Special edition
DAJC is publishing this additional update outside the regular Friday cycle because three operational changes became relevant at the start of September 2026. They affect truck operating costs, inland container logistics and a key Albanian road corridor.
1. Netherlands: truck-toll rates reduced by 22.3% until 31 December 2026
The Dutch government has applied a temporary 22.3% reduction to truck-toll rates from 1 September through 31 December 2026.
The measure applies to all truck categories covered by the Dutch kilometre-based truck toll. According to the government, the average rate falls from EUR 0.191/km to EUR 0.148/km during the temporary discount period.
The Dutch truck toll itself has been in force since 1 July 2026 on almost all motorways and selected provincial and municipal roads.
Operational impact
- Route-cost calculations for Dutch movements should use the reduced rate from 1 September 2026.
- Planning and costing systems should treat the discount as time-limited and revert to the applicable 2027 tariff after 31 December 2026.
- Operators should not confuse this temporary toll discount with the separate changes to Dutch vehicle tax and the end of the Eurovignette in the Netherlands.
Recommended action: Update Netherlands road-cost tables and route-cost models with date-valid tariff logic rather than replacing the normal tariff permanently.
Sources: Government of the Netherlands — Truck toll, temporary truck-toll discount.
2. Antwerp and Rotterdam inland flows: Hapag-Lloyd introduces congestion surcharge
Hapag-Lloyd has announced a new Congestion Surcharge (PCS / OCS) for inland shipments routed via Antwerp or Rotterdam, citing low Rhine water levels, reduced barge capacity and increased pressure on alternative truck and rail transport.
The surcharge applies across all inland transport modes covered by the notice:
- Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg: EUR 50 per container.
- Germany, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland: EUR 50 per TEU.
For non-FMC cargo, the surcharge applies from 1 September 2026. For FMC-relevant shipments, it applies from 20 September 2026.
Hapag-Lloyd also warns that inland capacity remains constrained and that smooth or on-time inland transport cannot be guaranteed while the disruption continues.
Operational impact
- Port-connected transport cost estimates via Antwerp and Rotterdam may need an additional inland surcharge.
- ETA planning should allow for lower predictability and restricted inland capacity.
- Truck and rail demand may remain elevated while barge capacity is constrained.
- Demurrage or other inland-delay costs may arise separately from the congestion surcharge.
Recommended action: Add the surcharge as a temporary, provider-specific cost rule and flag affected Antwerp/Rotterdam inland legs for increased ETA and capacity risk.
3. Albania: overnight Tirana-Durres closures and heavy-truck diversion
The Albanian Road Authority (ARRSH) has announced temporary overnight closures on the main Tirana-Durres / Durres-Tirana corridor during works at the new Kashar overpass.
The restrictions apply on the nights of 1, 2 and 3 September 2026, from 23:00 to 05:00, with temporary blocking of the main carriageway in both directions.
ARRSH’s traffic-management plan includes specific diversions:
- Tirana-Durres traffic is redirected via the temporary ramp towards Rinas and the secondary road network.
- Heavy vehicles, especially trucks, are diverted from the Casa Italia junction onto the secondary road.
- Durres-Tirana traffic is redirected via the Kashar-Thumane overpass and secondary roads before rejoining the motorway beyond the Kashar overpass.
- Traffic for Rinas, Shkoder and Kosovo is directed according to temporary signs from the Kashar-Thumane motorway junction.
Operational impact
The diversion is particularly relevant for heavy and oversized movements because secondary-road geometry, turning space, axle-load constraints and permitted-route conditions may differ materially from the main corridor.
Recommended action: Avoid the affected section between 23:00 and 05:00 where possible. For heavy or exceptional transport, verify the temporary diversion against permit conditions and vehicle geometry before relying on it.
Source: Autoriteti Rrugor Shqiptar — traffic notice.
DAJC operator takeaway
These three developments illustrate why cost, routing and operational restrictions need date-valid data rather than static country rules:
- Netherlands: temporary toll-cost reduction.
- Antwerp/Rotterdam hinterland: temporary provider-specific congestion cost and capacity risk.
- Albania: short-duration route restriction with a truck-specific diversion.
DAJC will continue to track follow-up changes and will include any material developments in the regular European oversize intelligence cycle.
Next EU Oversize Weekly
Friday, 4 September 2026 at 12:00 CEST.