THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHANGES IN FUEL PRICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OPERATIONS OF TRANSPORT ENTERPRISES IN POLAND AND EUROPE

This paper presents the development of the transport industry and indicates its leading role in the economic development of the country and the world. The paper analyzes the structure of the transport market in Poland and Europe, indicating its dynamic development despite the existing challenges related to fuel prices. The main objective is to assess fuel price fluctuations in the context of the activities of transport companies, in particular those performing land transport within the European Union. The assessment is conducted from the perspective of the operational activities of transport companies. This research aimed to identify the impact of fuel prices on companies operating costs, analyze the economic factors influencing fuel prices, and assess the general situation in the transport market. In addition, the research also examined the opinions of entrepreneurs on how they cope with the current fuel crisis. Achieving the research goal required the preparation and administration of surveys among representatives of transport companies. The study involved 71 companies registered in Poland. The paper contains selected statistical data along with their interpretation, providing an introduction to further research in the field of identification and assessment of the degree of impact of fuel price fluctuations on the operational activities of transport companies. The research methodology focused on statistical analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA. This paper fills a gap in the literature on the impact of fuel price fluctuations on the activities of sports enterprises. The innovative element of the paper is the inclusion of entrepreneurs opinions on the fuel crisis and their assessment of the degree of impact of changes on the operating costs and strategic management of transport enterprises. Considering these opinions provides the unique value of the conducted scientific considerations.