Interesting Facts
Logistics Fact of the Week: Around One in Five EU Truck Kilometres Can Be Empty
The cargo has been delivered and the trailer is empty - but the carrier’s journey is not necessarily over. If no return load is available, the truck may travel hundreds of kilometres without carrying any goods.
This is known as empty running, and it remains a major efficiency challenge in road freight.
According to Eurostat, 21.8% of vehicle-kilometres performed by EU road freight vehicles in 2023 were empty. The figure reached 25.9% for national transport, compared with just 13.1% for international operations.
💰 An empty truck still costs money
Even without cargo, the operator continues paying for:
- fuel;
- the driver;
- road tolls;
- maintenance and depreciation;
- insurance and operating costs.
The risk of an empty return journey therefore matters when carriers plan operations and calculate rates.
Finding a return load can significantly improve vehicle utilisation and the economics of the entire trip. It can also create opportunities for customers whose cargo matches the carrier’s required direction.
This is one of the key roles of freight forwarding: matching cargo with available transport and reducing unnecessary empty kilometres wherever possible.
At LOADSTAR UNITY LTD, we work with international routes and carriers to find efficient transport solutions for our clients.
In logistics, it matters not only where the truck is going, but what it can carry on the way back.
This is known as empty running, and it remains a major efficiency challenge in road freight.
According to Eurostat, 21.8% of vehicle-kilometres performed by EU road freight vehicles in 2023 were empty. The figure reached 25.9% for national transport, compared with just 13.1% for international operations.
💰 An empty truck still costs money
Even without cargo, the operator continues paying for:
- fuel;
- the driver;
- road tolls;
- maintenance and depreciation;
- insurance and operating costs.
The risk of an empty return journey therefore matters when carriers plan operations and calculate rates.
Finding a return load can significantly improve vehicle utilisation and the economics of the entire trip. It can also create opportunities for customers whose cargo matches the carrier’s required direction.
This is one of the key roles of freight forwarding: matching cargo with available transport and reducing unnecessary empty kilometres wherever possible.
At LOADSTAR UNITY LTD, we work with international routes and carriers to find efficient transport solutions for our clients.
In logistics, it matters not only where the truck is going, but what it can carry on the way back.
