According to fresh market data from telematics provider Geotab, average diesel prices in Europe have climbed by 37 percent since the start of the year. With fuel costs moving this fast, expenses that were often overlooked are now under the spotlight — especially idle time.
Geotab’s review of European commercial vehicle data points to a consistent trend.
On average, a truck spends about 53 minutes a day idling. That equals 14.6 percent of total engine running time.
Some of that is unavoidable in day-to-day operations — for example, to maintain refrigeration, power hydraulics, or run onboard equipment. But a meaningful share is linked to workflows that can, in principle, be reduced or prevented.
The numbers: 142 euro per vehicle
The fuel burn translates directly into cost:
- around 67 litres of diesel per month consumed while idling
- at an average price of 2.115 euro per litre
That comes to roughly 142 euro per truck per month.
For comparison, at the beginning of 2026 the same figure was about 104 euro. The increase tracks the rise in fuel prices.
What it means at fleet level
Scale makes the impact hard to ignore:
- 20 vehicles: around 2,840 euro per month
- 100 vehicles: around 14,200 euro
- 1,000 vehicles: about 142,000 euro per month
In other words, idling becomes a fixed cost — regardless of utilisation or freight rates.
Mileage is already falling
The data also indicates that fleet behaviour is shifting.
In April 2026, mileage across European fleets dropped below the seasonal average for the first time:
- around minus 10 percent across Europe
- Germany: minus 16 percent within a week
Beyond calendar effects, the analysis suggests companies are consolidating shipments more aggressively and scrutinising trips more carefully.
Hauliers are responding — but not everyone
Operational practice varies widely:
- larger fleets are systematically analysing trips and dwell times
- smaller operators often still lack a solid data foundation
This is where the biggest savings may sit. Without transparency, it’s difficult to tell how much idling is truly necessary — and how much is simply avoidable.
Data is becoming a competitive advantage
Fabian Seithel, AVP Sales EMEA at Geotab, argues that operational decisions increasingly need to be grounded in data.
Only by bringing together driving behaviour, idle time and consumption can businesses pinpoint inefficient processes — and reduce them in a targeted way.
