Transport: Italian truck ban and works on the Brenner
European road and intermodal transport is entering a period of heightened operational risk: Italy will ban truck traffic for most of Saturday, 1 August, while rail works on the Brenner corridor continue to disrupt transport between Austria and Italy. At the same time, the Netherlands’ new road toll and the weaker condition of carriers in Belgium require updated cost calculations and more careful subcontractor selection.
Prepared by the CargoNice editorial team with AI support, based on the sources listed and CargoNice's own market data. Machine translation of the Polish original. Editorial policy · Read the Polish original
Market today in figures (CargoNice data)
The Orlen diesel price is 6,67 PLN/l, according to the reading from 31 July 2026, representing a change of +0,01 PLN/l compared with the previous reading. The average diesel price in Poland is 1 817,74 EUR/1000L, according to data from 27 July 2026, compared with 2 011,33 EUR/1000L for the EU average on the same date. In Germany, the figure reached 2 186,00 EUR/1000L on 27 July 2026.
On the spot market, the rate from Poland to Germany is 1,63 EUR/km, according to the reading from 29 July 2026, while the Germany–Poland direction is priced at 1,17 EUR/km. The load-to-truck ratio is 5,70 loads/vehicle, according to data from 15 July 2026.
Interpretation: the higher rate on the Poland–Germany route than on the return leg, combined with a 5,70 loads/vehicle ratio, reinforces the importance of precise return-trip planning and confirming vehicle availability before submitting an offer.
Italy: Saturday truck ban changes trip planning
In Italy, on 1 August 2026, a ban applies outside built-up areas to vehicles carrying goods with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes. The restriction is in force from 08:00 to 22:00 and also covers abnormal vehicles and oversize transport carried out under permits.
The ban falls on a Saturday and is preceded by additional restrictions on Friday afternoon, 31 July. In practice, this increases the risk of loads accumulating before the weekend and of unloading being postponed until Monday, both in domestic haulage and on routes crossing the Italian border.
Calculations should include not only the stopping time itself, but also the possibility of bringing the vehicle in earlier, transloading or storage. Particular attention is required for transport orders whose loading date or transit falls between Friday and Saturday.
Source: Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport
Brenner: rail works through 9 August maintain intermodal risk
Extensive infrastructure works are under way on the Brenner corridor, disrupting international rail transport from 18 July to 9 August 2026. They affect a key connection between Austria and Italy and may impact both the main rail leg and the road transport used to deliver and collect intermodal units.
DHL also reports a surcharge for bookings made during the works. For Austria–Italy and Germany–Italy offers, it is therefore not enough to assume the usual transit time: the availability and conditions of the specific booking must be checked before confirming the transport order.
The risk is particularly significant for time-critical shipments. A load assigned to rail may require a road alternative if a delay on the Brenner section threatens the delivery deadline or the next connection in the customer’s network.
Netherlands: distance-based road toll is now part of the price
Since 1 July 2026, the Netherlands has applied a distance-based road toll to trucks over 3.5 tonnes. The system replaced the Dutch Eurovignette arrangement and covers both domestic vehicles and those registered abroad.
The charge applies to motorways and designated regional roads, and empty running is also included in the calculation. Its level depends on the distance travelled, vehicle weight, Euro standard and emissions class. A temporary discount of 22,3% is scheduled to apply from 1 September to 31 December 2026.
Previous assumptions based on a vignette or a flat-rate national surcharge should not be carried over into new offers. The cost should be clearly shown in the carrier’s tariff and in the customer quotation, including when the vehicle is travelling without a load.
Belgium: insolvencies increase carrier selection risk
In the first half of 2026, 456 bankruptcies were recorded in Belgian transport and logistics. In the second quarter alone, the number of bankruptcies in road freight transport reached 105. The data point to a higher risk of a reduction in the available and stable subcontractor base on routes to Belgium and across the Benelux.
According to industry representatives, margin pressure remains a problem, while higher Belgian road toll rates have been in force since 1 July 2026. The combination of cost pressure and insolvencies means that a low procurement offer should not be the only criterion when selecting a carrier.
Before entering into a long-term commitment, it is worth refreshing checks of the partner’s operational status and payment reliability. For confirmed loads, backup transport capacity is also needed to limit the impact of a contractor becoming suddenly unavailable.