Data extracted in August 2024.
Planned article update: September 2026.
Highlights
The total road freight transport performance in the EU, measured in tonne-kilometres, increased by an average of 0.9% per year between 2020 and 2024.
Hauliers from Poland accounted for the largest share of international transport performance among EU countries in 2024, representing almost one third (32.7%) of the total.
In 2024, more than one fifth (21.6%) of the distances travelled by road freight vehicles in the EU was performed by empty vehicles.
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
This article presents road freight transport in the European Union (EU) focusing on journeys performed by road freight vehicles. The article presents the different types of transport operations. It also discusses the average loads carried and average distances over which goods were moved, road freight transport by distance class and the distances travelled by empty road freight vehicles.
This article and the articles 'Road freight transport by vehicle characteristics', 'Road freight transport by type of goods', 'Road freight transport statistics' and 'Road freight transport statistics - cabotage' present a complete overview of road freight transport in Europe.
Road freight transport performance by type of operation (in tonne-kilometres)
In 2024, total European road freight transport performance increased by 0.6% compared with 2023 (from 1 857.0 billion tonne-kilometres (tkm)) to 1 868.7 billion tkm). The average annual growth rate from 2020 to 2024 was 0.9% (see Table 1). Total road freight transport decreased by 0.1% in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023 compared with the previous year, respectively. In 2021, it increased by 6.7% compared with 2020.
Over the period 2020-2024, 15 of the 26 EU countries for which data are provided (Malta is exempt, see the chapter ‘Data sources’ below) reported a positive average annual growth rate in road freight transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometres (see Table 1). The largest were observed in Cyprus (+12.0%), Czechia (+5.8%) and Romania (+5.2%). In contrast, the highest negative rates were reported by Bulgaria (-4.6%), Germany (-2.0%), the Netherlands and Finland (both -1.8%).
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When looking at the evolution of EU road freight transport from 2020 onwards, the trends observed for national road freight transport and international road freight transport by loaded vehicles, presented as an index (2020 = 100) based on tonne-kilometres, are very similar to each other (see Figure 1). After declining in 2022–2023, both national and international transport returned to growth in 2023–2024. Although the overall patterns were comparable, international transport recorded somewhat stronger growth than national transport over the period 2020-2024. However, between 2023 and 2024, national road freight transport increased by 0.8 index points, slightly more than international road freight transport by loaded vehicles which grew by 0.4 index points.
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
Table 2 shows that the national road freight transport in the EU accounted for 1 146.7 billion tkm in 2024, 0.8% more than in 2023. The average annual growth rate from 2020 to 2024 was 0.8%. Most of the EU countries recorded positive average growth rates over this period (17 out of 26). The highest positive rates were recorded in Estonia (+10.0%), followed by Cyprus (+9.3%), Bulgaria (+9.1%) and Romania (+8.5%). In contrast, the largest negative rates were reported by Portugal (-3.0%), Germany (-2.1%), Finland (-1.9%) and Belgium (-1.2%).
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At EU level, international road freight transport increased by 0.4% in 2024 compared with 2023, rising from 719.1 billion tkm to 721.8 billion tkm. The average annual growth rate was 1.1% between 2020 and 2024 (see Table 3). Close to half of the EU countries (11 out of 26) recorded increases over this period, some of them considerable: Czechia recorded an average annual growth rate of 10.4%, followed by Lithuania with a rate of 4.7%, Croatia with 4.2% and France with 3.7%. At the other end of the scale, among the 11 EU countries for which international transport fell, Bulgaria had the highest negative average annual growth (-10.0%), followed by Sweden (-6.6%), Estonia (-5.4%) and Greece (-5.2%). Denmark, Ireland and Finland recorded the same level of international road freight transport performance in 2024 as in 2020, although with some fluctuations in the years in between. Cyprus reported international transport performance of just 0.1 billion tkm in 2024.
