Dear Client and Partners,
Diesel is one of the most significant cost components in European road freight operations and remains a key driver of overall transport economics.
According to recent European industry analyses (IRU, Transport Intelligence, Upply), fuel typically accounts for approximately 25–35% of total road freight costs in Europe under normal market conditions. In periods of higher fuel prices or long-haul operations, this share can increase further, making diesel one of the largest or second-largest cost elements in trucking.
For context, the typical cost structure in European road transport is broadly distributed as follows: driver wages ~25–35%; fuel (diesel) ~25–35%; vehicle financing and depreciation ~10–20%; and maintenance, tolls, insurance and administration ~10–20%. It is also worth noting that in some European markets, road tolls are becoming comparable to — or even exceeding — fuel costs, reflecting increasing regulatory and infrastructure-related expenses.
In summary, diesel remains one of the primary cost drivers in European road freight, and even small fluctuations in fuel prices or consumption can have a direct and significant impact on overall profitability and transport pricing. Please let your account manager know if you would like a tailored calculation based on your specific transport flows.