By Maria Kalamatas | May 9, 2025
Vienna, AUSTRIA —
As protests erupt across several Eastern European logistics corridors and diesel prices spike again in May, freight companies operating in and out of the EU are confronting a new reality: the cost and complexity of cross-border road transport is nearing a breaking point.
“We’ve built a system around open movement, but the pressure from both sides is mounting,” said Milan Horvat, operations director at BalticHaul. “2025 is testing the limits of European trucking like never before.”
Fuel surcharges return — and stay
Diesel costs in Hungary, Slovakia and Romania have jumped 18% since March, with carriers in Poland and Austria already issuing new fuel surcharge tables to their B2B clients as of May 6.
According to the European Freight Association, more than 60% of carriers across the continent have reinstated surcharges this spring — many of which were suspended post-COVID.
Hauliers now warn that some fixed contracts signed before Q1 2025 are becoming unprofitable, with several operators in the Czech Republic cancelling routes until rate adjustments are renegotiated.
Border protests expose supply chain fragility
This week, truckers and logistics unions in Bulgaria and Romania organized a 48-hour cross-border slowdown, protesting EU labor policy changes and tax harmonization plans for foreign drivers.
“When border wait times hit 18 hours, it’s not just a protest — it’s a logistics failure,” noted Horvat.
At least 9,000 vehicles were delayed between May 4 and 7 along the Giurgiu–Ruse and Vidin–Calafat routes. Several automotive and FMCG shipments were rerouted via Serbia or postponed entirely.
Western European clients rethink land routing
In response, some logistics planners are now revisiting rail-road intermodal options, especially for goods transiting Eastern Europe toward Germany, Italy or France.
Freight buyers are also exploring short-sea alternatives between Greece, Croatia and Western Europe to bypass land volatility.
“We’re seeing clients ask about routes they ignored five years ago,” said Linda Roos, network planner at TransEurope GmbH. “Risk-averse shipping is making a comeback.”
Conclusion
The events of early May are more than temporary disruptions — they’re flashing warnings about the long-term resilience of road freight in Europe. As diesel volatility returns and political tensions rise at EU borders, transport strategies will need to evolve — fast.
