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Recurring time slots are created automatically, so you no longer need to repeat the same steps manually.

Time-slot forwarding and order consolidation speed up unloading and reduce manual labour.

In 2026, European road freight will continue to operate in an environment where structural cost pressure remains intense. Though increasingly it is the labour, tolling, regulatory compliance and decarbonisation investments that define transport budgets and put pressure on the margins. But while fuel prices were fairly stable in recent quarters, the latest conflict in the Middle East could brutally remind carriers that fuel still makes up around 40% of their costs.

While the ongoing conflict in Iran is geographically concentrated in the Middle East, its effects are rippling across Europe’s logistics and transport networks. Rising oil and gas prices, disruptions to maritime routes, and delays in air freight are driving up operational costs and creating more unpredictability for road carriers in already unpredictable times. For European hauliers already operating on thin margins, the combination of higher fuel costs, fluctuating freight volumes, and port congestion is intensifying pressures and threatening profitability, forcing companies to rethink supply chains and adopt more resilient strategies.

By 2026 and 2027, automation in logistics is no longer an innovation project—it should be the backbone of operational strategy. Driven by e-commerce growth, persistent labor shortages, cost pressure, regulatory demands, and rising customer expectations, companies are accelerating investment in intelligent, scalable technologies. The shift is clear: logistics is evolving from mechanized processes to self-learning, AI-driven ecosystems.

As disruptions in global logistics become the new norm, traditional transport management models are no longer sufficient. Fragmented data, delayed information flows, and a lack of full operational visibility extend reaction times and drive up costs. Transport management platforms are emerging as a response to these challenges, integrating data from multiple sources and enabling supply-chain participants to operate faster, more coherently, and in a more predictable manner.

2026 will bring one of the most significant regulatory shifts for European road transport in years. New rules covering ADR enforcement, tachographs in vans, road tolls, environmental zones, and wage requirements will directly affect operating costs, compliance obligations, and daily transport planning. Below, we break down the key changes, timelines, and their practical impact on carriers, shippers, and freight forwarders.

While the industry has made strides, many operations still rely on "old school" methods like Excel spreadsheets and phone calls to secure capacity. But with driver shortages and scarce capacity becoming the new norm, the "next big leap" is already here: a fully connected, AI-powered supply chain.

While indeed European logistics and transportation operations and revenues are generated in the Western part of the continent, neglecting the Central and Eastern parts of the continent means giving up on big money and even bigger prospects.

The road transport sector has long struggled with fragmentation, inefficiencies, and lack of transparency between shippers and carriers. For shippers, this means uncertainty, higher transaction costs, and limited visibility across supply chains. Enter CargoON- with its end-to-end platform that manages freights, rates, documentation, while enabling real-time tracking and communication with carriers.

With every fifth truck in the European Union driving with no cargo, empty runs are the stone pulling the transport sector financials into the abyss of losses. Technological tools can be a key factor in reducing cargo-less trips and thus help firms reduce their operational costs.