Dramatic contradictions in transportation: 15 thousand trucks forced back on the roads

During the professional dialogue, moderated by Dr. Péter Lakatos (Edutus University), Ajtony Bíró Koppány (MLSZKSZ), Ruben Bántó (WLP), Sándor Bátki (Trans-Sped) and Sándor Sélley (Grundfos) discussed the most pressing challenges and breakthrough opportunities in the logistics sector. The critical and open professional positions of the roundtable participants provide a precise diagnosis of the obstacles facing the domestic logistics sector and industrial real estate market, as well as the paths of technological progress.  

Gap or Soar? – This is how the big guns of logistics see the future of supply chains 

The roundtable participants highlighted that the sector is currently in an “age of extremes”. While water transport is at a historic low – the previous 8 million ton turnover has fallen to 3-4 million – rail freight transport is also struggling with significant losses due to uncoordinated European renovations. A illustrative example is that due to a single Austrian track closure, the semi-trailer trains of one factory were forced back onto the road, which immediately meant an additional load of 15,000 trucks on the main roads. In stark contrast, air cargo and intermodal traffic are soaring: Budapest Airport’s cargo traffic expanded by 30-40%, and intermodal traffic grew by 15%. According to Trans-Sped’s experience, the cost increase in the road market is constantly exceeding inflation by 3-5 percentage points per quarter, which can lead to the mass withdrawal of smaller companies. 

The driver shortage is not just a matter of staffing 

Although the volume of road freight traffic has fallen by 20% in recent years, the driver shortage has not eased. The root of the problem is the lack of recognition of the profession and the aging of society: there are many drivers close to retirement, and it is difficult to attract young people into the driver’s cab. According to Trans-Sped, the solution lies in making driving a competency-based, professional profession, in dual training and in examining the integration of third-country workers. 

Modern warehouse market dilemmas: vacancy, rents and infrastructure becoming an “HR issue” 

There are currently more than 6 million square meters of industrial real estate in Hungary available, but the market picture is extremely fragmented. While the vacancy rate in the Budapest area exceeds 20%, rents remain much higher than in Poland, for example, due to high financing costs. According to Trans-Sped, future success lies in customized infrastructure. In Tatabánya, for example, a 20-meter-high, narrow-aisle warehouse was able to replace nine previous locations, thereby drastically increasing business efficiency. Experts emphasize that choosing a warehouse location is now also an HR issue, as a modern, clean and sustainable working environment is a key factor in long-term workforce retention. 

Digitalization and intermodality: can the knowledge of the future be acquired in two months? 

The professional dialogue clearly highlighted that market players fall into two camps divided into: companies stuck with traditional, “graph paper” methods and companies at the forefront of digitalization. One of the main keys to competitiveness is the continuous development of TMS (Transportation Management System) transport management systems and the effective and targeted application of artificial intelligence. Intermodality, i.e. the combination of road and rail Transport integration is no longer just an environmental issue, but also a strategic response to the driver shortage: a single train can replace up to 40 trucks. Although the organizational task is almost four times that of a public road, with the currently available energy efficiency subsidies (approx. 100-120 euros per direction), this model is already economically competitive. 

Tatabánya: the foundations for the next 15 years must be laid today 

The region’s success in the past lay in the rapid transition from mining to industry. However, in order for the Tata region to remain competitive in 15 years, decisions must be made today about developing the energy network – to serve the new settlers, the electric trucks – and modernizing the educational structure. 

The message of the TRELP roundtable is clear: the future of the sector lies in technological modernization, environmentally friendly solutions and closer cooperation between the actors. Although the economic environment is challenging, the strategic location of Hungary and the Tata region continues to provide reason for moderate optimism.