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Romania's TollRo started on 1 October. What it means
Romania introduced the distance-based TollRo toll for trucks over 3.5 t. What changed, who is affected and how to prepare.
Published
If you know in advance that a shipment to Romania may be delayed, you can tell the customer before they ask. Since 1 October 2026 the new TollRo toll applies there, and the first day showed that waiting for a ticket can hold up a truck and your delivery. This news concerns anyone who hauls or orders shipments to Romania.
What happened
From 1 October 2026 Romania introduced the TollRo system for goods vehicles over 3.5 t. According to transport-online.de, the toll is calculated per kilometre. The rate depends on the weight class, the EURO emission class and the type of road.
As an example, the source gives a truck over 12 t in class EURO VI: 0.48 lei per kilometre on motorways and expressways and 0.24 lei per kilometre on national roads. Older emission classes pay more: EURO V and IV 15% more, EURO III and below 30% more. European interoperability through SETRE is not expected until 15 January 2027. Until then national payment methods apply, such as a single-journey ticket or the app of the Romanian road authority CNAIR.
The first day was not smooth. According to Newsweek România, the Romanian hauliers' union UNTRR reported problems with registering on the platform, topping up the e-wallet, issuing tickets and recording trips. The union says issuing a ticket took 15 to 20 minutes, and up to 30 minutes for some vehicles. Payment functions became available only at midnight on the day of launch, so carriers could not test them in advance. Problems were also reported at the borders: at the Borș II crossing one ticket took almost 11 minutes, and the Sculeni crossing reportedly issued no tickets at all. It asks for a real transition period and for carriers not to be penalised when a system fault can be demonstrated. The article does not say the authorities granted a transition period. It reflects one side's position and does not include a statement from the system operator.
What it means for you
- Manufacturers. If you ship to Romania, expect delivery times to be longer, especially in the first weeks. Tell the consignee in advance.
- Freight forwarders. The toll is a new cost item on the route, and your agreements with carriers should state clearly who pays it and who handles a delay in issuing the ticket.
- Carriers. Register vehicles and the payment account before the trip, not at the border. Check the emission class of each vehicle, because the rate depends on it.
A forwarder who knows the emission classes of its carriers' vehicles can estimate in advance which shipments will cost more and agree it with the customer without surprises.
What is still unclear
Neither source mentions a pilot or transition period. What we know for sure is that the system has been running since 1 October and that carriers reported serious technical problems on the first day. We do not know how the situation has settled or whether penalties will be eased. Until it is clear, plan carefully and do not count on leniency.
How to prepare
- Find out which of your shipments go through Romania and which vehicles carry them.
- Agree with the carrier who pays the toll and who arranges the ticket.
- Plan a time buffer, especially for the first trips.
- Tell the customer before they start asking.
- Follow the official information from the system operator. Neither source describes fines and transitional rules in detail, so check them with the Romanian authorities.
How TMS helps
When a truck is delayed, you need to know where it is and what state the shipment is in. In AESA Core TMS the driver reports the shipment status from a phone, and you see it in the Orders list without a phone call. You send the customer a tracking link where they see the status themselves, without logging in, so they do not have to ask you. If you need to explain something to a carrier or a colleague, you can translate the message in the order chat into the other side's language. To see how this works for a freight forwarder, visit AESA Core TMS for freight forwarders.
Try AESA Core TMS free for 14 days, no card needed. We verify every company within 24 hours, so there are no anonymous companies on the platform.
Sources
- Romania: Distance-based toll TollRo launches in October (transport-online.de)
- UNTRR: TollRo blochează transporturile și afectează funcționarea economiei României (Newsweek România)