The biggest jumps were recorded on Western European corridors, but Central European lanes also moved higher — including Poland–Germany and Germany–Poland. Analysts say the market is accelerating away from long-term agreements toward spot freight, which reflects day-to-day operating costs more quickly.
Spot volumes picked up sharply
EITD’s analysis of Trans.eu data indicates that in March 2026 the number of load postings on many key European routes rose by several dozen percent compared with the same month a year earlier. The strongest momentum was seen in Western Europe.
On the France–Benelux lane, postings were up by 102 percent, France–Germany by 73 percent, Germany–Benelux by 71 percent, and Benelux–France by 72 percent. Central Europe also showed solid growth: Germany–Poland increased by 43 percent, while Poland–Germany rose by 37 percent.
As Michał Pakulniewicz, a market analyst at EITD, notes, this is more than a typical post-winter rebound.
We’re seeing a structurally stronger demand environment. Part of the increase is also the result of freight shifting from the contract market to spot — especially where contract rates have stopped matching real transport costs,
Carriers are coming back to freight platforms
Carrier activity was relatively subdued in the first two months of the year. On most routes, the number of freight searches was lower than a year earlier. That changed in March. The clearest rebound came on Spain–France, where carrier activity climbed by 29 percent year on year. Positive results were also recorded on several other Western European lanes.
According to the report’s authors, carriers are returning to transport exchanges largely because the spot market has become more attractive: rates are rising and there are more short-notice jobs available.
The report also points to increasing fragmentation. More and more shipments are being arranged “last minute”, and operators are more often chasing individual loads rather than relying primarily on fixed contracts.
War and fuel costs pushed rates higher
The biggest shifts, however, were seen in freight rates. After modest increases in January and February, March delivered a clear acceleration.
The steepest rise was on Poland–Italy, where rates increased by 14.1 percent year on year. Benelux–France followed with 13.6 percent, and Poland–Germany with 13.5 percent. Double-digit growth was also reported on routes including Germany–Poland, Germany–Benelux and Italy–Poland.
The report attributes the main impulse to a rapid rise in fuel costs linked to the conflict around Iran and broader tensions in the Middle East. At the same time, spot pricing passes cost changes through to final rates faster than long-term contracts, which amplified the scale of the increases.
Not every corridor moved at the same pace. On France–Germany and France–Benelux, the rate of growth cooled compared with previous months — even though the broader European trend remains upward.
Road freight pricing is leaning more on spot
In the view of Natalia Janiszewska, president of EITD, the first quarter of 2026 may signal a deeper shift in how road transport is priced across Europe.
When fuel costs jump and contracts stop reflecting real operating expenses, loads move to the spot market. That’s exactly what we observed in the first quarter. In a high-uncertainty environment, spot becomes the main pricing mechanism for transport,
EITD believes the growing role of spot may become one of the defining trends in European transport in 2026. Cost volatility, geopolitical tensions and fuel pressure are pushing both carriers and shippers away from multi-month contracts and toward more flexible ways of working.