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The share of international transport in the total road freight transport of a country varies considerably (see Figure 2). Among the EU countries, the highest shares of international transport were registered in Lithuania in both 2023 and 2024 (93.4% and 93.0%, respectively), followed by Luxembourg (92.9% in 2023; 92.7% in 2024) and Slovenia (86.2% in 2023; 87.7% in 2024). The lowest shares were registered in Sweden (5.0% in 2023; 4.6% in 2024), Finland (6.2% in 2023; 6.4% in 2024) and Cyprus (3.6% in 2023; 7.1% in 2024).
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When looking at the shares of the individual EU countries in total EU international road freight transport in 2024 (see Figure 3), Poland continued having the highest share in total tonne-kilometres with 32.7%. International transport made up 64.2% of total road freight transport in tonne-kilometres in Poland in 2024, slightly down from 64.3% in 2023 (see Figure 2). After Poland, Spain followed as the second largest operator of international transport in the EU, with a share of 12.3% in 2024. The share of international transport in total road freight transport in Spain was up from 32.3% in 2023 to 32.6% in 2024 (see Figure 2).
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
Figure 4 presents the shares of cross-trade and cabotage in international road freight transport in tkm for 2024. At the EU level, the share of cross-trade transport was 29.2%, while cabotage transport represented 7.2%
In 6 EU countries (Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania and Slovenia), cross-trade transport represented more than 40% of international transport in tkm. Among these countries, Lithuania stood out with cross-trade of 70.9% of its total international transport. For cabotage, Luxembourg stood out with a share in international transport of 23.5%, which may be explained by the small size and the central geographical location of the country. The next highest shares of cabotage were recorded by Ireland (19.3%) and Finland (16.6%).
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
When looking at the distribution of total EU cross-trade transport performance in tkm between the different EU countries in 2024, Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia recorded the highest shares in the EU total (see Table 4). Poland remained by far the main cross-trade transporter, accounting alone for 38.1% of total EU cross-trade transport. It was followed by Lithuania (20.7%), Romania (8.3%) and Slovenia (4.1%). All other EU countries registered shares below 4.0% in total EU cross-trade.
In terms of the average share over the period 2020-2024, the highest shares were registered in Poland (37.7%), Lithuania (18.6%), Romania (8.3%) and Bulgaria (5.5%). During this period, all other EU countries registered average shares in total EU cabotage of less than 5.0%.
In 2024, Hungary increased its share of cross-trade transport performance in the EU total by 1.0 percentage points (pp) compared with 2023. Other EU countries with notable increases were Latvia (+0.6 pp), Lithuania and Slovakia (both +0.5 pp). In contrast, the shares in the EU total fell by 1.7 pp in Bulgaria, 0.8 pp in Portugal and 0.3 pp in Poland.
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Road freight transport in tonnage and average loads
EU road freight transport measured in tonnes showed only marginal overall growth over the period 2020-2024, increasing from 13 018.4 billion tonnes in 2020 to 13 020.3 billion tonnes in 2024 (0.0%) (see Table 5). The highest positive average annual growth rates over this period were observed in Cyprus (+12.7%), Lithuania (+6.5%) and Estonia (+6.3%). By contrast, significant negative growth rates over the same period were noted in Greece (-4.0%), Portugal, Slovakia and Finland (all -3.0%).
Between 2023 and 2024, total EU road freight transport decreased by 0.7% in terms of tonnes carried. Transported tonnage increased in 10 of the EU countries, with the largest increases observed in Estonia (+18.7%), Lithuania (+14.5%) and Italy (+6.6%). In 16 EU countries, the transported tonnage decreased. The sharpest falls were registered in Bulgaria (-10.4%), Portugal (-9.9%) and Hungary (-8.1%).
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The 'average load' (in tonnes) presented in this article was calculated by dividing annual freight transport performance (in tonne-kilometres) by the corresponding laden distance travelled (vehicle-kilometres, equivalent to kilometres). At country and EU level, this indicator provides information on the average weight in tonnes carried per kilometre of the laden distance travelled. The indicator is calculated separately for national, international and total transport. For total transport, national and international tonne-kilometres are added and then divided by the total laden distance travelled.
