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Ship Freight – Direct Runs from the Sprinter to the 40-Tonne Truck

You reliably ship freight as a direct run: one vehicle takes on the shipment at the loading point and brings it without transloading to the consignee – the core factor is that this always pays off when timing, sensitivity or goods value matter.

Stacked sea containers in the terminal

"Ship freight" can mean many things: the urgent spare-parts pallet, a machine component in a crate, several mesh boxes of production material or a full load for the plant abroad. Common to all cases: the goods have to arrive reliably, undamaged and on the agreed date – and that is exactly where anonymous groupage networks regularly fail.

Speed Logistics runs freight as direct transport: one vehicle takes on your shipment at the loading point and brings it without transloading to the consignee. You receive a fixed-price quote within a few hours, a dedicated dispatch team around the clock – and for international transports the customs clearance straight in, from Europe to non-EU countries such as Türkiye, North Africa or the Middle East.

Direct run instead of groupage: when it pays off

In groupage your freight is transloaded several times, lead times are non-binding and partial losses occur. The direct run pays off whenever one of three criteria counts: deadline (production stoppage, trade-fair date, plant closing), sensitivity (technology, glass, painted parts) or the value of the goods. Moreover, for larger shipments the direct run is often faster and, in total, more economical than the pure tariff comparison would suggest.

Vehicle classes: from the Sprinter to the articulated truck

  • Sprinter/van (3.5 t): urgent small shipments, up to approx. 4 euro pallets
  • Truck 7.5–12 t: medium shipments, tail lift for points without a ramp
  • Rigid truck and drawbar combination: part loads and voluminous freight
  • 40-t articulated truck: full loads up to 33 euro pallet slots

Speed Logistics chooses the vehicle size to match the dimensions, weight and lane – you do not pay for capacity you do not need.

Process: from enquiry to receipted delivery

You state the shipment data (dimensions, weight, packaging), loading and unloading point as well as the date. Within a few hours the fixed price is on the table; after release we dispatch the vehicle and coordinate the time windows. During transport the dispatch team stays reachable, and on international runs the CMR consignment note documents the handovers. Sensitive and high-value freight travels with premium handling on request.

International: Europe and non-EU including customs

Across Europe your freight runs as a direct run without a border stop. In non-EU countries Speed Logistics takes on the complete customs clearance – export declaration, transit procedure, import at the consignee – from EXW to DDP. Typical lanes are Türkiye, the Maghreb, the Middle East as well as West and Central Asia. Costs depend on the lane, shipment size and deadline pressure; depending on the lead time you receive a binding fixed price without hidden surcharges.

Typical freight types and packaging

What goes on the road as freight ranges from the single crate to the complete plant: palletised carton goods and mesh boxes from series production, machine components in wooden crating, long goods such as profiles and pipes, sensitive electronics or high-value spare parts. For every packaging form the rule is: it co-determines which vehicle fits and how securing is done – lashing straps, anti-slip mats and edge protectors are part of the basic equipment at Speed Logistics.

State in the enquiry, besides dimensions and weight, also the packaging type and the conditions at the loading and unloading point: ramp or ground level, forklift available or tail lift needed. With this information the forwarder dispatches the right vehicle the first time – without expensive surprises at the loading point.

Vehicle classes and typical use
VehicleUse
Sprinter (3.5 t)urgent small shipments, up to approx. 4 pallets
Truck 7.5–12 tmedium shipments, tail lift
Rigid truck/drawbar combinationpart loads, voluminous freight
40-t articulated truckfull loads up to 33 slots

Frequently asked questions: Ship Freight

What is the difference between a direct run and groupage?

In groupage your freight is routed through transfer terminals and transloaded several times – that costs time and increases the risk of damage. With the direct run, one vehicle takes on the shipment at your ramp and runs without handling to the consignee. Speed Logistics works exclusively this way: faster, more plannable and considerably gentler on the goods.

From what shipment size can I ship freight with Speed Logistics?

There is no minimum size: even a single parcel or pallet can run as a direct run in a Sprinter, if timing or goods value justify it. Upwards, the spectrum reaches to the full load in a 40-tonne articulated truck with up to 33 euro pallet slots. The vehicle size is dispatched to match the shipment.

How quickly do I get a quote for a freight transport?

Within a few hours: you send the dimensions, weight, loading and unloading point as well as the date, and the dispatch team calculates a binding fixed-price quote from this. Since Speed Logistics is reachable around the clock, this also works in the evening, at night and on weekends – important with production stoppages or short-notice customer commitments.

Does Speed Logistics ship freight to countries outside the EU too?

Yes. Besides all of Europe, Speed Logistics runs non-EU lanes such as Türkiye, North Africa/Maghreb, the Middle East and Gulf states as well as West and Central Asia – door-to-door including complete customs clearance from EXW to DDP. Export declaration, transit procedure and import are coordinated by the forwarder; you supply only the commercial invoice and packing list.

What does it cost to ship freight by direct run?

The price depends on distance and lane, dimensions and weight, the required vehicle class and the deadline pressure; for non-EU traffic, customs services come on top. Because every shipment is different, Speed Logistics does not work with tariff tables but gives you a binding fixed price depending on lane and lead time, without hidden surcharges.

Is my freight insured during transport?

International road transports are subject to the carrier's CMR liability; the handovers are documented by consignment note. For high-value goods, transport insurance to the full goods value is additionally advisable – state the goods value with the enquiry, then Speed Logistics considers the right cover in the quote.

Common mistakes in freight shipping – what should I watch out for?

If the packaging type or the situation at the loading and unloading point (ramp or ground level, forklift available or tail lift needed) is not stated, the dispatched vehicle does not fit – with expensive surprises at the loading point. For non-EU traffic, the commercial invoice and packing list are often missing. State, besides dimensions and weight, also the packaging and loading-point conditions, then the right vehicle stands ready the first time.

Why is the vehicle choice decisive for the freight price?

Speed Logistics chooses the vehicle size to match the dimensions, weight and lane – so you do not pay for capacity you do not need. Conversely, a too-small vehicle leads to reloads and delays. That is why the packaging type and loading-point conditions co-determine which vehicle fits and how securing is done.

Request ship freight

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.