Road freight transport – what does it involve?

Over 80% of goods in Poland are delivered to customers by lorries, minibuses and vans. Road transport combines flexibility with a range that no other branch of logistics can offer – from parcels posted via a Paczkomat to full semi-trailers travelling across the whole of Europe. At the same time, it is an industry subject to dozens of regulations, ranging from licences to emissions standards. Find out about the key rules, types of transport and factors affecting road transport costs.

What is road transport?

Road transport is the movement of people or goods along land routes using wheeled vehicles. It is a key sector of land transport, accounting for the largest share of freight transport in Poland and the European Union. Its main advantage is door-to-door delivery – goods are transported directly from the sender’s warehouse to the recipient without any transhipment.

The primary piece of legislation governing this activity in Poland is the Road Transport Act of 6 September 2001. It sets out the rules for undertaking and carrying out domestic and international road transport, as well as the conditions for entry into the profession of road haulier.

What are the different types of road haulage?

Road transport is categorised primarily on the basis of geographical scope. Domestic road transport covers transport operations carried out exclusively within Poland, whereas international road transport This applies to routes that cross national borders. Within this classification, a distinction is made between the carriage of persons (passenger transport) and the carriage of goods (freight transport).

Key modes of freight transport:

• Full-truckload (FTL) transport - A single consignor hires the entire load space of the vehicle. The goods are transported directly to the consignee.
• Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transport - Shipments from multiple senders consolidated into a single vehicle. Lower cost, but longer delivery times.
• Specialist transport - includes temperature-controlled transport (refrigerated lorries) and the transport of dangerous goods (ADR), which requires specialist equipment and additional documentation.
• Cabotage transport - transport services provided by a foreign carrier within another EU country, limited to three journeys within seven days.

It is worth distinguishing between transport and road freight - A freight forwarder organises the transport but does not carry it out themselves. Intermodal transport, which combines road, rail or sea transport, is a separate category.

What types of vehicles are used in road transport?

Road transport vehicles are divided into motorised and non-motorised vehicles. The first group includes lorries, delivery vans (vans with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes) and tractor units, which tow semi-trailers carrying cargo. The non-motorised group includes semi-trailers and trailers for various purposes.

Specialist bodywork includes, amongst others, refrigerated lorries (for transporting food and pharmaceuticals), tankers (for transporting liquids and chemicals), tippers (for construction materials) and car transporters.

Buses and coaches are used to transport passengers. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common in the urban delivery sector – we use such delivery vans, for example, in our fleet in selected cities. Please note that their share of long-distance transport remains small due to their limited range.

What authorisations and licences must a road haulage operator hold?

A road haulage operator is a business authorised to carry out transport activities on the basis of the relevant licences. To obtain a licence to practise the profession, four conditions must be met: possession of operational facilities, financial capacity, good repute, and the appointment of a person responsible for transport management.

The person managing transport must hold a certificate of professional competence, confirming their knowledge of law, finance and logistics. For international transport, a Community licence is required, which costs around 4,000 zł for 5 years. Supervision of transport operators is carried out by The Chief Inspectorate of Road Transport (GITD), which oversees, amongst other things, drivers’ working hours and the technical condition of the vehicles.

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What documents are required when transporting goods?

The CMR consignment note is the key document in international transport. An increasing number of companies are switching to the e-CMR (electronic consignment note), and full implementation of this solution across the EU is planned for 2027. Make sure that the carrier also has a driver’s certificate, customs documentation (for shipments outside the EU) and third-party liability insurance.

What factors influence road transport costs?

Several key factors influence the cost of road transport. Fuel costs account for the largest share, making up as much as 30–40 per cent of total operating costs, and are subject to market price fluctuations. Drivers’ wages are a significant item, and are rising due to staff shortages in the sector. Added to this are road tolls (the e-TOLL system in Poland, maut in Germany) as well as the costs of insurance and vehicle depreciation.

Indicative rates for 2026 are 4.5–6 zł per km for delivery vans and up to 8 zł per km for specialised transport (e.g. refrigerated lorries). A carrier’s profitability is also affected by empty runs – travelling without a load on the return journey, which generates costs without generating revenue. Bear in mind that from 2028, the ETS2 (European Emissions Trading Scheme) will cover road transport, which will further increase the cost of fossil fuels.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of road transport?

Road transport is characterised above all by its flexibility and accessibility, but it also has significant limitations.

Advantages and disadvantages of road transport:

• Door-to-door delivery - The goods are transported directly from the sender to the recipient, without being transferred to other modes of transport.
• Route flexibility - A car can reach places that a train or a ship cannot.
• Speed over short distances - For journeys of up to 500 km, road transport is usually the quickest option.
• A dense road network - The network of motorways and national roads makes it possible to reach almost any location in the country.
• The option to post a parcel without leaving home - With the Parcel Manager service, you can book an InPost courier in just a few minutes.

High CO₂ emissions are most frequently cited as a drawback. Road transport accounts for around 72 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by the entire transport sector in the EU. Another major limitation is the reliance on road infrastructure – traffic jams, roadworks and weather conditions all prolong delivery times. The regulations governing drivers’ working hours limit daily driving time to 9 hours, which affects route planning.

What challenges and new regulations lie ahead for the transport sector?

The Mobility Package has introduced significant changes to the rules governing the posting of drivers and their working hours. Drivers must return to their home base or place of residence every four weeks, and their pay for working in another EU country must be in line with the minimum wage rates in that country. The transport, logistics and services (TLS) sector is grappling with a chronic shortage of drivers and decarbonisation, which is forcing a gradual transition to alternative propulsion systems.

Find out how these changes will affect your business – preparing for the new regulations now will help you avoid costly surprises.