Europe's Traffic Congestion Costs Commercial Fleets €2.6 Million in Fuel Waste

Traffic congestion has become one of the biggest hidden costs for commercial fleets operating in Europe's major cities. Even when vehicles are not moving, engines continue running, consuming fuel and generating unnecessary emissions.

Fleet telematics company Geotab has analysed connected commercial vehicle data across several European cities to measure the financial and environmental impact of congestion.

According to the company's latest analysis, the connected commercial vehicles included in the study consumed approximately 1.58 million litres of fuel while idling during the past 12 months, representing an estimated €2.6 million in unnecessary fuel costs.

It is important to note that these figures relate only to the sample of connected commercial vehicles analysed by Geotab and should not be interpreted as representing the entire European commercial vehicle fleet.

Congestion Is More Than Just Slow Traffic

The study highlights that fleet efficiency is influenced not only by traffic density but also by how traffic flows.

Cities experiencing frequent stop-and-go conditions recorded significantly higher idle times and fuel waste than cities with smoother traffic movement.

Rather than focusing solely on average vehicle speed, Geotab evaluates freight efficiency using factors such as:

• Traffic flow consistency

• Vehicle idle time

• Journey predictability

• Delivery reliability

These indicators provide fleet managers with a more accurate picture of operational efficiency.

Berlin Leads the Ranking

According to Geotab's European Freight Efficiency Index, Berlin ranked among Europe's most efficient cities for commercial freight transport.

The company attributes Berlin's performance to more predictable traffic patterns, better route alternatives and smoother vehicle movement.

Amsterdam also performed strongly, while cities such as London and Madrid experienced greater operational challenges due to congestion-related stop-and-go traffic.

Why Idle Time Matters

Even when a truck or delivery vehicle is stationary, fuel continues to be consumed.

Engines remain running to power vehicle systems such as:

• Climate control

• Refrigeration units

• Hydraulic equipment

• Electrical accessories

As a result, unnecessary idling increases fuel consumption, operating costs and CO? emissions without generating productive transport activity.

Geotab emphasises that reducing unnecessary idle time is one of the most effective measures fleet operators can take to improve fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.

Telematics systems also help distinguish between operationally necessary idling and avoidable fuel waste.

What Does This Mean for Türkiye?

Although Türkiye is not included in Geotab's data set, many of the same operational challenges exist in major commercial transport corridors such as Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Bursa, Kocaeli and Mersin.

Heavy traffic around ports, industrial zones and urban distribution centres can significantly increase idle time for trucks and delivery vehicles.

For fleet operators, technologies such as:

• Route optimisation

• Real-time traffic management

• Driver behaviour analysis

• Idle-time monitoring

• Connected fleet telematics

are becoming increasingly important tools for reducing operating costs and improving efficiency.

This assessment reflects an editorial analysis based on local operating conditions and is not part of Geotab's official research findings.

Environmental Impact

The financial cost of congestion is only part of the picture.

Unnecessary engine idling also increases carbon emissions and makes it more difficult for fleet operators to meet sustainability targets.

As European regulations continue to focus on decarbonisation and fleet efficiency, reducing idle time is becoming both an economic and an environmental priority.

Conclusion

Geotab's latest research demonstrates that traffic congestion affects commercial fleets far beyond lost time.

Approximately 1.58 million litres of fuel wasted while idling and an estimated €2.6 million in fuel costs underline the importance of connected vehicle data and intelligent fleet management.

As transport companies continue their digital transformation, telematics, AI-powered route optimisation and driver behaviour analysis are expected to play an increasingly important role in reducing operating costs while improving environmental performance.

Technical Summary

Research Organisation: Geotab

Publication Date: 14 July 2026

Study Period: Previous 12 months

Scope: Connected commercial vehicles analysed by Geotab

Fuel Wasted While Idling: Approximately 1.58 million litres

Estimated Cost: Approximately €2.6 million

Top Performing City: Berlin

Study: European Freight Efficiency Index

Sources

• Geotab – European Freight Efficiency Index

• Geotab Official Research and Press Materials

• Irish Tech News (14 July 2026)