PLN 3.3 Billion in Overdue Payments in the TSL Sector

The biggest problems concern road freight transport, which accounts for approximately 75% of all arrears in the TSL sector. Additionally, 84% of entrepreneurs admit that their business partners also fail to settle their liabilities on time.

Weather Conditions Add to Market Pressures

Winter conditions on Polish roads are contributing to significant operational and financial problems for transport and logistics companies. This year’s winter has been one of the most challenging in recent years. Road carriers report delays, extended delivery times and higher equipment operating costs and wages related to working in extreme snowy and freezing conditions. Drivers and business owners speak of daily disruptions that translate into lower revenues and deteriorating financial liquidity.

– notes Dr. hab. Waldemar Rogowski, Chief Analyst at BIG InfoMonitor.

Road Freight Transport: The Main Source of Arrears

Road freight transport – the key segment of the industry – is responsible for the majority of outstanding debt. Overdue liabilities in this segment amount to approximately PLN 2.46 billion, representing the bulk of total TSL sector debt.

Year on year, overdue liabilities in road freight transport increased by nearly PLN 170 million (approx. 7.2%), and the number of unreliable debtors exceeded 28,000 entities. On average, each indebted company carries around PLN 86,500 in unpaid liabilities.

The share of companies experiencing payment problems stands at as much as 11.2%, meaning that roughly every eighth company in the segment poses a risk of failing to pay on time – or at all.

Warehousing and Support Services Also Under Pressure

Another segment – warehousing and transport support services – is also struggling with growing arrears. Debt in this group exceeded PLN 400 million, increasing by more than PLN 43 million over the year (+12%).

This represents a relatively high level of unpaid liabilities, considering that just over 2,800 entities from this segment are listed in the BIG InfoMonitor Debtors Register and the BIK credit database with financial arrears.

The TSL sector is entering the new year in a difficult financial condition. On the one hand, it is burdened by cost pressures and adverse weather conditions that further reduce the profitability of transport companies. On the other hand, companies face growing liabilities towards banks, leasing providers and contractors. Increasing arrears may limit firms’ ability to secure new contracts and invest in development, particularly in road transport and warehousing, which generate the highest levels of overdue liabilities. Additionally, 84% of companies have clients who pay late, making it even harder to maintain financial liquidity. Key challenges for the industry in 2026 include high fuel, labour and regulatory costs, driver shortages, and the need for investment in decarbonisation and digitalisation. Opportunities include recovering demand from Germany and other EU countries, continued rapid e-commerce growth, and automation and AI improving operational efficiency.

– concludes Dr. hab. Waldemar Rogowski, Chief Analyst at BIG InfoMonitor.

Key Figures

• Close to PLN 3.3 billion – the total debt of TSL companies listed in the BIG InfoMonitor register and the BIK database at the end of December 2025
• PLN 2.46 billion – the debt of road freight transport companies (PKD 4941Z), accounting for 75% of the entire sector’s debt
• +PLN 170 million year‑on‑year (approx. 7.2%) – the increase in overdue liabilities in road freight transport
• The majority of unreliable debtors – 28,000 companies – operate in the road transport segment
• 11.2% – a high share of road transport companies that fail to pay on time (every eighth company)
• Over PLN 400 million – the overdue liabilities of warehousing and transport‑support service divisions (PKD 52), +PLN 43 million / +12% year‑on‑year
• 84% of companies in the TSL sector have business partners who do not settle their obligations on time*

*Source: “SME Scanner” survey for BIK and BIG InfoMonitor, Q4 2025, conducted on a sample of more than 500 companies.