In 2025, truck and rail freight prices were influenced by rising costs, policy gaps, and changing demand for intermodal transport. Rail freight faced growing pressure, especially in Germany, where intermodal transport started to decline after many years of steady growth. High route fees, infrastructure delays, and extra costs from construction and rerouting made rail less competitive and pushed more cargo back to trucks. At the same time, weak economic activity created excess road freight capacity, which increased competition in the trucking sector and affected pricing dynamics.
Truck freight remained strong due to its flexibility and wide infrastructure access, but it also benefited from policy and funding advantages in many regions. Public investment in road networks and lower infrastructure costs compared to rail helped trucking maintain its position in freight movement. However, the growing focus on sustainability and efficiency highlighted the long-term advantages of rail, including lower energy use and better economies of scale. Overall, rail freight prices were under pressure due to structural costs, while truck freight remained competitive because of strong infrastructure support and operational flexibility.
