You can’t avoid road charges. You can eliminate inefficiency.

Transport costs are rising. That’s a fact. With the introduction of road charging schemes in the Netherlands, alongside existing toll systems across Europe and beyond, combined with persistently high fuel prices, transport companies are facing structural cost increases they simply cannot avoid. This is a tough reality, but a realistic one.

And this is not just a Dutch challenge. Across Europe, initiatives like Germany’s LKW-Maut, Belgium’s Viapass, and expanding toll systems in countries such as France, Italy, and Poland are already increasing the cost per kilometer. Beyond Europe, similar developments are visible globally, with governments introducing usage-based charging and sustainability-driven regulations. The direction is clear: every kilometer will come at a price.

During the Multimodaal Expo 2026 in Breda, Christopher Van den Daele, Transport COO at H.Essers, illustrated what this means in practice. The introduction of the Dutch road charge alone is expected to add approximately €8 million in annual costs for their operations. Some of these costs will inevitably need to be discussed with customers and supply chain partners. Transparency and communication are essential. But at the same time, the responsibility is clear: transport companies must optimize their own operations. Because while external costs are out of your control, how you organize transport is not.

Operational efficiency is no longer optional

Most transport companies have already taken steps toward digitalization. It is no longer a differentiator, it is the baseline. Yet inefficiencies still hide in daily operations. Optimization initiatives often fall short because planning, onboard computer data, and order management are fragmented across systems. The result? Limited real-time visibility and decisions based on incomplete information.

These inefficiencies is rarely in big strategic decisions. It’s in the details. A route that is not optimal, waiting times that goes unregistered, or information that arrives too late to act on. For transport managers, this is familiar territory. And it’s exactly where the difference lies between an operation that runs and one that is truly under control.

In a market where margins are under constant pressure, efficiency is no longer about working harder; it’s about working smarter. Structuring processes better. And, supporting them with the right Transport Management System (TMS).

Planning clarity makes the difference

Planning remains the heart of every transport operation. This is where orders, capacity, routes, and time windows come together, and where decisions are made that directly impact efficiency.

But planning today is dynamic. Constantly shifting between urgent orders, last-minute changes, and available drivers and vehicles. In that environment, visibility is everything. When planners can instantly see how trips are structured and where capacity is available, decisions improve. Graphical planning tools in the TMS help translate complexity into clarity, enabling faster adjustments when needed.

At the same time, a well-configured TMS with smart workflows can automate routine planning tasks. freeing up planners to focus on exceptions where they add real value.

Route optimization: every kilometer counts

An extra kilometer may seem insignificant. But when your operation runs hundreds or thousands of kilometers daily, those extra distances add up quickly. Especially when every kilometer carries a direct cost. And increasingly, that is the global reality.

Route optimization is not just about finding the shortest path from A to B. It is about combining shipments intelligently, maximizing vehicle utilization, and reducing empty kilometers. For planners, this means constantly balancing service levels, capacity, and cost. A TMS reduces manual work and supports decision-making with real-time insights into routes, capacity, and load factors. Not just faster decisions but better ones.

Data: your most underused asset

Many operational decisions are still driven by experience and intuition. Understandable, planners know their business inside out. But as cost pressure increases, insight becomes critical. Without accurate data, optimization remains guesswork.

With real-time data from onboard computers and logistics systems, you gain a clear view of what’s actually happening. Waiting times, deviations, load factors, delays; this data doesn’t just support analysis after the fact, it enables better decisions during execution.

That’s why more transport companies are moving away from disconnected systems. Not because technology is the goal, but because integration is the only way to maintain control in an increasingly complex operation. By bringing together transport planning, order management, execution, administration, and – where relevant – warehouse operations into one environment, information becomes instantly available across the organization.

Within Boltrics’ integrated platform, these processes are unified in a single solution. The result: no duplicate data entry, fewer errors, data that actively drives improvement. This is how you turn complexity into control.

Insight starts with control

In our previous blog, we explored the strategic choices transport companies face. But strategy only matters if it translates into daily operations. Into planners and transport managers who ensure execution. The combination of rising costs, increasing customer expectations, and more complex supply chains leaves no room for inefficiency. You cannot avoid road charges. But inefficiencies in your processes? That’s within your control.

Want to identify optimization potential in your transport operation?

Curious where inefficiencies still exist in your operation and how to eliminate them as costs continue to rise? In our brochure, you’ll discover how an integrated software platform helps transport planners and managers: turn data into actionable insights, streamline processes, and operate with greater efficiency and control.

Or, watch how Boltrics supports logistics service providers like Bakker Transport & Warehousing in protecting margins, at a time when every kilometer counts.