The CNR's new 2020 study on Romanian road haulage shows how much the industry has changed in three years. The main changes are the doubling of the minimum wage, the transfer of costs from employers to employees, and the introduction of higher travel allowances. In terms of road transport activity, the Romanian fleet is one of the most active in the European Union at international level. With a particular presence in Western Europe, it carries out more than 30% of its activity between third countries and nearly 7% in cabotage.

The gross salary of Romanian drivers has risen from less than €400 to €565 in three years, a direct consequence of the minimum wage doubling between 2016 and 2020. The daily travel allowance amounts to €68 per day for 22 days per month. The driver's mileage has fallen by 6% since the last study, while its cost has increased by 31%. As a result, the cost per hour of driving has risen to €11.81, an increase of 31% compared to 2017. The driver's net income has risen from £15,227 to £20,490 per year, an increase of 34.6 per cent. 
Other cost increases are also contributing to the overall increase. These include tolls (+37 %), maintenance and repairs (+16 %) and vehicle ownership costs (+12 %). The decrease in fuel costs (-9 %) and vehicle insurance (-12 %) is not enough to offset the final result. 

When calculating costs, the kilometre cost of a 40-tonne Romanian heavy goods vehicle used for international transport, excluding structural costs, stands at €0.76 compared to €0.64 in 2017, an increase of 19.1%. Adding in structural costs, estimated at around 8% of the total cost, the full cost rises to €0.83 per kilometre in 2020, based on conditions observed before the health crisis.

The CNR invites you to discover this new study, which provides comprehensive details on Romanian TRM under the operating conditions of 2020.