Market Data · Updated Weekly
Diesel Fuel & European Freight Rates
How diesel prices drive road freight costs across Europe. Live price tracking, corridor-by-corridor fuel surcharge benchmarks, and the regulatory framework for transport cost adjustments.
Fuel Cost Breakdown by Corridor
| Corridor | Base FTL Rate | Fuel Share | Fuel Cost | Current Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain → Germany | €1,800–€2,200 | 28–32% | €504–€704 | 18–22% |
| Spain → France | €1,100–€1,600 | 25–30% | €275–€480 | 16–20% |
| Spain → Italy | €1,200–€1,700 | 26–31% | €312–€527 | 17–21% |
| Spain → Poland | €1,500–€1,900 | 30–35% | €450–€665 | 15–19% |
| Spain → Netherlands | €1,600–€2,000 | 27–32% | €432–€640 | 17–22% |
| Spain → UK | €2,000–€2,800 | 25–30% | €500–€840 | 20–25% |
| Spain → Romania | €1,400–€1,800 | 32–37% | €448–€666 | 14–17% |
| Spain → Switzerland | €1,500–€2,000 | 26–30% | €390–€600 | 19–24% |
Recent Diesel Price Trend
| Week | Price (€/l) |
|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2026 | €1.2324 |
| Aug 10, 2026 | €1.2264 |
| Aug 03, 2026 | €1.2321 |
| Jul 27, 2026 | €1.1944 |
| Jul 20, 2026 | €1.1119 |
| Jul 13, 2026 | €1.0512 |
| Jul 06, 2026 | €1.0429 |
| Jun 29, 2026 | €1.0368 |
| Jun 22, 2026 | €1.0686 |
| Jun 15, 2026 | €1.1177 |
| Jun 08, 2026 | €1.1385 |
| Jun 01, 2026 | €1.1690 |
Source: EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, European Commission (DG Energy). Pre-tax PAI prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a freight rate is fuel cost?
Fuel typically represents 25–35% of total road freight costs for heavy vehicles (>20 Tn PMA). The exact percentage depends on distance (longer routes = higher fuel share), vehicle efficiency, and toll costs on the corridor.
How do diesel prices affect LTL vs FTL rates differently?
FTL rates are more directly impacted by diesel prices because the entire truck cost is borne by one shipper. LTL/groupage rates distribute fuel costs across multiple shippers, so the per-LDM impact is smaller. However, LTL surcharges are applied as a percentage of the base rate, so the mechanism is the same.
What triggers a fuel surcharge adjustment in European road freight?
Under Spanish regulation (Orden FOM/1882/2012), adjustments are triggered when diesel prices vary by more than 5% from the contract reference price. Many carriers use monthly surcharge tables that update automatically based on EU Weekly Oil Bulletin data.
Related Resources
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