Upply’s annual report “Road transport: analysis of the European Top 10 in 2024”, based on Eurostat data, shows that road freight transport within the European Union has returned to growth after last year’s contraction. Overall activity, measured in tonne-kilometres, rose by 0.6% to 1,869 billion t-km, while total tonnage fell by 0.7% to 13.075 billion tonnes. The year’s trend reflects a still fragile economic environment marked by moderate growth and industrial demand below pre-pandemic levels, but also by the gradual stabilisation of long-distance flows and more efficient use of load capacity.
The Union’s ten largest national fleets account for 83.2% of total traffic and present a largely stable picture compared with 2023, with only one change: the Czech Republic has overtaken Romania to regain sixth place. Poland remains firmly on top, but its second consecutive year of decline (-2.5% after -1.9% in 2023) reflects the difficulties of its economy and weaker demand from Germany, its main trading partner. Germany, in second place, also recorded a contraction (-1.9%) and continues to lose ground in European haulage, in line with falling industrial production. Spain, by contrast, returned to strong growth, reaching 271.6 billion t-km, supported by the recovery of its domestic economy and a more dynamic internal market. France also performed well (+2.8%) at 174 billion t-km, benefiting from stable demand and a more efficient logistics system. Italy ranks fifth, achieving the best result among the major European countries, driven mainly by domestic transport. The Czech Republic, with growth of over 5%, and Lithuania, which continues to expand, complete the group of rising countries, while Romania slows after two years of sustained growth.
Domestic transport represents more than 60% of the Union’s total activity and grew by 0.8% in tonne-kilometres in 2024, reaching 1,147 billion t-km, though tonnage fell by 1% to 11.8 billion tonnes. Germany retains the top spot despite a negative trend ongoing since 2019. Spain consolidated its second position with increases of 2.7% in t-km and 2.5% in tonnage. France’s volumes remained broadly stable, while Italy moved back into fourth place, overtaking Poland with a 5.7% rise in t-km compared with 2023 — the highest growth among the major European economies. Since 2019, Italy’s average annual growth in domestic traffic has been 2.12%, a sign of stronger internal demand and improved transport efficiency. Poland, meanwhile, saw a decline of 2.1% in t-km and 4.7% in tonnage.
International haulage also shows signs of rebalancing. In 2024, cross-border activity increased by 0.4% in tonne-kilometres to 721.8 billion, and by 2.3% in tonnage to 1.2 billion tonnes. Although still below the record levels of 2021, the sector benefits from a moderate rise in intra-EU flows and a recovery of medium-distance routes. Poland retains a dominant position, accounting for about one-third of the Union’s international traffic, but it is the only country among the Top 5 to post a decline (-2.8% compared with 2023). Cross-trade and cabotage operations, however, continue to expand, by 2.8% and 4.2% respectively. Spain consolidated its second place with a 4.2% increase, while Lithuania grew by 4.5%, supported by its expanding presence in intra-European transport. Romania posted moderate growth (+1%), while the Czech Republic recorded the strongest progress (+14.2%), spread across international, cross-trade and cabotage operations.
The map of the Union’s main transport flows confirms Germany’s centrality — it appears in nine of the twenty busiest routes — and the dominance of the Polish fleet on the Germany–Poland, Germany–France and Germany–Italy corridors. Lithuania continues to expand its intra-European links, accounting for more than half of total tonnage on the France–Italy route. This points to a gradual shift in market share towards Eastern European carriers, which are more cost-competitive and increasingly active in international services.
Overall, the European road haulage market is entering a phase of stabilisation after the fluctuations of recent years. The modest growth recorded in 2024 signals a rebalancing between geographical segments: Eastern Europe is slowing, the Mediterranean area is advancing, and the central region of the continent remains uncertain. The sector still faces numerous shared challenges — cost containment, driver shortages, digitalisation of operations and adaptation to EU environmental policies. Looking ahead to the 2030 decarbonisation targets, the industry will need to balance economic efficiency with environmental sustainability while maintaining its strategic role in the continent’s logistics chain.
