Carriers believe that in the difficult situation in which the transport sector is, additional fees will complicate the work of companies. In the fall of 2024, Poland plans to expand the network of toll roads. It is planned to spread the toll on new roads owned by the General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA). Carriers and freight forwarders believe that in the difficult situation in which the transport sector is, additional fees will make it difficult for companies to work."
This is primarily a blow to domestic transport, and, of course, these changes will affect the state of entrepreneurs. So far, it is difficult to calculate how these changes will affect freight transportation. Theoretically, they should increase, but under the current situation, I think it is unlikely, and entrepreneurs will have to "swallow" the increase without passing it on to customers. There is not much trucking, especially in the quarter that just started. I'm afraid that this will be another blow to the sector," says Dariusz Matulewicz, president of the Western Maritime Association of Road Carriers.
The railway industry has been pushing for the introduction of tolls on new roads for many years. The operators note that they pay for access to all 19,000 km of tracks, while only 3,700 km of highways are tolled.
The EU also recommends charging road tolls in accordance with the "user pays" principle. "Suggestions that the additional burden on road hauliers could result in a 'better balance' between surface and rail freight transport are a bit like an attempt to justify the expansion of toll space in the surface transport sector. Like CSL Group, we are in favor of the widest possible development of rail and intermodal transportation
However, recent years have not brought a revolution in this field in our country - there are not so many investments that would make railway transport an attractive alternative to road transport," said Przemysław Holovach, director of business development at CSL Group.
Revenues from tolls exceed 2 billion zlotys (465 million euros) per year, there are about 3.5 million vehicles in the e-Toll system, of which 1.1 million are foreign. In Poland, cars also pay for driving on concession sections of the A1, A2 and A4 highways.