Fuel shock hits Polish hauliers, raising warning signs for European road freight

The warning comes from the West Pomeranian Road Carriers Association, which submitted a petition to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on 17 March calling for emergency support measures. The initiative has been backed by the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin.

For international readers, the issue goes beyond Poland’s domestic politics. Polish hauliers are among the biggest players in cross-border road freight in the EU, so a prolonged loss of profitability in the sector could have implications for transport capacity, subcontracting chains and freight rates in other European markets.

Hauliers warn of job cuts and suspended operations

According to the petition, wholesale fuel prices have risen by more than 40% in a short period, placing immediate pressure on road transport operators. The association argues that many hauliers are unable to react quickly because freight rates are locked in under long-term contracts.

“The increase in operating costs cannot be quickly passed on to customers due to long-term contracts and fixed freight rates. As a result, Polish hauliers bear the full burden of these costs, which leads to an immediate loss of profitability,” the association said.

Industry representatives say the impact is already visible. Dariusz Matulewicz, President of the West Pomeranian Road Carriers Association, said some transport companies have already begun cutting jobs or suspending haulage.

“We already have examples of companies deciding to lay off staff, suspend haulage, or seek support from lawyers and mediators, because operating under this financial model will generate losses with such a steep increase in costs,” he said.

Matulewicz compared the current situation to the most difficult periods of recent years.

“We compare the first quarter of 2026 to 2020 and 2022, i.e. the time of the pandemic and the time of the war in Ukraine,” he added.

Industry asks for temporary fuel support

In its appeal to the government, the association called for temporary support measures to help companies survive the cost shock. Its proposals include per-litre fuel subsidies for transport firms, a cut in excise duty and the fuel charge to the minimum level allowed under EU law, and the introduction of a “professional fuel” mechanism with partial reimbursement of costs.

The group is also asking for temporary relief or deferrals of public levies for companies at risk of insolvency.

The association argues that without intervention, the consequences will extend well beyond the transport sector.

“Continuing this trend will paralyse supply chains, drive up the prices of goods and services for all citizens, and cause serious financial losses for the national economy,” the petition states.

Rising diesel costs could spread through the wider economy

Business organisations say the problem is not confined to road haulage. Hanna Mojsiuk, President of the Northern Chamber of Commerce in Szczecin, warned that higher fuel prices are likely to feed into the wider economy through a second-round effect.

“Entrepreneurs have become accustomed to major challenges, because recent years have been a time of a global pandemic, but also the war in Ukraine, which continues and still reverberates through our economy. High fuel prices on global markets will be quickly reflected in local markets. So a crisis lies ahead, which will affect many industries,” she said.

Mojsiuk added that while the Polish government cannot influence events in the Middle East, it can still try to cushion the impact on businesses.

“We do not expect those in power to have a remedy for a global crisis triggered in the Middle East, because we know Polish politicians have no influence over the geopolitical situation. However, they can help businesses. Dialogue and the preparation of a support programme for road hauliers are needed.”

She also warned that the first wave of cost increases may be followed by broader knock-on effects across the economy.

“We expect a strong second-round effect, because the first cost increases were already significantly higher than anticipated. The second-round effect in the economy will be generated by the rise in fuel prices,” she said.

Legal tools exist, but relief may be slow

Lawyer Michał Gajda said Polish law contains mechanisms that may allow contracts to be revisited in exceptional economic circumstances. However, he stressed that the existence of such tools does not provide an automatic solution for transport operators facing a sudden rise in fuel costs.

“If, after a contract is concluded, an exceptional event occurs that the parties could not have foreseen, and its effect is a serious disruption of the contractual balance, the court may change the method of performance, the amount of the consideration, or even terminate the contract,” Gajda said.

At the same time, he noted that each case would need to be assessed individually.

“What is crucial is demonstrating the real impact of these events on a specific contract and on the ability to perform it,” he added.

For now, the message from Polish hauliers is that the problem is immediate, while legal and political responses may take time. For a sector that plays a central role in European road freight, that gap could become increasingly important if fuel prices remain high.