Road toll rates in Poland have risen by over 40%
Translated from Polish using artificial intelligence — DeepL
The increases in e-TOLL rates and the expansion of the toll road network from February 2026 have significantly increased operating costs for transport companies. As data from the latest report by the Polish Transport and Logistics Employers’ Association (TLP) shows, these changes are putting significant pressure on the profitability of transport operations.
Toll rates have risen by an average of over 40%, and the network of roads covered by the system has expanded by a further 645 km. As a result, virtually the entire infrastructure used by heavy goods vehicles is now subject to tolls, which directly increases companies’ operating costs.
One of the report’s key findings is the limited ability to pass on rising costs to customers. As many as 60% of transport companies state that they must cover the increase in e-TOLL charges from their own margins. At the same time, over 73% of companies anticipate that in the coming months, the profitability of their operations may reach the break-even point or even turn into a loss.
The most significant effects of the changes are felt by the smallest transport companies. Micro-enterprises with up to 10 vehicles account for over 60% of survey respondents, which accurately reflects the structure of the Polish transport market.
In the long term, this could lead to a significant decline in vehicle availability, as well as a shift in market structure in favour of large carriers, who are better able to absorb rising operating costs.
The survey also shows that attempts to renegotiate transport rates are often met with a very tough market reaction. The most common response from clients is a refusal to accept a price increase, often accompanied by the threat of terminating the contract.
At the same time – as industry representatives point out – rising systemic costs are also affecting how transport companies plan their operations. Instead of investing in fleet development or technological modernisation, many companies are now focusing on cost-cutting measures. Over 47% of firms report scaling back operations or reducing their fleet.
As road transport remains a key element of domestic supply chains, changes in the industry’s condition may, in the long term, also affect the operating costs of businesses in other sectors of the economy.
Source: tslbiznes.pl