The EU average load for total transport was 14.3 tonnes in 2024, with average loads of 13.5 tonnes for national transport and 15.9 tonnes for international transport (see Figure 5). In 2024, Finland had the highest average load in international transport at 22.0 tonnes, followed by Cyprus (19.5 tonnes), France (18.8 tonnes) and Greece (18.1 tonnes). Finland also had the highest average load in national transport, at 18.2 tonnes, ahead of Bulgaria (16.3 tonnes) and Latvia (16.2 tonnes). The average load in national transport in Slovenia was just 5.8 tonnes, 57.0% below the EU average.
Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
Average distance travelled per tonne of load
The average distance over which 1 tonne of goods is carried has been calculated by dividing tonne-kilometres by tonnes for laden journeys only. This indicator provides information on the average distance travelled per tonne in each country and at EU level. The indicator is calculated separately for national, international and total transport. For total transport, national and international tonne-kilometres for laden journeys are added and then divided by the total tonnes transported.
In 2024, the average distance travelled per tonne in total road freight transport in the EU was 143.5 kilometres (km). Within the different types of transport operations, this corresponded to 97.3 km in national road freight transport; 604.3 km in international transport; 722.0 km in cross-trade transport and 280.0 km in cabotage transport (see Figure 6).
The average distance travelled per tonne for different types of transport in each EU country is generally affected by the size of the country and its level of involvement in international transport, where longer distances are travelled. Among the EU countries, the average distance travelled per tonne in total transport was substantially higher for hauliers from Lithuania than in most other countries, reaching 480.4 km in 2024. This reflects the importance of international transport for the Lithuanian road freight transport sector. The average distance travelled per tonne for Lithuanian national transport was 91.2 km in 2024, whereas this distance was 922.4 km for international transport, 779.9 km for cross-trade transport and 386.9 km for cabotage transport. At the other end of the scale, the average distance travelled per tonne were much lower for hauliers from Cyprus, with only 26.1 km in total transport in 2024.
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
Transport performance by distance class
At EU level, most of the total road freight transport performance in 2024 was carried out over distances between 300 and 999 km (41.3%). This was also the case for most of the EU countries (see Table 6). However, a few countries showed a different pattern with respect to transport performance by distance class. In some islands and countries with an important domestic market, the share of road freight transport over short distances (less than 150 km) was higher: Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands and Austria. For Cyprus, 90.1% of transport performance is carried out over distances of less than 150 km. On the other hand, countries where international road transport plays a key role had a higher share of transport performance over long distances; transport over 1 000 km accounted for 40% or more of total tkm in Portugal and Lithuania (45.5% and 44.7%, respectively).
The overall trend and distance profile of a country can be assessed by analysing its figures across different distance classes. Regarding the distance class of less than 150 km, a notable increase between 2023 and 2024 was recorded in Estonia (+25.4%). At the other end of the scale, we find Slovenia (-13.4%) and Hungary (-11.6%). For the distance class 150-299 km, Lithuania (+28.8%) and Cyprus (+26.9%) recorded the highest increases, while Hungary and Slovenia recorded decreases of 8.6% and 8.5%, respectively. The distance class 300-999 km showed notable increases in Latvia (+21.8%) and Ireland (+21.4%). Cyprus, Bulgaria and Luxembourg recorded decreases of more than 15% for this distance class (-100.0%, -17.6% and -15.3%, respectively). Lastly, for the distance class of 1 000 km or more, Belgium, Cyprus and France registered the highest increases: 130.6%, 130.3% and 48.9%, respectively. In contrast, Ireland, Bulgaria and Portugal recorded the highest decreases for this distance class, 29.1%, 26.1% and 22.8%, respectively.
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Empty runnings of road freight vehicles
Figure 7 presents the percentage of vehicle-kilometres recorded for empty runnings in 2024. At EU level, one fifth of total road freight vehicle-kilometres was carried out by empty vehicles (21.6%). This share was higher for national transport than for the total, at around one quarter (25.8%), whereas in international road transport the share of empty vehicle-kilometres was 12.6%.
