According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, the prices of road transport of goods went significantly higher in the third quarter of 2017. It was the highest quarterly rise in the last four years, aside from the hike during the first three months of this year.
The freight rates in road transport in Germany are constantly growing. According to the German Statistical Office (Destatis), in the third quarter of 2017, the prices went up by 0.5 percent—from 107.1 points in the second quarter of this year to 107.6 points. As reported by a German transport website verkehrsrundschau.de, the price increase is due to the noticeable lack of load spaces resulting from the staff shortage in the industry.
Freight rates are growing for the fifth time in a row
Compared to the third quarter of 2016, the freight rats have gone up by 1.2 percent. The last time such a significant increase was reported was in the fourth quarter of 2013. Furthermore, as verkehrsrundschau.de emphasises, it is the fifth quarter in a row when Germans are experiencing hikes in prices.
As reported by Destatis, the largest quarterly increase applies to the local freight rates (up to 50 km)—from 108.7 points in the second quarter of 2017 to 109.6 points in the third quarter. Annually, the highest increase occurred in the regional transport rates (from 51 up to 150 m)—by 2.4 percent. The national (more than 150 km) and international transport rates have been increased by 1.1 and 0.3 percent year-on-year, respectively.
Comment of the editorial office:
Austrians have also been affected by the price increases. They are resulting from the demand exceeding the supply, the increasing driver shortage, and the application of the business model in the West that involves employing subcontractors from the Central and Eastern Europe to perform transport orders.
This trend may bring positive changes in the sector, both for the drivers and carriers from our region. The growing demand and the decreasing supply will lead to further increases—not only in the transport rates, but also truckers’ salaries.