Contemporary Research on Polish Road Freight Transport:Literature Review

Jakub Sułuja

doi:10.15611/pn.2026.2.06

Authors

Jakub Sułuja ✉️ Jagiellonian University
jakub.suluja@doctoral.uj.edu.pl https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7432-5295

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15611/pn.2026.2.06

Keywords:

Polish road freight transport, systematic literature review, sustainability, transport economics, digitalisation

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to identify, classify, and critically evaluate the main thematic areas of contemporary scientific research on Polish road freight transport, and to assess the extent to which the existing literature reflects the sector’s evolving economic, regulatory, technological, and environmental challenges.

Methodology: The research is based on a systematic literature review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Publications were retrieved from the Scopus database using predefined keyword combinations related to road freight transport and Poland. The review covers the period 1989–2025 and adopts a narrative, problem-oriented approach. Following a multi-stage screening and eligibility assessment, 23 peer-reviewed publications out of 133 identified publications were selected for deep analysis and thematic synthesis.

Results: The review reveals that recent research on Polish road freight transport clusters around four dominant thematic areas: sustainable development and environmental impacts, economic competitiveness and macroeconomic factors, infrastructure and transport safety, and digitalization and logistics technologies. The findings indicate a clear shift in research focus from market liberalization and expansion toward sustainability, regulatory adaptation, and technological modernization. At the same time, significant research gaps were identified, particularly regarding holistic cross-sectional analyses, social issues such as the aging driver workforce, and long-term scenario-based studies.

Implications and recommendations: The results highlight the need for more integrative and interdisciplinary research addressing technological, environmental, economic, and social dimensions simultaneously. Future studies should focus on long-term development scenarios, social sustainability (especially labor shortages), and the effectiveness of policy instruments supporting decarbonization and digital transformation. Continuous monitoring of sectoral indicators and expanded empirical research would support evidence-based transport policy and strategic decision-making by firms.

Originality/value: This study provides one of the few comprehensive and systematic syntheses of the literature on Polish road freight transport. By applying a rigorous PRISMA-based methodology and offering a structured thematic classification, it contributes original value by identifying research trends, gaps, and future directions in a sector of critical importance to both the Polish and EU economies.

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