For the first time in France, victims of the Truck Cartel have secured judicial compensation for a significant amount, specifically more than €7,900 in total compensation per eligible truck.For several years, a case has drawn the attention of the transport and competition sectors: the "Truck Cartel" case. In 2016, the leading heavy truck manufacturers in Europe (Daimler, MAN, Volvo/Renault, Iveco, and DAF) were fined a record total of €2.93 billion by the European Commission for colluding to coordinate prices, set reference schedules, and delay the introduction of technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions between 1997 and 2011. Scania was the subject of a separate decision finalized on February 1, 2024, resulting in a fine of €880 million.However, a public condemnation at European level (and an administrative fine) does not close the case: truck buyers — transport companies, manufacturers carrying out transport on their own account and local authorities — are also entitled to compensation for the damage resulting from the cartel before the national courts.LEX-PORT has obtained a first major victory before the Bordeaux Commercial Court (October 3, 2025) and the relocation of cases from Lyon to Paris.On 3 October 2025, the Bordeaux Commercial Court handed down a landmark decision in the truck cartel lawsuits. For the first time, a manufacturer (in this case DAIMLER) was found liable by a French commercial court to compensate truck buyers who were victims of the cartel.This decision marks a turning point for carriers: until now, judgments in this litigation had all been unfavourable to claimants, with the majority rendered by the Lyon Commercial Court.Yet, in less than two months, LEX-PORT has obtained two major court decisions that have completely reversed the balance of power in France, which until now had been entirely in favour of the manufacturers:Judgment of the Bordeaux Commercial Court of October 3, 2025: This judgment constitutes a significant precedent, demonstrating that the additional costs attributable to the cartel can now be recognized by commercial courts in France. Thus, the Court validated an overcharge rate of 9% as evaluated by OCA Economics, as well as the standard damage highlighted by the LEX-PORT case file and supporting economists.Order of the First President of the Lyon Court of Appeal: This summer, LEX-PORT obtained the transfer of all its clients' cases (i.e. the transfer of jurisdiction) out of the Lyon Economic Activities Court, demonstrating that this Lyon court could no longer guarantee the required impartiality. This decision invalidates several judgements unfavourable to claimants, which manufacturers had been using to their advantage.The judgment of the Bordeaux Commercial Court opens a new phase for transport operators: carriers who acquired trucks between 1997 and 2011 can now hope for recognition of their damages before French national courts. Following an extensive European procedure, the Truck Cartel case is now in the litigation phase at national level.LEX-PORT is currently preparing a new claim against SCANIA to obtain compensation for all brands of trucks. LEX-PORT is ready to assist all types of entities (transport companies, local authorities or companies carrying out transport on their own account) that purchased trucks during the period of the cartel in their compensation claims.With its economic study based on more than 7,000 trucks, its fifty clients of all sizes, eight years of extensive groundwork on this case and its first two favourable court judgements, LEX-PORT has become one of the leading players in securing compensation for victims of the truck cartel in France.
