are priced per loading metre (LDM), so the effective cost per km depends on how much truck space your cargo occupies.
For example, a 2 LDM shipment on a 1,700 km corridor at €160/LDM costs €320 total, or roughly €0.19/km for that cargo share. A full truck (13.6 LDM) on the same corridor at €1.15/km would cost approximately €1,955 total.
As a rule of thumb, if your cargo fills more than 60–70% of a truck, FTL becomes more economical on a per-km basis. Below that threshold, LTL groupage offers better value because you share the truck cost with other shippers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average road transport cost per km in Europe in 2025?
The average road transport cost per km in Europe in 2025 is approximately €1.10–€1.90/km for full truckload (FTL) shipments and €0.35–€0.90/km for LTL (part-load) when the full truck distance is divided by the cargo share. Rates vary significantly by corridor, direction (loaded vs. repositioning), fuel surcharge, and seasonal demand.
How much does it cost to transport a pallet from Spain to Germany per km?
A single EUR pallet (0.4 LDM) from Barcelona to Munich (~1,720 km) costs approximately €66–€78 at standard LTL rates of €165–€195/LDM, which equates to roughly €0.038–€0.045 per pallet per km. For FTL, a full 13.6 LDM truck on the same lane runs approximately €1,800–€2,200, or €1.05–€1.28/km.
Why is the road freight rate per km higher for short distances?
Short-distance freight rates per km are higher because fixed costs (driver time for loading/unloading, documentation, border processing) are amortised over fewer kilometres. A 200 km delivery may cost €1.80–€2.50/km, while a 2,000 km cross-border run costs €1.10–€1.50/km.
What is included in the road freight rate per km?
Standard road freight rates per km typically include: driver and vehicle costs, fuel (or a separate fuel surcharge of 15–28%), tolls, basic liability insurance, and tracking. They do not include customs brokerage for non-EU shipments, tail-lift delivery surcharges, or appointment fees.
Methodology
Rates are derived from Trans-road’s operational data on Spain export corridors, supplemented by carrier quotes and industry benchmarks.
FTL rates assume a standard 13.6 m curtainsider trailer. LTL rates are expressed per loading metre (LDM). All rates are net of VAT.
Data is updated quarterly. Country-level domestic rates are based on published industry indices and carrier survey data.
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