Long-haul transport

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Last updated: 19 September 2026

Source: https://www.iaa-transportation.com/en/newsroom/highlights-2026/press-day

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Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

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Definition & Explanation

In road freight, long-haul transport refers to operations over long distances in which the vehicle leaves its home base for several daily stages – as distinct from short-haul work with a return to the depot on the same day and from distribution runs with many stops over short distances. It is characterised by high daily mileage, plannable relations between fixed transhipment points, and vehicle specification geared to sustained running and payload rather than manoeuvrability. European driving and rest time rules shape long-haul operations directly: after four and a half hours of driving a 45-minute break is mandatory, and for battery electric vehicles this window determines how much range can be recharged en route. Long-haul is therefore the most demanding segment for the powertrain transition – it calls either for very large batteries with megawatt charging or for alternatives such as hydrogen with short refuelling times.

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