Polski
Rail Breaks Records, Trucks Gear Up for the Electric Route – This Week in TSL
This week in the TSL industry reveals two parallel shifts: intermodal transport is growing faster than ever, while truck manufacturers are testing, with growing confidence, what will actually power road transport a few years from now. Let's take a closer look at what happened.
01 · Intermodal
Intermodal on a Roll – Rail Takes Cargo from the Road
The first half of 2026 was an exceptionally good period for Polish rail intermodal transport. Carriers moved more than 1 million intermodal units – an increase of nearly 17% year on year, while transport work itself rose by as much as 21% [1]. That means trains aren't just carrying more containers – they're covering longer distances than before, too.
Even more interesting are the market shares: intermodal now accounts for a record 15% of freight mass carried by rail and as much as 19.2% of transport work across the entire rail freight sector [1]. That's the best result in the segment's history and a clear signal that cargo which not so long ago would have gone by truck is now heading onto the tracks.
The market, however, remains highly concentrated – PCC Intermodal, PKP Cargo, and DB Cargo Polska together control nearly half of all transport measured by mass [1]. For forwarders and logistics companies, that's an important cue for supply chain planning: intermodal is no longer a niche alternative – it's becoming a real, increasingly mature transport channel.
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02 · Electromobility
Scania Hits the Road for 720 km – Battery vs. Hydrogen
Speaking of changes in transport – a revolution is also happening under the hood, or rather, under the cab. Scania has unveiled a new electric long-haul truck designed for European routes, featuring additional battery packs mounted behind the cab and a redesigned, more aerodynamic front end [2]. The manufacturer claims a range of up to 720 km on a single charge – a level that until recently seemed out of reach for electric trucks in long-haul transport.
At the same time, another technological race is underway. A consortium of Volvo Group, Daimler Truck, and Toyota is betting on an alternative solution – hydrogen fuel cells, further backed by German subsidy programs for refueling infrastructure [2]. This shows that the industry still doesn't have a single answer to how heavy road transport will be decarbonized – batteries and hydrogen are developing in parallel today, not one after the other.
For fleet managers, this means keeping an eye on both paths at once. The choice of technology will depend not only on a vehicle's range and price, but also on where and how quickly the right charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure will be built.
Summary
Summary
This week shows the transport industry on the move on two fronts – rail is strengthening its position in freight transport, while truck manufacturers are testing different paths toward zero-emission road transport. Both threads – intermodal and fleet electromobility – are topics set to define logistics in the years ahead.
Want to talk about this in person with industry experts? Join us at the Międzynarodowe Targi Transportu, Spedycji i Logistyki (MT TSL) – that's where you'll meet rail carriers, vehicle manufacturers, and infrastructure suppliers who are shaping these trends every day.
Invitation
Record-breaking intermodal results and the battery-versus-hydrogen race in long-haul trucks are just the beginning of the conversation. At the Międzynarodowe Targi Transportu, Spedycji i Logistyki (MT TSL) you'll meet rail carriers, vehicle manufacturers, and charging and refueling infrastructure suppliers who will show you live where the industry is headed. Save the date and stay ahead of the trends you're only reading about today.
MT TSL 2026