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Ever more uncertainty: European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond
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Ever more uncertainty: European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond

1 Apr 2026 · Prosperity

IRU’s new Intelligence Briefing, along with the accompanying webinar, is now available for download. It provides a data-grounded view of where road freight is heading in a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

It’s an exceptionally uncertain time for European road freight. Volatile energy prices, supply shortages, new regulations, inflation, and weak consumer demand paint a bleak picture of the road ahead.

While the latest data showed that freight volumes had stabilised over 2023–2024, and IRU Intelligence research estimated continued moderate growth over 2025–2026, the war in Iran has fundamentally altered the outlook for 2026 onwards.

The sector is now facing a more fragmented, cost-intensive and uncertain operating environment.

The publicly available briefing – as well as the webinar featuring ING’s senior transport and logistics expert – is available on the IRU Intelligence Platform.

Ever more uncertainty: European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond
Ever more uncertainty: European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond
Ever more uncertainty: European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond

The analysis draws on the latest road freight data, macroeconomic projections, fleet registration statistics, and IRU’s annual driver shortage survey.

It also uses lessons from the 1990 Gulf War, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 2022 Ukraine energy shock to contextualise the current disruption and frame what recovery could look like.

This briefing aims to equip readers with the latest IRU Intelligence to face both ongoing industry challenges and the sudden impact of the war in Iran on European freight.

 

Download Intelligence Briefing

 

Ever more uncertainty - European road freight dynamics 2024 to 2026 and beyond - full webinar replay