How much does road freight cost per kilometre in Europe? This guide covers FTL and LTL rates per km by corridor and country, key pricing factors, and how to benchmark your own transport spend. Rates are indicative spot market levels for Q1 2026.
Indicative road transport rates per km on key Spain export lanes. FTL = full truckload (13.6 LDM); LTL rates per LDM converted to per-km using the midpoint distance.
| Corridor | Distance | FTL (€/km) | LTL (effective €/km) | 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 and short-haul FTL rates within each country. Spot rates represent open-market pricing; contract rates assume monthly volume commitment. Fuel surcharge listed separately.
| 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% |
| UK | €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% |
| Factor | Typical 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 (Less than Truckload) rates are quoted per loading meter (LDM) or per pallet, not per kilometre. To compare with FTL on a per-km basis, divide the LTL rate by the route distance:
Example: Barcelona → Munich (1,720 km) at €175/LDM standard rate. A 2-pallet shipment occupies ~0.8 LDM → total cost €140. Effective per-km cost: €140 ÷ 1,720 = ~€0.081/km for that cargo unit. Compare to FTL at €1.15/km × 1,720 km = €1,978 for the full 13.6 LDM truck.
LTL is more cost-effective per km for small shipments (under ~6 LDM); FTL becomes cheaper when your cargo fills more than 60–70% of a trailer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All rates on this page are indicative spot-market benchmarks compiled from Transroad operational data and public rate indices (IRU, TI transport intelligence, ETF). They represent Q1 2026 market conditions for standard 13.6 m curtainsider trailers carrying general, non-hazardous goods.
FTL rates are expressed as € per vehicle-kilometre (full trailer, 24 t payload). LTL per-km equivalents assume the indicated LDM rate divided by the midpoint route distance. Fuel surcharges are not included unless otherwise stated. Rates are exclusive of VAT.
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