Transport costs in autumn 2026: what is affecting international deliveries right now
The quote shows a higher price than last time. The goods are the same, and so is the consignee. Even the number of pallets has not changed. So why does the transport suddenly cost more?
It is a fair question. And “everything has become more expensive” would not be enough of an answer for me. Anyone costing an international delivery needs to be able to understand what has changed. That applies to the manufacturer shipping its goods just as much as to the freight forwarder buying in a transport for its customer.
In autumn 2026 it is particularly worth taking a closer look. The European road freight rate report by IRU, Upply and Ti shows rising contract and spot rates for the second quarter. The authors attribute this development largely to higher operating costs. However, no uniform surcharge for every route can be derived from it. A run to Warsaw is costed under different conditions than a delivery to Tbilisi. Source: IRU, 11 August 2026.
With diesel, the connection can still be calculated comparatively easily. Suppose a truck covers 1,500 kilometres and consumes an average of 30 litres per 100 kilometres. That is 450 litres. If the calculated net price per litre is 20 cents higher, this section of the route incurs additional fuel costs of 90 euros.
A deliberately simplified calculation. It takes into account neither an empty run to the loading point nor the return journey. Nevertheless, it helps to understand the order of magnitude. With a part load, you also have to consider how the effort is distributed across the shipments carried.
I find transparent calculations like this more helpful than a general reference to the market situation. Anyone charging a diesel surcharge should be able to explain which baseline value it is based on and when it is adjusted. For the customer, there is one more question: is fuel already included in the freight rate?
At the beginning of September, the European Commission reported considerable price fluctuations for oil products, especially diesel and jet fuel. For costing purposes, this makes the date of the quote and its validity period important. A price from the spring is interesting as a comparison, but it is not a reliable basis for a booking in October. Source: European Commission, 8 September 2026.
Not every price difference starts at the petrol station, though. Sometimes the decisive change is in a short sentence of the request: “Delivery by Friday, 10 a.m. at the latest.”
Does the consignee really need the goods at that time? If so, the transport has to be planned accordingly. If the goods are only needed on Monday and could also be accepted on Thursday, this option should be mentioned in the request. A wider time window can open up additional connections. It does not guarantee a discount.
Let us take eight non-stackable pallets of machine parts as an example. Without further details, it is hard to judge how well the shipment fits into existing planning. How high are the packages? Is there any overhang? Is side loading required? And are the goods fully ready in the morning or only at some point in the afternoon?
This information determines which vehicle is suitable and how the run can be organised. It therefore belongs in the first request. A photo is helpful for unusual packages. The dimensions still have to be correct.
The route can also explain price differences. In Germany, the toll depends, among other things, on the tolled distance, the technically permissible gross vehicle weight and the vehicle’s emission characteristics. From 18 tonnes, the number of axles also plays a role. On international runs, the rules of the respective transit countries are added. Source: Toll Collect.
That is why, when comparing two quotes, I also want to know the planned transport process. Will the goods be driven directly? Is transhipment planned? Does the quoted service end at a terminal or at the consignee’s address? The same place names in the quote do not mean that the same service has been costed.
Especially for deliveries outside the EU, it is worth taking a close look at the wording “customs clearance included”. Which clearance is included? Who provides the documents? Which services does the consignee take care of? Clearance fees and government import duties have to be considered separately.
A sample calculation with freely chosen amounts shows how this affects the comparison: one quote states 2,000 euros to the terminal. Delivery to the consignee costs a further 180 euros. A second quote already includes this delivery and comes to 2,120 euros. All other conditions being equal, it is therefore 60 euros cheaper.
What matters here is less the difference than the question of whether both quotes really end at the same point. That is exactly what should be clarified before booking.
For transport companies, there is a further point to align. Anyone who confirms a price and a date to their customer must check whether the service they have bought in covers this commitment. How long is the performing partner’s rate valid? Has the capacity been confirmed? Which loading and unloading times have been agreed?
A small gap between the agreements can eat up the calculated margin. That is why I would check these points before confirming the order.
For the autumn budget, I recommend requesting two options for suitable shipments: the desired fixed date and a time window that is actually possible. With suitable volumes, a comparison between part load and full truckload can also be worthwhile. This shows which requirement changes the effort and where an alternative makes economic sense.
For your next request to MARTIN Internationale Spedition GmbH, the loading and unloading location, package dimensions, weight, type of goods and stackability are a good starting point. Also state the earliest possible loading date, the latest acceptable delivery date and any special requirements. The more precise this information is, the better a quote can be tailored to your actual shipment.
FAQ on transport costs in autumn 2026
