The European spot market remains tight.
According to TIMOCOM, the freight share in the second quarter of 2026 remained consistently above 80 percent. In April it was 86 percent, in May 87 percent, and in June still 85 percent.
For us freight forwarders, it's quite simple: there is plenty of freight, but too few available trucks registered on the market.
Across Europe, 23.8 percent more freight was posted in the second quarter compared to the previous year. At the same time, available truck offerings declined by 10.8 percent.
You notice this immediately in dispatch. Tours must be planned earlier, return loads become more important, and short-notice transports require more effort.
Prices are also moving upward. Across Europe, average shipper prices were €1.81 per kilometer. This represents a 12.8 percent increase compared to the same quarter in the previous year. The price demands of transport companies averaged €1.79 per kilometer, which is 11.6 percent higher.
In Germany, the level was even higher. There, offered prices averaged €2.10 per kilometer. The demands of freight carriers reached €2.18 per kilometer.