Grain Truck Shortage in Five Regions: Key Considerations for Shipment Planning

In most directions, demand for road grain transportation exceeded the number of available trucks. The most acute grain truck shortage as of October 16 was observed in Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Odesa regions.

For grain sellers and buyers organizing shipments, the key practical issue is not only the availability of transport but also the accessibility of the required vehicle in a specific region and on a particular date.

The Most Tense Routes — to the South

Active road shipments were from Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad regions to Odesa, mainly towards Izmail. Grain was also transported from Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions to Izmail, Reni, and Orlivka.

Routes from Ternopil to Zakarpattia, from Zhytomyr to Volyn, and from Khmelnytskyi to Lviv region operated in the western part of the country. The volumes of transportation on these routes were lower compared to southern directions.

Tariffs varied unevenly: for distances up to 100 km, average rates decreased, while on longer routes, prices significantly differed depending on the region. On certain routes, carriers offered up to 3,000 UAH/t for distances of 501–600 km and up to 3,700 UAH/t for 601–700 km. For routes over 900 km, rates exceeded 4,000 UAH/t.

These are benchmarks for specific routes, not a single tariff for the entire country. Transportation from frontline regions could be more expensive due to safety risks and more complex working conditions.

According to available data, in Vinnytsia, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, and Kyiv regions, grain trucks generally sufficed for the transportation of available volumes. The situation was relatively better in Dnipropetrovsk as well.

However, the availability of trucks in a region does not guarantee the same price or quick dispatch for any route. Transportation costs could differ even for the same distance due to the varying number of free vehicles.

• Match the batch readiness date with the confirmed vehicle dispatch date.
• Clarify the rate for a specific route, not just the mileage.
• Agree on the delivery point and the possibility of transportation to the required port or transshipment hub.
• Discuss in advance the conditions for routes with increased safety risks.

What this means for the market: In regions experiencing a grain truck shortage, transportation becomes a critical parameter of commercial offers. Sellers should verify transportation availability before agreeing on shipment dates, and buyers should compare the full logistics costs for the specific delivery point.