Poland's Rise as Europe's Freight Hub: What Shippers Need to Know

A Strategic Crossroads

Poland sits at the geographic heart of Europe, bridging the mature economies of Western Europe with the fast-growing markets of the East. This location is not merely convenient — it is transformative. Over the past decade, Poland has leveraged its position to become the undisputed leader in European road freight, surpassing Germany in terms of tonne-kilometres transported by national carriers.

For shippers, understanding Poland's logistics ecosystem is no longer optional. Whether your supply chain runs through Warsaw or merely touches Polish carriers on a subcontracted leg, the country's freight infrastructure directly impacts your costs, transit times, and service quality.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Poland's dominance in European road freight is backed by remarkable statistics. Polish carriers account for over 30% of all international road freight in the EU, a figure that has grown steadily for more than a decade. The country's registered commercial vehicle fleet exceeds 1.2 million trucks, making it the largest in the European Union.

In 2025, Poland transported an estimated 320 billion tonne-kilometres of goods by road — more than any other EU member state. The international segment alone accounted for roughly 70% of this figure, reflecting the country's role as a transit and cross-trade powerhouse rather than just a domestic market.

Year-over-Year Growth

While many Western European markets have seen flat or declining road freight volumes, Poland has consistently posted growth rates of 3-5% annually. This resilience persisted even through supply chain disruptions, energy crises, and regulatory tightening under the EU Mobility Package.

Infrastructure Investments Paying Off

Poland's freight capabilities rest on a foundation of sustained infrastructure investment, much of it co-financed by EU cohesion funds.

Motorway Network

The completion of the A1 (north-south, Gdansk to Czech border), A2 (east-west, German border to Belarus border), and A4 (southern corridor, German border to Ukraine border) motorways has created a modern highway grid that connects all major logistics centres. These routes carry the bulk of international freight and have dramatically reduced transit times compared to a decade ago.

Intermodal Terminals

Poland has invested heavily in intermodal terminals, with major hubs in Lodz, Poznan, Wroclaw, and the Tri-City area (Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot). These terminals enable seamless transfers between road and rail, supporting the EU's goal of shifting long-haul freight to more sustainable modes.

Rail Freight Upgrades

The modernisation of the E20 rail corridor (connecting Berlin to Warsaw and onward to Moscow) and investments in the Baltic-Adriatic rail corridor position Poland as a key node in pan-European rail freight. While road remains dominant, the rail share of freight is slowly increasing.

Competitive Advantages

Several structural factors underpin Poland's freight leadership.

Operational Cost Efficiency

Polish transport companies operate at significantly lower cost bases than their Western European counterparts. Lower labour costs, fuel taxation structures, and overhead expenses translate into competitive pricing without sacrificing service quality. This cost advantage, while narrowing as wages rise, remains substantial.

Skilled Workforce

Poland has one of Europe's largest pools of professional truck drivers. The country's vocational training infrastructure produces thousands of qualified drivers annually, and many Polish drivers have years of international experience across EU routes.

EU Membership Benefits

Full EU membership gives Polish carriers unrestricted access to the single market. Combined with bilateral agreements and participation in the Community Licence system, Polish operators can serve virtually any European route without additional permits.

Key Trade Corridors

Understanding Poland's main freight corridors helps shippers plan more efficient routing.

Germany-Poland

The busiest corridor in Central Europe, carrying everything from automotive parts to consumer goods. The A2 motorway and multiple rail connections provide high-capacity options. Frankfurt (Oder) / Slubice is the primary border crossing point.

Poland-Romania

A rapidly growing corridor driven by automotive manufacturing and agricultural trade. Routes typically run through Slovakia or Hungary, though direct connections via the Via Carpatia are improving.

Baltic Connections

Gdansk and Gdynia handle significant container volumes that feed into land-based distribution across Poland and onward to Central Europe. The Baltic corridor connects Scandinavian markets to continental supply chains.

Scandinavian Routes

Ferry connections from Swinoujscie and Gdynia to Sweden and Denmark provide critical links for Nordic trade. Combined with road transport, these routes serve the growing Polish-Scandinavian trade relationship.

Challenges on the Horizon

Poland's freight sector faces several headwinds that shippers should monitor.

Driver Shortages

Despite its large driver pool, Poland is beginning to experience shortages as experienced drivers retire and younger workers gravitate toward other professions. The industry is increasingly recruiting drivers from Ukraine, Belarus, and Central Asia to fill gaps.

Sustainability Regulations

The EU's Fit for 55 package and upcoming CO2 emission standards for heavy vehicles will require significant fleet renewal investments. Polish carriers, many of which are small and medium enterprises, face capital constraints in transitioning to lower-emission vehicles.

Cabotage Rule Changes

Revisions under the EU Mobility Package have tightened cabotage rules, including mandatory cooling-off periods between cabotage operations. These changes particularly affect Polish carriers who have built business models around cross-trade and cabotage operations in Western Europe.

Electronic Toll Systems

Poland's transition to a new electronic toll system (e-TOLL) and harmonisation with EU-wide tolling frameworks add operational complexity and cost. Carriers must invest in compatible on-board units and adapt to evolving pricing structures.

What This Means for Shippers

Poland's freight hub status creates opportunities for shippers willing to adapt their logistics strategies.

• Consider Polish carriers for both domestic and international routes — cost and quality are increasingly competitive
• Leverage Poland's central location as a consolidation or distribution hub for pan-European operations
• Monitor infrastructure developments along the Via Carpatia and rail corridors for new routing options
• Plan for regulatory changes affecting cabotage and emissions that may shift cost structures
• Build relationships early with reliable Polish transport partners before capacity tightens further

Poland's rise as Europe's freight hub is not a temporary trend — it reflects deep structural advantages that will shape European logistics for decades to come.