German road haulage fares rise by nearly 6 percent

The introduction of toll collection on German autobahns has pushed up road haulage fare rates considerably. In the first quarter of 2005 haulage fares on German motorways rose by an average 6 percent. The price increase for national transport was a marginal 0.5 percent.

Price rise international road haulage 3.5 percent up in 2005

On 1 January 2005 toll collection, the so-called Maut, was introduced on part of the German motorway system. The introduction of toll collection partly accounts for the 3.5 percent price rise of road haulage fare rates in the first quarter of 2005 compared to last year’s fourth quarter.

Fares road haulage, 1st quarter 2005

Heavy road transport fare rates through Germany rose by nearly 6 percent in the first quarter of 2005. Other international fare rates increased by less than half a percent. Obviously, toll has a considerable effect on fare rates. Other factors, for instance, the diesel fuel surcharge introduced on 1 January 2005, also play a part in this respect. Moreover, contracts are often renegotiated on 1 January.

Road haulage fares

Light haulage cheaper

Not all transport on German autobahns became more expensive. International removal transport even became cheaper. Removal vans are not subject to toll collection because their weight usually does not exceed 12 tons.

Road haulage fares by market segment, 1st quarter 2005

Large disparities in price increase per market segment

Within the sector road haulage there are large price disparities in the various segments of the market. The price of international tipper lorry transport, for example, rose by over 9 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared tot the first quarter of 2003. The price of international container haulage has risen by just over 2 percent. In the sector national transport the sharpest increase (by more than 4 percent) was found in the sector other transport. The price of tipper lorry transport has increased by more than 1 percent.

Road haulage fares by market segment, percentage change 1st quarter 2005 compared to 1st quarter 2003

Dirk van Weelderen and Marcel Kouwenhoven