For total road freight transport, 17 of the EU countries recorded a share of vehicle-kilometres travelled by empty vehicles between 15% and 30% in 2024. The share for Cyprus was considerably higher, at 43.7%, which likely indicates that a big share of the road freight performance is linked either to goods imported through ports or construction traffic, both of which are linked to empty journeys in one of the two directions. Road freight performance by empty vehicles was also well above the EU average for Ireland (34.7%), Greece (34.4%) and Austria (34.0%). At the other extreme were Denmark, with only 7.5% vehicle-kilometres by empty vehicles, Lithuania with 11.0% and Belgium with 11.6%.
Empty vehicles accounted for a large share of vehicle-kilometres in national transport for almost all countries. In contrast, for international transport, almost all the EU countries reported lower levels of empty running compared with national transport, with the only exceptions Denmark and France. Only a few countries recorded shares of more than 20% of vehicle-kilometres by empty vehicles in international transport in 2024: Austria (22.3%), France (21.0%), Luxembourg (20.9%), Ireland (20.5%) and Germany (20.2%). These figures underline the economic importance of securing loads for return journeys in international transport to minimise empty runs.
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Source: Eurostat (road_go_ta_tott)
Source data for tables and graphs
Context
Data presented in this publication were collected in the framework of Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (recast). These data are based on sample surveys carried out in the reporting countries, i.e., the EU countries, Norway and Switzerland, and record the road goods transport undertaken by vehicles registered in these countries.
Reporting countries use their own national surveys for the collection of data based on returns from road hauliers. The results are microdata referring to vehicles and their linked journeys, providing detailed information on goods transported. At European level, common aggregation procedures have been used which may diverge from national practices. Therefore, differences might occur between the figures in this publication and national values.
Data sources
Country specific notes
Bulgaria and Romania: While Bulgaria and Romania had no obligation prior to accession in 2007, they started reporting data for the reference year 2006.
Croatia: While Croatia had no obligation prior to accession in 2013, it started reporting data from reference year 2008.
Malta: Regulation (EU) No 70/2012 does not apply to Malta, as long as the number of Maltese-registered goods road transport vehicles licensed to engage in international transport does not exceed 400 vehicles.
Finland: National and international surveys have been harmonised and follow a common methodology from Q1 2011 onwards, leading to a break in series in 2011.
Sweden: A break in series occurred in 2014 following a change in methodology. On the basis of a specific survey, Sweden corrected the European road freight survey results for trucks participating in the sample which were not in use over the surveyed period.
Methodological notes
EU totals calculated in this publication refer to road freight transport reported by the 27 EU countries excluding Malta which does not report road freight transport statistics.
International transport loaded and unloaded: International transport as presented in this publication is based on goods loaded and unloaded in the reporting EU countries. Double counting is avoided since reporting relates only to resident carriers of the reporting countries: the figures sum up the goods transported by resident carriers to all other countries of the world and the goods brought into the reporting country by resident carriers from all other countries of the world.
Road freight transport performance in tonne-kilometres derives only from loaded journeys. Distances travelled by empty vehicles are not considered.
Explore further
Other articles
Database
- Transport, see:
- Road transport (road)
- Road freight transport measurement (road_go)
Thematic section
Publications
- Key figures on Europe – 2025 edition - Key figures
- Key figures on European transport — 2024 edition - Key figures
- Eurostat regional yearbook — 2024 edition - Flagship publications
Selected datasets
- Transport, see:
- Road transport (t_road)
Methodology
- Road freight transport measurement (ESMS metadata file)
- Glossary for transport statistics — 5th edition — 2019 - Manuals and guidelines
- Methodologies used in road freight transport surveys in Member States, EFTA and 3 candidate countries — 2025 edition - Manuals and guidelines
- Road freight transport methodology — 2025 edition - Manuals and guidelines
Legislation
- Regulation (EC) No 70/2012 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road (recast)
- Regulation (EU) No 1304/2007 of 7 November 2007 amending Directive 95/64, Regulation (EC) No 1172/98, Regulations (EC) No 91/2003 and (EC) No 1365/2006 with respect to the establishment of NST 2007 as the unique classification for transported goods in certain transport modes
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 202/2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 6/2003 concerning the dissemination of statistics on the carriage of goods by road