The Austrian road freight transport in 2020

As the only Central European country that was not part of the Eastern bloc, Austria has long benefited from its position as a transit hub in the region. Serving as a link between the most developed parts of Europe (Switzerland, Germany, northern Italy) and the production centres in the East (Hungary, southern Slovakia, the Czech Republic), the Austrian sector has adapted to changing market conditions over the years. After a golden age in the 1990s, it was soon confronted with the challenges of Europe-wide competition following the entry of the 10 new member states into the EU, 4 of which are its immediate neighbours. Thus, most Austrian companies have positioned themselves in the RFT market as transport organizers, seeking high added value, and subcontracting the international freight business to hauliers from neighbouring countries in the East. After a decade of decline, during which the volume of its international business was cut in half, the Austrian sector is increasingly focusing on its domestic market, as is the case in other sectors in Western Europe.

As regards operating conditions, the mileage figures in the Austrian sector are around 120,000 km per year per vehicle. The typical international driver drives 111,000 km (and 1,720 hours) per year and annual drivers’ costs exceed 50,000 €. Looking more closely, certain cost items diverge from those typically observed in Western Europe, notably the high cost of tolls. Maintenance and repair costs are also high, but remain comparable with those observed in France, the Netherlands and Belgium. 

Ultimately, the average cost per kilometer of a 40-tonne Austrian heavy goods vehicle operating on international routes was 1.30 €/km in 2020, one of the highest in Europe.

CNR invites you to discover this new study which brings details on Austrian RFT with operating conditions in 2020.