Regardless of the state of the economy and the solvency of customers, road freight transportation remains the most effective way to deliver goods over medium and short distances. The gradual recovery of the consumer market after the end of the global pandemic led to an increase in trade and, as a result, an increase in the cost of road freight.

In 2021, on average, rates increased in Russia by 20%. At the same time, the increase was uneven – new directions were added, on the most popular routes the price increase even reached 100%. This applies, for example, to transportation from Moscow to St. Petersburg. In this particularly popular direction, the average cost of prices increased at least twice both in the first quarter of this year and in the second. The growth trend continues in the III and IV quarters.

Transportation from Moscow to Yekaterinburg also responds quickly to market changes. Rates in this region increased sharply in 2020 and, since then, do not show any downward trend. Active growth of tariffs is also noted by experts in the southern direction, for example, the cost of delivering goods to the Krasnodar Territory increased by 46%.

If we consider prices by vehicle categories, the average cost of 1 km of delivery by a tilt truck today is 40 rubles, the prices for isothermal vans of the same carrying capacity are 50 rubles. for 1 km, a 20-ton refrigerator will cost – 55 rubles. for 1 km.

Among the main reasons for the increase in tariffs, analysts name:

growth in market demand after the end of the pandemic,
increase in traffic volumes from large retailers,
shortage of truck drivers
shortage of affordable transport of the required category,
ruin of small carriers,
an increase in the price of fuel and car parts,
also, the increase in rates is due to the emerging trend towards transparency and whitewashing of the cargo transportation sector.

Experts say that the resulting imbalance between supply and demand in the road transport market will continue to raise tariffs until the market stabilizes. Road freight transport is a very sensitive industry, and market mechanisms work very effectively in it. Rising prices lead to an increase in the fleet and an increase in the number of drivers for carriers, which leads to a restoration of balance.

Analysts say that as a result of such waves, there is a gradual consolidation and consolidation of players – the number of small carriers and logistics firms is decreasing. Whereas large and medium-sized firms are gradually expanding.

Thanks to the stable growth of prices for road transport, vehicle owners today feel more confident. It is at such moments that transport companies can afford additional expenses for the expansion and renewal of the fleet. Experts promise that in the next 5 years the average revenue rate of commercial road freight transport will increase from 5 R/t-km to 8 R/t-km. The rate of change will depend on the cost of operating costs.