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Several European road freight rates increased sharply in the second quarter of 2026, as higher fuel and operating costs were passed on to customers, according to the latest IRU x Upply x Transport Intelligence (Ti) European Road Freight Rates Benchmark, published on 11 August.

The contract rate index rose to 148 points, up 7.9 points quarter on quarter and 15.2 points year on year. Spot rates increased even faster to 146.8 points, up 14.6 points quarter on quarter and 13.9 points year on year. After three quarters of divergence, contract and spot rates are therefore moving upwards together again.

The increase is being driven mainly by costs rather than stronger demand. EU diesel prices averaged €1.94 per litre in Q2, 12% higher than in the previous quarter and 27% higher year on year. According to the French Comité National Routier (CNR), long-haul trucking operating costs increased by almost 10% year on year. At the same time, road freight volumes between major EU economies remained weak, falling 1.6% year on year, although this was a considerable improvement on the 8% decline recorded in Q1.

Michael Clover, Head of Commercial Development at Ti, said that rising fuel prices, tight capacity and relatively resilient volumes had pushed both spot and contract rates higher. He noted that fuel price volatility is making contract negotiations increasingly difficult for shippers, with “many shippers and carriers looking to de-risk their freight purchasing with index-linked contracts.”

Further upward pressure is expected in the second half of the year as higher operating costs continue to be passed through. However, weaker industrial demand could limit the extent of further rate increases. Market expectations nevertheless remain strongly upward: the IRU x Ti x Upply European Road Freight Sentiment Index reached a record 28.3 in Q2, with almost one-third of respondents expecting a substantial increase in rates over the next three months.