Europe Under Pressure: Driver Shortage, Maritime Risks and New Toll Systems Transform Logistics
The European logistics industry is facing several structural changes. The shortage of truck drivers, new risks in maritime shipping, and additional toll regulations are influencing the planning of transport chains and cost development for companies.
According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU), Europe is short approximately 502,000 truck drivers. The personnel shortage is increasingly becoming a permanent problem for road freight transport. International transports, less-than-truckload services, and industries with high transport volumes are particularly affected.
For freight forwarding companies, this situation creates increasing pressure on capacity planning. Missing drivers can lead to longer delivery times, higher transport costs, and reduced vehicle availability. Companies are therefore increasingly investing in digital dispatch systems, modern fleet management, and optimized route planning.
Maritime shipping also remains an important factor for global supply chains. The Allianz Safety & Shipping Review 2026 shows that the number of serious shipping incidents has declined by 16 percent. At the same time, other risks are increasing. These include geopolitical tensions, unsafe shipping routes, and extreme weather events.
For shippers and logistics service providers, this means that risk management in international supply chains is becoming more important. Alternative transport routes, flexible storage strategies, and careful monitoring of cargo flows are gaining significance.
In parallel, France is expanding its regional truck toll systems. Following Alsace, the Grand Est region is implementing additional regulations for heavy commercial vehicles. These additional costs must be factored into the calculations of international transport by transport companies.
Particularly for Swiss companies with transport connections to France, new requirements are emerging in route planning. A detailed analysis of toll costs, driving times, and vehicle utilization is becoming increasingly important for cost-effective transport operations.