More freight, fewer hauliers - a waste industry at a crossroads

According to a report by Transport Intelligence, the European road transport market is expected to grow by 2% in 2025, reaching €436.9 billion. While this is a positive forecast, the industry is facing a major challenge: a growing number of loads with a simultaneous shortage of hauliers. This problem is affecting various sectors, including the waste industry, where finding a reliable haulier is becoming increasingly difficult.

On the one hand, market growth means more business opportunities and new orders for transport companies. On the other hand, staff shortages and pressure to deliver on time can result in delays, increased costs and a deterioration in service quality. This situation calls for new solutions and better organisation of logistics processes.

Forecasts for 2025: Transport market growth

Forecasts for 2025 predict further growth in the transport sector. The road transport market in Europe is estimated to reach €436.9 billion, an increase of 2% compared to the previous year. Such a result is due, among other things, to the economic recovery from the pandemic and energy crises, rising consumption and the dynamic growth of the e-commerce sector.

Not without significance is also progressive digitisation of logisticswhich increases the operational efficiency of many transport companies. More and more orders are appearing on digital platforms that connect carriers with shippers. However, this still does not solve the most important problem - the shortage of human resources and rolling stock.

Shortage of carriers: An industry-wide problem

One of the biggest challenges for European road transport is the lack of available hauliers. Reports indicate that more than 60% truck driver positions could remain unfilled in 2025. This situation is particularly difficult in Western European countries, where local hauliers are increasingly relying on subcontractors from Central and Eastern Europe.

Shortage of carriers translates into concrete difficulties: staff shortages, insufficient vehicles, overstretched workforces and increased prices for transport services. It is also a greater risk for manufacturing and trading companies, which face delays and instability in their supply chains. Companies in the waste sector are also feeling the effects.

The waste industry: specifics and challenges

Waste transport is a sector subject to specific legal requirements. Carrying this type of load requires not only authorisationsbut also knowledge of national and EU regulations and appropriate load securing. In many cases, additional administrative obligations must also be fulfilled.

In the current market situation, with the number of available hauliers decreasing and the demand for transport constantly increasing, the waste industry is facing a serious problem. Finding a reliable partnerthat meets all the legal and logistical criteria is becoming increasingly difficult. There is a shortage not only of vehicles, but also of companies with the necessary competence to carrying out specialised transports.

WasteTransport.co.uk: waste carrier database

In response to the needs of the waste industry, the platform OdpadyTransport.pl was established. Its main objective is to connect waste producers and recyclers with transport companies that have the required permits and experience in transporting waste. The platform acts as a database of waste transporting companies throughout Europe, thanks to which users can easily find a carrier matching the type of waste and direction of transport.

For waste carriers, the WasteTransport.co.uk database is an opportunity to increase their visibility and gain new customers without the involvement of intermediaries. Thanks to the precise presentation of services and permits, the platform makes it possible to stand out from the competition. Waste producers, on the other hand, gain access to reliable information and can quickly establish cooperation with trustworthy partners.

What does the future hold?

The transport market in Europe continues to grow, but its further development will depend on the adaptability of the sector. Unless effective solutions are put in place to alleviate the shortage of hauliers, economic growth could be hampered by logistical problems. This situation requires not only legislative support, but also the use of modern digital tools.

Platforms such as OdpadyTransport.co.uk show that innovative approaches can help niche sectors - like the waste industry - to respond effectively to market challenges. A waste haulier database, bid automation and information transparency are key elements that can ensure continuity of supply and improve service quality across Europe.