Navigating the 2026 Dutch Truck Charge: Our Approach to Fair Freight Pricing

The new Dutch truck charge is officially in effect as of 1 July 2026. The legislative frameworks are now clear, and the rates per kilometre are fully established.

As a specialist in European distribution, we work daily with changing shipment flows, time-bound deliveries and diverse routing requirements. Because this new truck levy impacts both our domestic distribution within the Netherlands and our broader European shipments, we have spent the last few months fully preparing our operations.

From installing toll boxes across our entire fleet to updating our administrative systems, we are ready. Most importantly, we have calculated how to pass these new costs on to our clients as fairly and transparently as possible.

A Fair Calculation: Weight Over Percentages

To ensure a fair distribution of these new costs, we have chosen to pass on the truck charge via an absolute amount per 100 kg of chargeable weight.

We deliberately avoided applying a flat percentage increase to our international shipments. A percentage based model often results in disproportionately high and unfair rates for distant European destinations. Using an absolute amount based on weight ensures a much more equitable pricing structure across our entire network.

Factors Influencing Our Surcharges

Our new rate is based strictly on the average additional costs the levy brings to our organisation. When setting these rates, we carefully evaluated the following factors:

• Geographic Location: Our primary base in the west of the Netherlands means a relatively large portion of our local motorways are subject to tolls.

• Network Efficiency: Since 2004, our network distribution model has optimised load factors and minimised empty kilometres. This highly sustainable approach naturally limits the overall impact of the truck charge, although we recognise it is slightly less efficient for exceptionally large shipments.

• European Routing: We have factored in the toll costs incurred within the Netherlands that directly support our European distribution lines.

• Administrative Overhead: We accounted for the baseline costs required to administer and manage the new in-vehicle toll boxes.

Beating the Industry Average

According to advisory reports from Panteia, the expected average impact of the truck charge is between 7% and 10% on kilometres driven in the Netherlands.

By cleverly consolidating shipments and maintaining a high load factor, we significantly limit empty running miles. This operational efficiency has been fully incorporated into our new rates, ensuring our adjustments remain well below the recommended 7% to 10% threshold. For maximum transparency, the truck charge will always be stated clearly as a separate line item on your invoice.

Updates on DPD Parcels and Belgian Tolls

Our pricing updates also account for necessary changes in external parcel networks and international transit routes:

• DPD Parcel Shipments: We will apply DPD’s surcharges on a strict one-to-one basis. Domestic parcel shipments are now subject to a 1.3% surcharge on the package price. For international shipments, the existing toll surcharge per destination country has increased by 0.8%.

• Belgian Kilometre Charge: As of 1 July 2026, the Belgian kilometre charge has also increased. Because this percentage varies by region, we have calculated an average rate. This increase is incorporated into a separate graduated scale specifically for shipments outside the Netherlands that require transport via Belgium.

Passing on Government Savings Early

The government has decided to temporarily reduce the rates of the truck charge beginning 1 September 2026. However, we believe our customers should not have to wait to see those savings. We have applied this reduction early, meaning you benefit from the lowered rates immediately from the 1 July 2026 implementation date.

In the coming months, we will carefully monitor and evaluate the real-world effects of the truck charge. Based on this live data, we will determine how the levy will be structurally incorporated into our pricing from 2027 onwards.

If you have any questions regarding the truck charge and how it applies to your specific supply chain, please feel free to contact your regular account manager.