The Dutch TRM sector is characterised by a high degree of specialisation amongst its companies: logistics, containers and multimodal transport. This choice to specialise enables it to maintain an international presence, although this is declining, now accounting for just under half of the sector’s total activity, compared with 55 % in 2019.

Dutch companies also stand out for the high productivity of their driving staff, with an average of around 50 hours of overtime per month for a driver on a Dutch contract posted abroad. This trend remains largely unchanged from 2019, when the CNR’s previous study on this flag was conducted. 

A significant development worth noting is the increase in the total cost per driver by an average of +3.9 % per year between 2019 and 2024, reaching €81,705 per year in 2024. The new collective agreement (CAO) for 2024–2026 introduces an increase in statutory minimum rates (basic gross salary, overtime pay, travel allowances). For example, the gross monthly salary of a grade D6 driver is €3,254.83 excluding overtime, representing an increase of +21.86 % over five years.

It should be noted that driver costs are not the only item to have risen sharply since 2019. Toll costs have increased by +24 % compared with 2019, mainly due to a general rise in tolls across Europe. This cost is expected to change further following the Netherlands’ withdrawal from the Eurovignette system on 1 July 2026 and the introduction of a kilometre-based charge. Vehicle running costs have also been affected, rising by 41 % compared with 2019.

Ultimately, the cost price of operating a 40-tonne Dutch heavy goods vehicle on international routes stands at €1.60 per kilometre