Belgian road transport experienced its worst year on record in 2025, with 413 companies declared bankrupt, according to figures from the Belgian Institute for Transport & Logistics (ITLB). This is the highest number since the institute began compiling sector-specific data and represents an increase of more than one third compared with 2024.
The figures, cited by Transport and Logistics Flanders (TLV), point to a structural profitability crisis rather than a temporary downturn. TLV notes that the scale and persistence of the bankruptcies indicate long-standing pressure on margins across the sector.
A closer look at the data shows that the final months of the year were particularly damaging. Almost one-third of all bankruptcies occurred in the fourth quarter of 2025, confirming that financial pressure intensified as the year progressed. According to TLV, this development reflects what the organisation has been observing among transport operators in practice.
Small transport companies were by far the most affected. Nearly 80 per cent of bankruptcies involved operators with fewer than six trucks or vans, many of them independent carriers or small businesses active in last-mile delivery. These companies often work as subcontractors for larger logistics providers or e-commerce platforms. TLV stresses that the problem is not a lack of work, but the financial conditions under which these services are performed.
According to TLV chief executive Johan Staes, a combination of rising costs and cash-flow pressure is pushing small and young companies out of the market. Labour costs account for around 35 to 40 per cent of total operating costs, while fuel represents 20 to 25 per cent. In addition, operators face kilometre charges amounting to 8 to 10 per cent of costs, which are indexed annually and must be paid within a short timeframe. Increasing congestion-related downtime, higher financing costs and delayed payments from clients further undermine liquidity. Staes warned that even relatively small cost increases, such as adjustments to road taxes, can determine whether a company survives or fails.
The pressure is unlikely to ease in the short term. According to ITLB forecasts published by Transportmedia.be, road transport costs in Belgium are expected to rise by 4 per cent in 2026. Fuel costs and toll charges are set to be the main drivers, alongside wage increases and higher insurance premiums. ITLB also notes that there is still no dedicated cost index for electric truck operations, adding further uncertainty for operators planning investments in alternative drivetrains.
