Wasted Loading Capacity in European Transport: Causes and Solutions
Despite the ongoing efforts of logistics companies to optimize transport operations, a structural issue regarding the inefficient management of loading capacity persists in Europe. In 2023 (Eurostat data), over three-quarters (80.5%) of road freight transport in the EU was carried out by vehicles with a loading capacity of 20.6 tonnes or more. The average EU load for total transport was 14.3 tonnes in 2023. Therefore, considering only the majority of these vehicles, the load utilization rate is just 69%, highlighting a clear inefficiency in the use of available resources. Greater efficiency in loading capacity is essential to make European transport competitive and sustainable.
The Three Main Causes of Wasted Capacity
This inefficiency is not accidental, but rather the result of well-defined dynamics, often linked to the operational pressure faced by transport companies. In particular, three main causes contribute to this waste of loading capacity.
In Less Than Truckload (LTL) and groupage transport operations, delivery deadlines require vehicles to depart regardless of their load utilization. This means trucks leave warehouses even if they are not fully loaded, resulting in an inefficient use of available capacity. Strict delivery windows imposed by customers create a constraint that prevents companies from waiting for additional shipments to optimize the use of both space and weight capacity.
Another significant issue is the high number of empty kilometres driven between unloading and the next loading point. Once a delivery is completed, vehicles often have to cover considerable distances before finding a new available load. This problem is particularly pronounced on specific routes and could be partially mitigated by more efficient planning and better use of digital platforms for sharing load availability. In this area as well, optimizing European transport becomes a priority to reduce waste and operational costs.
The data (Eurostat) speaks for itself: across the EU, approximately one-fifth of total vehicle-kilometres for road freight transport is driven empty (21.8%). This percentage rises even further for domestic transport, where almost a quarter of the total distance travelled (25.9%) is carried out without cargo, while for international transport, the figure drops to 13.1%.
A further limitation is partial load optimization, which almost always occurs in only one dimension: weight or volume. A vehicle may be fully loaded in terms of weight while still having unused space, or it may be completely full in terms of volume while carrying a load well below its maximum weight capacity. This discrepancy represents a wasted opportunity that could be better managed through more effective consolidation of loads from multiple operators. To improve the efficiency of European transport, addressing these structural bottlenecks is essential.
Cooperation between transport companies to address inefficiencies
One of the most promising solutions to tackle these inefficiencies is horizontal cooperation among transport operators. While collaboration between shippers is often difficult to implement due to conflicting interests, cooperation between carriers is more realistic and is already underway in many geographical areas. This type of collaboration enables operators to share cargo capacity, optimize routes, and reduce empty kilometers, improving both economic efficiency and environmental sustainability.
In our specific case, this cooperative approach is already a reality in the LTL and groupage sector, where sharing resources among multiple operators helps increase vehicle utilization rates and reduce unnecessary trips. GRUBER Logistics’ strong networking capabilities at European and international levels play a crucial role in fostering these synergies, creating a more integrated and efficient logistics ecosystem. Such initiatives confirm the company’s commitment to actively contributing to a more rational and eco-friendly European transport network.
Improving cargo capacity management in Europe requires a combination of digital innovation, advanced planning, and, above all, greater collaboration among industry players. Only through a coordinated approach will it be possible to reduce empty mileage, lower operating costs, and make European freight transport more sustainable in the long term.