DHL Freight has raised European road freight less-than-truckload (LTL), or groupage, charges an average of six per cent starting October 1, the company announced.

The company explained that its domestic and international LTL groupage market was "under high cost pressure caused by the strong fluctuations in fuel price and available capacity; severe wage increases caused by driver shortages; minimum wage regulations and higher administration insurance and environmental fees, including the reduction of average shipment sizes and increased delivery frequencies".

"The market is changing at a high pace and, as a result, we are being faced with new realities," said DHL Freight chief Amadou Diallo. "The industry is under significant cost pressure, while at the same time it has to continue to provide the required quality, implement new technologies, and ensure the same standard across entire networks," he said.