Will new regulations have road freight rates soaring in 2026?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

The year 2026 is shaping up to be a period of accumulated regulatory and technological change for the European transport industry. Among the key developments entering into force are stricter rules for the transport of dangerous goods, new obligations related to vehicle safety equipment, the extension of tachograph requirements to light commercial vehicles, as well further stages of digitalisation of transport documents and permits. If that isn’t enough, market players will also face road toll increases across the continent.

New transport of dangerous goods rules

From 2 November 2025, with full implementation by 24 June 2026, new rules for the transport of dangerous goods will come into force. Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/1801 introduces a unified inspection checklist, a new risk classification system (three risk categories – High, Medium, Low), and extends responsibility across the entire logistics chain – from consignors to tank operators and consignees.

Companies must update internal procedures, train drivers, and verify whether they are required to appoint an ADR safety adviser under the new thresholds and exemptions. All these cost time and money, but are just the beginning of series of regulatory changes and requirements set before the transport sector.

Tacho revolution for LCVs

July already plans out to be a ground shaking month for the sector. Starting from July 1, 2026, vans with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes engaged in international freight transport will be subject to the obligation to use second-generation smart tachographs (G2V2). They will have to comply with working time rules similar to those applicable to truck drivers. This represents a major organisational shift, especially for smaller transport companies.

The purchase and installation of a tachograph (costing around EUR 1000) is just the start of the formalities and costs. Companies must issue driver cards and company cards, train staff, and update internal procedures and data-reading software. Few vans are factory-prepared for G2V2 tachographs, which creates additional technical and logistical challenges.

Safety regulations

Shortly afterwards, new vehicle safety requirements under the next phase of the General Safety Regulation (GSR) will come into force, which mandates the use of advanced safety systems in newly manufactured vehicles. From July 7, 2026, Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEB) will now become mandatory for newly produced trucks, having already already been compulsory for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

At the same time, from 2026 all newly homologated buses and trucks must be equipped with Event Data Recorders (EDR) – so-called “black boxes”. From 2029, this requirement will apply to all vehicles in these categories.

Companies that fail to prepare their fleets for the new technical requirements may face difficulties in continuing operations. Firstly, installing new systems will require not only purchasing and fitting equipment, but also staff training and updates to internal procedures.

Minimum wage increase in Germany

All the aforementioned regulations will sooner or later reach into the carriers’ pockets in order for them to meet their requirements. However, the raising of Germany’s minimum wage will have an immediate effect for carriers operating internationally. From January 1, 2026, the German minimum wage rose to EUR 13.90 per hour, with a further increase to EUR 14.60 per hour planned for 2027.

For the transport sector, this will translate into additional costs. The German government estimates additional wage costs of EUR 2.2 billion in 2026 and EUR 3.4 billion in 2027.

Due to Germany being the largest economy in Europe and the largest transport market, this wage increase will have a profound effect on carriers from across the continent. Keep in mind that there are 6 routes involving Germany among the top 10 international connections in Europe – including the top two (to Netherlands and to Poland). Transport companies will now need to factor higher labour costs into freight rate calculations and route optimisation. Renegotiating rates with clients, adjusting employment structures, or even downsizing operations or fleets may become unavoidable.

Road tolls

The year 2026 will be another turning point for road hauliers in Europe. Toll increases, the phasing-out of vignettes, and the introduction of kilometre-based charging systems combined with CO2 emissions charging will affect key markets from Western to Central and Eastern Europe. The countries that have already or will in the course of 2026 increase tolls are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.

While the scale and mechanisms differ by country, the common denominator is clear: road transport will pay more, and environmental costs will increasingly be passed on to road users. These changes will materially increase operating costs and require transport companies to recalculate freight rates, adjust routing strategies, and reassess contract profitability. Not to mention putting pressure on them to modernise their fleet.

Environmental zones

The focus on environmental issues isn’t limited to road tolls only. A number of countries and regions have or are bound to introduce zero-emission and environmental zones. Netherlands introduce nationwide exemptions and transition periods for such zones across the country on January 1, 2026. Italy introduced a ban on Euro 5 diesel vehicles in four northern regions of Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Also, Poland, which is lagging behind in going green, introduced an environmental zone in the city of Kraków from January 1, 2026 with diesel vehicles below Euro 6 barred from entering the area.

Consequences for carriers

For carriers and drivers, this means a year filled with investment and organisational decisions. Transport companies must simultaneously adapt their fleets to new technical requirements, prepare for changes in roadside inspections, and streamline processes related to documentation and working time compliance.

For carriers, 2026 means not only more expensive kilometres, but also the need for even more precise route planning, fleet investments, and renegotiation of rates with customers. In a low-margin environment, every eurocent per kilometre will matter more than ever.

Consequences for shippers

While most of the regulatory burden formally falls on carriers, shippers and freight forwarders will feel the impact just as strongly. The consequences for shippers are:

• Higher freight rates: Rising labour costs, tolls, fleet investments, and compliance expenses will increasingly be reflected in transport prices.
• Carrier availability may decrease: Smaller or undercapitalised carriers may exit the market, reducing capacity and increasing dependency on fewer, larger operators. Which also could push freight rates upwards.
• Greater scrutiny of compliance: Shippers involved in ADR transport will face increased liability and must ensure that contracted carriers fully comply with regulations, as responsibility now extends across the entire supply chain.
• Sustainability pressure: Environmental zones and CO₂-based tolling will push shippers to prioritise cleaner fleets and may influence warehouse locations, delivery windows, and modal choices.

Consequences for freight forwarders

Forwarders could also suffer consequences of the latest regulations. Some of them may be:

• Rate volatility becomes the norm: Toll changes, wage increases, and regulatory updates will make long-term fixed-rate contracts riskier and harder to maintain.
• More complex carrier management: Forwarders will need to verify fleet compliance (tachographs, ADR, emission classes, access to environmental zones) more carefully than ever.
• Shift in negotiation dynamics: Carriers are likely to be less willing to absorb cost increases, leading to tougher negotiations and more frequent surcharge mechanisms. Furthermore, carriers are likely to push for shorter contracts and index-linked prices.
• Operational complexity: Route planning will increasingly depend on vehicle class, emission category, and access rules, requiring better data, systems, and communication with carriers. This could mean growing operational costs and investmentsfor the forwarders.