Belgian road transport companies are losing ground in the European long-distance freight sector. The findings are based on new data released by Eurostat and highlighted by the Belgian transport federation Febetra. The trend is worrying as the country’s strategic central location makes it a natural logistics hub for the continent.
The picture painted by the figures is dire for Belgian haulers, who are increasingly being outperformed by competitors from neighboring countries. Febetra General Manager Philippe Degraef expressed concern over the country’s waning influence in major bilateral freight corridors within the European Union. “It is incredibly frustrating that our transport companies cannot capitalize on Belgium’s prime geographical position,” he stated.
Dominated by neighbours
Belgium appears three times in Eurostat’s list of the top 20 intra-EU road freight flows by volume, but Belgian carriers seldom lead in these corridors. For instance, on the busy route between Germany and Belgium, Belgian transport firms handle just 13.2 percent of the freight volume. In contrast, German companies cover nearly twice as much—26.9 percent—while other foreign operators account for the remaining 58.6 percent.
The performance is even more concerning on the Belgium–Netherlands axis, where Belgian carriers hold only a 16.1 percent market share. Dutch operators dominate the corridor, hauling 65.9 percent of the goods transported. One area where Belgian firms remain moderately competitive is in bilateral transport with France, where they hold a 37.7 percent market share.
“These are not isolated statistics,” Degraef commented on his LinkedIn page. “They reflect a deeper structural issue: our companies are too expensive compared to their international rivals.”
Labor costs are too high
According to Febetra, labor costs remain the principal barrier to competitiveness. Belgian transport firms operate in a high-cost labor environment, which limits their ability to compete effectively in cross-border markets. Degraef reiterated the federation’s longstanding call for a reduction in labor taxes, arguing that without such measures, the country’s logistics sector will continue to lose market share.
“Lowering labor charges is essential,” he said. “It must be done without eroding the purchasing power of drivers, who are already under significant pressure. Despite the challenging fiscal climate, the federal government needs to prioritize restoring competitiveness.”
The findings come at a time when the European transport industry is under growing pressure from rising costs, stricter environmental regulations, and an intensifying shortage of qualified drivers.
For Belgium, the added burden of these high labor expenses appears to be tilting the playing field further in favor of foreign competitors. “If we want to maintain a strong Belgian presence in European logistics, we cannot afford to ignore these figures,” Degraef concludes.
