Car transport in Europe is changing slowly but steadily. Here is what we see on our own lanes, and what it means if you ship cars.
Technology on the truck
Route planning software, telematics and digital tachographs are now standard on most fleets. They help planners avoid congestion, cut empty kilometres and give customers a realistic delivery date.
Lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control are common on new tractor units and make long runs less tiring for drivers. Driverless car carriers are still a long way off, because loading eight to ten cars safely needs an experienced driver.
Cleaner trucks
EU CO2 rules for heavy trucks are pushing operators toward newer engines, and the first electric and hydrogen tractor units are on test routes. For long-distance car carriers the charging network is not ready yet, so most of the gains today come from newer trucks, better load planning and fewer empty runs.
More EVs to move
Electric cars are heavier than petrol cars of the same size, which affects how many fit on a trailer within weight limits. They also need care at loading: we record the charge level at handover, and damaged EVs are handled under separate safety rules.
Online car sales
More cars are bought online and delivered straight to the buyer. That means more single-car moves to private addresses, and buyers who want to know where their car is. Photo reports at collection and delivery and a named contact matter a lot in this kind of job.
Regulation
The EU Mobility Package changed driver rest rules, return-home rules and cabotage limits. More changes are coming on emissions and road tolls, and Germany already charges truck tolls based on CO2.
What this means for you
Ask your carrier how they price EVs and non-runners, what condition report you get, and whether the price includes tolls and ferries. If you want a fixed price for a move, send us the route and we will reply within one working day.
