Road Pricing and Terminal Charges in 2026

29 September 2025

Next year promises significant changes in the transport sector. This is in addition to the usual percentage increases in transport, handling, and labour costs. From 1 July 2026, you will need to prepare for the most substantial change—and the largest cost item: road pricing. On a short 100-kilometre trip, this could quickly add up to several tens of euros. Extra expenses that will certainly be felt in your pocket.

The Biggest Change in 2026: Road Pricing

Several carriers have already approached us with their expectations—and concerns—for 2026. Hauliers, along with the rest of the supply chain, will face higher, variable costs per trip due to this truck levy. Just as in Belgium and Germany, from 1 July, tolls will be payable for every kilometre driven on all Dutch motorways and designated N-roads.

The levy applies to trucks over 3,500 kilograms on nearly all motorways and a number of N-roads. Zero-emission vehicles up to 4,250 kilograms are exempt. For hauliers, this affects choices around routes, load capacities, and vehicle selection, as the amount payable depends on both the weight and emissions of the truck. The principle behind road pricing is to charge according to usage and to proportionally account for pollution.

An example: For a short journey from Maasvlakte to ’s-Hertogenbosch (117 kilometres one way) in a CO₂ emission class 1 vehicle with a maximum mass of 12,000–18,000 kilograms, the rate is €0.186 per kilometre. A simple calculation shows: 117 km × 2 = 234 km × €0.186 = €43.52 extra.

Note: Exact amounts for road pricing in 2026 will be indexed at a later date.

A Maze of Local Charges

Shipping lines and terminals apply a range of handling charges, with THC, ETS, and spread charges being just a few examples. Increasingly, our logistics partners are also applying a ‘congestion surcharge’. Earlier this year, this was introduced for containers undergoing loading and unloading at the port of Antwerp. In Dutch ports, this surcharge is also becoming more widespread.

Rotterdam terminal operators say that the proceeds are used for sustainability initiatives and investments in improved infrastructure through the modal shift. The term modal shift refers to alternatives to road transport, such as inland shipping and rail. Unfortunately, implementation still leaves much to be desired: despite efforts, long queues to and from the ports persist daily due to limited capacity.

At Ritra Cargo, we have absorbed a large proportion of these surcharges for some time, particularly because we believe these costs do not directly contribute to a solution. However, as these increases continue to accumulate, we will also be obliged to pass them on next year. You will therefore start seeing these charges reflected on your invoices from 2026.

More News on the Way

Every autumn, we inform you about the anticipated cost increases for road transport in the year ahead. This carefully compiled information comes from the report ‘Cost Developments in Road Transport’, and we will be sharing it with you again next month.

With so many new developments underway, we strongly advise keeping a close eye on our website. If you would like to be the first to receive the latest logistics news, sign up for our newsletter and never miss an update.