New rules and aid for freight transport due to fuel price increases

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The revision of road transport prices due to fuel price changes becomes mandatory and automatic when the price varies by 5% or more, unless a lower threshold is agreed in writing. The variation must be shown itemized on the invoice, and any agreement to the contrary is void.
2. The general contracting conditions for road freight transport are updated with a new price revision formula based on a coefficient tied to the pre-tax diesel price, which differs by vehicle type. Until June 30, 2026, the aid under Royal Decree-Lawroyal decree-law A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses. 7/2026 cannot be counted when calculating the revision.
3. Direct aid is created for 2026 for rail freight companies with diesel locomotives, with the amount depending on the number of locomotives. To fund it, extraordinary credits totaling €3,150,000 are approved in the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
4. New violations are added to the Law on the Organization of Land Transport for those who refuse to show the fuel-related price variation itemized on the invoice, with fines that vary according to the transport price and repeat offenses.
5. Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 is amended to include adapted taxis (eurotaxis) in the direct energy aid scheme, and to extend aid to regular maritime transport of pure cargo between ports on the mainland and in the Balearic and Canary archipelagos, Ceuta and Melilla, and between ports of the archipelagos. This maritime measure lasts three months from March 21, 2026 and is funded with a €37 million credit supplement.
6. The rule takes effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).

Who it affects

• Road freight transport companies: They can mandatorily and automatically revise their prices when diesel rises or falls, and see it itemized on the invoice.
• Shippers and parties obligated to pay for transport: They must accept the price revision and its itemized inclusion on the invoice; refusing is a punishable violation.
• Rail freight companies with diesel locomotives: They can apply for direct aid per locomotive to offset higher fuel prices.
• Owners of adapted taxis (eurotaxis): They are now included in the direct aid scheme for energy products.
• Regular maritime cargo operators: They can receive aid per nautical mile sailed per gross ton on cabotage routes, for three months.

Words worth knowing

Porteador

The company or person that carries out the transport of the goods.

Gasóleo profesional (professional diesel)

Diesel used by professional transport vehicles, whose owners are entitled to a partial refund of the hydrocarbons tax.

Real decreto-ley (royal decree-law)

A rule with the force of law that the Government can approve immediately in cases of extraordinary and urgent need; Congress must later validate it.

Cabotaje marítimo (maritime cabotage)

Maritime transport between ports within the same country.

Arqueo bruto (GT) (gross tonnage)

A measure of a ship's size or capacity used to calculate the aid.

royal decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries