Having entered 2026 expecting relatively stable costs, European logistics operators are instead facing a fuel shock that few had anticipated

On 28 February 2026, military strikes on Iran triggered a conflict that has since caused severe damage to oil and gas infrastructure across the Middle East. Among its consequences was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a waterway used to carry one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply. According to the IRU, European diesel prices have risen by 25%. Nine EU member states are now above that mark. A European Commission Joint Research Centre assessment published in April 2026 found that EU households are spending approximately 8% more on transport fuel just to maintain pre-war consumption levels.

Fuel costs already account for about a third of the operating expenses for road freight under normal circumstances. And now? According to an analysis by Transport & Environment, the average monthly increase in fuel costs for a European diesel truck is around €890 at current prices. For a fleet of 50 trucks, that adds up to more than €44,000 in extra monthly costs – on top of already thin margins.

Fuel efficiency – more important than ever

According to Agnius Šinkūnas, Head of Sales at ClassTrucks, when it comes to the question of which trucks to operate (and how recent they should be) for maximum fuel efficiency, those manufactured between 2021 and 2023 represent a sweet spot.

“For one, they run on mature Euro 6 technology, with early reliability snags ironed out and fuel consumption figures backed by Real Driving Emissions testing. A 2022 Volvo FH 460, for instance, consumes around 18% less fuel than its 2018 equivalent,” says Agnius Šinkūnas.

Young-used trucks in this age range also cost 35-40% less than new vehicles purchased directly from the manufacturer. For operators aiming to safeguard their margins, this saving is crucial – after all, money not spent on purchasing means more funds available to handle fuel surcharges, manage financing costs, and keep operations running smoothly.

“The financial logic has always favoured young-used, but the current geopolitical situation has further upped the stakes considerably,” says Agnius Šinkūnas. “When diesel is at €2.1 per litre and climbing, a truck that burns 18% less fuel than an older model can hardly be called a nice-to-have – in fact, it’s now closer to an absolute necessity.”

Why uniform fleets compound the advantage

A fuel-efficient truck is one thing – a fleet of similar or identical fuel-efficient trucks is something else. Eco-driving techniques are vehicle-specific. A driver who knows a particular model’s throttle response, braking behaviour, and gear-shift patterns will consistently extract better fuel economy than one who rotates between different makes and configurations. Research from training operations at Girteka – Europe’s largest asset-based logistics company – confirms that mixed fleets produce fuel inefficiencies that accumulate quietly across months and mileage.

“Real standardisation means vehicles of comparable age, similar mileage, matching specification, and verified service history,” notes Agnius Šinkūnas. “Without those factors, the operational benefits of running a single brand largely disappear – you get the appearance of a standardised fleet without actually having one.”

Beyond fuel, standardisation reduces training time, simplifies parts inventory, enables predictive maintenance across the fleet, and makes it easier to onboard new drivers in a market where 500,000 truck driver positions across Europe currently go unfilled.

Finding the right vehicles, in volume

The practical challenge is obvious: sourcing 20, 30, or 50 identical trucks in a fragmented used market is genuinely difficult. Most dealers hold a handful of units per specification. New trucks from manufacturers carry premium prices and lead times of at least two to three months.

ClassTrucks maintains inventories of 30, 50, or more units in matching specification – same model, year, and configuration – all previously operated and maintained within the Girteka Group, each carrying a full service history and prepared to consistent standards across locations in Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, and Spain.