The setting of freight transport rates is left to free agreement between the parties of the haulage contracts (customers and road hauliers) by Council Regulation no. 4058/89. The road transport market is at present fully liberalised and is supposed to function as a market without any imperfections. However, the market power is not very well-balanced in this sector. Whereas there are many small and medium-sized companies at the supply side, the demanding parties are often large industries and logistics companies. The small hauliers are not always capable in passing on sudden and large cost increases (in particular fuel costs) to their customers, leading to low profitability and high vulnerability. The European Commission is therefore considering an amendment to Regulation 4058/89, which introduces a minimum contract clause for price revision. In this study ECORYS assesses the impacts of the introduction of such a minimum clause on the road transport market, by analysing the problem, defining objectives, indicators and relevant policy options and determining the impacts and added value for Europe.

Client: European Commission – Directorate General for Energy and Transport