How a road freight price is formed

Compare the same shipment and services

The price depends on exact addresses, loading date, cargo, vehicle and availability. A rate per kilometre or online simulation does not replace a quote for your shipment.

What affects the price

• Route: mileage, tolls, access to the addresses and vehicle repositioning.
• Cargo: gross weight, packaged dimensions, pallet count and permitted stacking.
• Vehicle and service: general cargo, temperature control, side loading, high volume or urgency.
• Schedule: dock windows, additional stops, waiting time and traffic restrictions.
• Market and contract conditions: availability, fuel, frequency and any additional services.

Full truckload and part load

For full truckload, compare the total trip price and what it includes. Part loads or groupage may be priced by weight, volume, pallets or loading metres. Check conversion factors and minimum charges in the quote; no single factor applies to every service.

What to check in the quote

• Total price, currency and VAT treatment, stated explicitly.
• Route, cargo, vehicle and loading and delivery windows.
• Included services and potential costs: waiting, stops, handling, customs or cargo insurance.
• Validity, availability, payment terms and rules for changes or cancellation.
• Any fuel adjustment: index source, formula and application date, if agreed.

How to obtain comparable quotes

Send the same brief to every bidder. Specify fixed details and any flexibility. For recurring shipments, provide the actual frequency and volumes. A wider window or return load may help planning, but any discount must be confirmed in the quote.

Open the indicative calculator · Prepare your quote request

Official sources and checks

• European Commission: Weekly Oil Bulletin, fuel data

Reviewed on 08 October 2026. The rules depend on the specific operation; check the current version and the trip documents.