Critical Truck Driver Shortage Puts Europe Road Freight Under Strain

Europe continues to face a serious truck driver shortage that is putting sustained pressure on freight capacity, transit times, and contract rates. In some regions, transit times are already increasing by several days to more than a week, depending on the country and lane. Industry sources estimate between 444,000 and 600,000 unfilled truck driver positions across Europe. The shortage is expected to worsen as older drivers retire faster than new drivers enter the profession, with capacity projected to remain tight through 2028.

Recent truck registration data shows a slowdown, making the situation even more complex. New EU truck registrations fell 6.2% in 2025, suggesting slower fleet renewal and less new capacity entering the market. That matters because the driver shortage is already limiting how much freight can move, and fewer new trucks make it harder for carriers to expand or replace aging equipment.

Driver Shortage by Country

What This Means for Shippers

These structural shortages are creating an extremely challenging situation for European road freight networks. The combination of limited driver availability, aging workforces, and rising wages is constraining capacity and driving up costs for shippers moving freight on European corridors. Main impacts include:

• Higher spot freight rates on some corridors
• Increased use of subcontractors
• Longer lead times during holiday periods
• Continued upward pressure on driver wages
• Capacity expected to remain tight through 2028

Fuel Market Volatility

The trucker shortage, combined with elevated diesel costs, is creating dual pressure on European freight operations. Diesel remains the main risk, with fuel costs serving as the primary driver of transport pricing rather than freight demand. Contract rates remain elevated as carriers attempt to recover rising operating costs from both labor and fuel expenses. Fuel surcharges are expected to remain volatile, and spot-market pricing remains unstable on some corridors.

What Shippers Should Do

Customers moving freight into, out of, or across Europe should review transit plans now and book shipments earlier than usual.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Book shipments earlier than usual
• Add buffer time for transit on affected corridors
• Confirm routing for Germany, UK, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium lanes
• Expect higher rates and possible fuel surcharge volatility

NTG Supply Chain Solutions is monitoring these conditions closely and will continue to support customers with proactive planning and routing guidance. Flexibility and advance coordination will be key to maintaining service reliability across Europe.