Freight and Fuel Pressure on the Brenner Route

The market today in figures (CargoNice data)

The Orlen diesel price stood at 6,30 PLN/l on 11 August 2026, an increase of +0,07 PLN/l compared with the previous reading. The average diesel price in the European Union reached 2 043,11 EUR/1000L according to the reading from 3 August 2026; in Germany, it was 2 208,00 EUR/1000L on the same day, while in Poland it stood at 1 878,83 EUR/1000L.

In the haulage market, the spot rate on the Germany–Poland lane was 1,12 EUR/km on 5 August 2026, down -0,05 EUR/km from the previous reading. On the Poland–Germany lane, the rate was 1,65 EUR/km on the same day. The data indicate that fuel costs are rising while the transport price on the Poland-bound lane has weakened, increasing the risk of margin compression.

Brenner after the works: rail services return, but congestion risks remain

Infrastructure works closed the Brenner–Sterzing rail section from 18 July to 9 August 2026. The restriction primarily affected flows between Germany and Italy, but its effects also extended across the wider European network. According to DHL Freight, available rail capacity fell to around 50% of its normal level during this period.

The formal closure has ended, but this does not automatically mean that operations have returned to normal. DHL points to longer diversions, additional costs and a surcharge for bookings handled during the works. Immediately after services resume, carriers may still be handling delayed or rerouted shipments, while the availability of road alternatives may remain constrained.

For Germany–Austria–Italy freight, it is particularly important to distinguish between the resumption of rail movements and the full restoration of scheduled capacity. Both collection dates and the availability of subcontractors for feeder legs and cross-border transport require confirmation. Source: DHL Freight

Germany: DPD introduces a separate emergency surcharge

From 1 August 2026, DPD Germany has applied an emergency fuel surcharge of 1,17%. It covers domestic and international parcel services as well as air freight services. The item is invoiced separately and should therefore not be treated as part of the standard transport price.

DPD’s mechanism is based on the ADAC average diesel price from the month before the previous month. For the current calculation, a net base price of 1,53 EUR/l for June 2026 was used. The surcharge is applied to net transport prices and most other surcharges, but it does not include road tolls, customs clearance charges, or road and air energy surcharges in its calculation base.

In practice, German parcel distribution requires checking whether the subcontractor’s quotation already includes this item and whether the customer contract allows it to be passed on. This is also important for international shipments, where a single unaccounted-for surcharge can reduce the profitability of the entire service. Source: DPD Germany

Containers in Northern Europe: Hapag-Lloyd ends the surcharge

Hapag-Lloyd has announced that its emergency fuel surcharge for the inland services covered in Northern Europe will expire on 14 August 2026. The change applies to inland legs linked to the shipping line’s container transport services, including port-to-door calculations and terminal drayage.

The shipping line previously ended an equivalent surcharge for the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, effective 31 July 2026. After 14 August, fuel costs are to be reflected through standard fuel surcharge mechanisms rather than through the emergency item being withdrawn.

The total cost of inland transport should therefore not automatically be assumed to decrease. It is essential to confirm which standard fuel factor will replace the existing surcharge and from when it will apply to the specific lane and customer. Source: Hapag-Lloyd

DACH: Maersk maintains a variable intermodal fee

Maersk is maintaining a temporary fuel fee for road and intermodal transport in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The shipping line justifies it by citing fuel market volatility and the need to safeguard subcontractor capacity and service continuity.

The fee is to be reviewed every two weeks. For FMC customers, the stated effective date is 18 August 2026. This model means that the transport cost for a leg controlled by the shipping line should not be treated as a fixed component of a long-term all-in price.

When selling drayage and intermodal transport in the DACH region, it is necessary to confirm the individual effective date and the current version of the fee. Customer contracts should clearly distinguish between the base freight and the variable fuel component. Source: Maersk