Does Cartrag handle out-of-gauge cargo (OOG)?

It is one of CARTRAG's core specialisations - OOG cargo, project cargo, non-standard dimensions and weights, from transformers to steel structures. The more difficult the cargo, the more the forwarder's experience matters.

How much does a transport quote cost and how long does it take?

The quote is free and non-binding. Standard enquiries are priced within 2 hours on business days; complex OOG cargo needs more time for a reliable calculation, which the client is informed about right away.

One-off transport or ongoing cooperation - what does Cartrag offer?

Cartrag handles both. A one-off shipment does not require a standing contract or a declared regular volume - a single transport is enough, even an unusual or oversized one. Ongoing cooperation makes sense with regular shipments, where a dedicated contact person knows the client's specifics.

Does delivery cover transport to the port or to the final consignee?

Transport is carried through to the end - to the client's warehouse or indicated location, not just to the port. Customs duty, terminal handling, documentation and domestic delivery are all part of a single shipment supervised by one person.

Who handles customs clearance and documentation for imports?

Customs formalities are coordinated together with a customs agency (from import and export documents to the declaration itself) as part of one transport process.

How do I order international transport?

One enquiry is enough - a description of the cargo, the route and the deadline, even a general one. From the first contact, a single person will handle your enquiry.

What causes delays in international transport?

Most often not the transport itself but the processes around it: congested terminals, customs clearances, missing documentation, changes in carrier schedules. According to Sea-Intelligence data (June 2026), the average delay in global sea freight is 5.31 days.

When is it worth choosing rail freight over sea?

Usually when a shorter delivery time matters at a cost lower than air freight. The choice depends on the type of goods, the deadline and the budget.

54°32′N 18°33′E / CARTRAG / ROAD FREIGHTForwarding guide

Road transport plays two roles - a standalone European service and the closing leg of every sea, air or rail shipment

Market data update: October 2026

In briefROAD · 04

Type: Road transport (FTL, LTL)
Route: Europe - Poland, Germany, Czechia, Benelux, Scandinavia
Cargo: Full truckload and groupage · oversized cargo with pilot escort
Status: A standalone service and an integral part of intermodal shipments

In this article5 questions

What is the maximum cargo weight in road transport?
Is road transport only about delivery to the port?
What documents are needed outside the EU?
Which industries use road transport most often?
Which destinations does road transport cover?

Road transport plays two different roles. As a standalone service it handles full truckload (FTL) and groupage (LTL) shipments in Poland and Europe. As part of an intermodal order it is the collection from the shipper before sea or air loading (pre-carriage) and the delivery to the final consignee after customs clearance (on-carriage).

Exactly what we already described for sea, air and rail transport - just from the other side of the ramp.

01 · Facts

Poland has the largest share of international road transport in the European Union

According to Eurostat, road transport accounted for 25.7% of all freight transport performed in the EU in 2024 (measured in tonne-kilometres), and Poland had the largest share among EU countries in international road transport that same year - nearly a third (32.7%) of total volume.

Good to know

Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight above 30 tonnes perform 83.1% of all road transport in the EU (measured in tonne-kilometres) - context for the standard 24 t cargo limit in full truckload transport discussed below.

Conclusion:Polish road transport's leading position in the EU means access to a dense carrier network and competitive rates on European routes - not just geographic proximity.

02 · Solution

Full truckload (FTL) handles cargo up to 24 tonnes, groupage (LTL) consolidates smaller shipments

A standard truck with a gross vehicle weight of 40 t carries up to about 24 t of cargo - the difference is the tare weight of the vehicle and trailer. For cargo that does not fill a whole vehicle, groupage transport (LTL) is used, combining shipments from several shippers on one run. The basic consignment document is the CMR note, valid in road transport across almost all of Europe.

Conclusion:choosing between FTL and LTL is primarily a matter of volume and budget - LTL is cheaper per unit of cargo, but extends delivery time by the consolidation and deconsolidation of intermediate shipments.

03 · Solution

Pre-carriage and on-carriage is the most common, though least visible, role of road transport

Before cargo reaches a vessel, aircraft or train, someone has to collect it from the shipper and deliver it to the port, airport or terminal - that is pre-carriage. After it arrives at the destination and clears customs, someone has to deliver it to the final consignee - that is on-carriage. In practice, most sea, air and rail transport orders contain a road leg, even if the client does not order it separately.

"Road transport is rarely the hero of this story - but without it none of the other services would close the loop. It collects the goods at the start and delivers them at the very end."

04 · Solution

Oversized cargo requires pilot escorts, permits and a designated route

Carrying cargo that exceeds standard vehicle dimensions or weight requires category permits and a designated route, and often also a pilot escort - an accompanying vehicle securing the journey. The scope and availability of this service depends on the specific cargo and route.

Conclusion:oversized transport requires longer preparation than standard FTL - permits and routing must be arranged before, not during, the order's execution.

05 · Comparison

When comparing road, sea, air and rail transport, start with cargo parameters

Transport	Key advantage	Typical use
Road	Flexibility	Regional transport and door-to-door deliveries
Sea	Cost at large volumes	Long-haul routes, containers, larger lots
Air	Speed	Urgent and high-value shipments
Rail	A compromise between time and cost	Selected Europe-Asia connections

Conclusion:road transport is the only mode in this set that genuinely covers the entire door-to-door route without transhipment - that is the source of its flexibility, not just a side benefit.

06 · Solution

The largest cargo categories in EU road transport are food, groupage shipments and agricultural products - not automotive

Contrary to intuition, road transport in the European Union most often carries not car parts or machinery, but food. Food products, beverages and tobacco are the largest commodity category in EU road transport measured in tonne-kilometres, followed closely by groupage shipments - mixed, consolidated consignments of different goods on one run - and agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Automotive, construction and the machinery industry do of course have their market share, but at the level of the whole EU they are not the leading categories.

Conclusion:the cargo structure in road transport is far more diversified than intuition suggests - the same applies to a forwarder's client portfolio, which covers both industry and consumer goods.

07 · Solution

Ukraine is a served destination, Belarus and Russia are outside the scope of the service

Most European destinations - Germany, Czechia, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia - are routes with predictable delivery times, limited mainly by drivers' working time regulations. Ukraine plays by different rules, but road transport does get there and traffic currently runs without major obstacles - it is the only working cargo corridor to and from that country, since air traffic is suspended and seaports are under restrictions. The situation at the border can change, so the delivery time is worth communicating with a caveat about possible fluctuations, but not as a service burdened with a constant risk of delay.

Belarus and Russia are not served. None of the above remarks about delivery time apply to them - they simply do not appear in the offer.

Conclusion:the list of eastern destinations should end with Ukraine - Belarus and Russia fall outside the offer entirely, not just with a caveat.

08 · Conclusion

Summary - road transport is the foundation on which the rest of the forwarding offer rests

FAQ

FAQ - road transport

Yes, road transport works both as part of comprehensive forwarding service (pre-carriage, on-carriage) and as a standalone domestic or international order.

Standard full truckload transport (FTL) handles cargo up to 24 t. Heavier or oversized cargo requires transport with pilot escort and permits.

Yes - road transport as pre-carriage to the port or airport, or as on-carriage from the terminal to the final consignee, can be part of a single intermodal order.

Road transport outside the European Union requires customs documentation - a CMR note, a T1 transit document and export or import documents.

Standardly Poland, Germany, Czechia, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia, as well as Ukraine - currently with smooth border traffic. Belarus and Russia are not served.

Request a road transport quote

Send us the cargo parameters and the route. We will come back with a quote.

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54°32′N 18°33′E / CARTRAG / ROAD FREIGHT