Looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to transport your goods to and from Germany? Find out why our groupage service is the ideal solution for your transportation needs.
At Neele-Vat has been a reputable provider of transportation Germany for decades. We understand the challenges of transporting smaller shipments. Groupage transportation is an expertise of ours, where we combine multiple smaller shipments into one efficient larger load. This approach is ideally suited for companies that do not have the capacity to fill an entire truck. Our specialized groupage services offer a cost-effective and environmentally conscious choice for your international transportation needs.
Groupage to Germany requires a logistics director who brings volumes together smartly without losing speed. We arrange the entire process, including customs formalities, so your goods reach the border smoothly and on time.
Bundle your shipments with other commodity flows for optimal fill rates and lower costs.
Manage the entire route through fixed departure times and optimized routes.
Your business in motion
Flexible, fast and in full control
With groupage, you only pay for the space your shipment uses. So you transport smaller loads efficiently and reliably, without the cost of a full truck.
Do you have larger or urgent shipments? In that case, we also offer FTL, Express transport, customized transport, or ADR.
Whatever form of transport your cargo requires, we provide a professional and smoothly directed transport route to Germany.
Do you have specific requirements for your transportation? Talk to our specialists.
Useful to know
Important Information About Germany
Driving bans and accessibility
In Germany there is a driving ban on all roads on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 22:00 for:
Trucks and tractor-trailer combinations with a permitted total weight of more than 7.5 tons
Trucks with trailers, regardless of total weight
Special circumstances
Within built-up areas, night parking is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as on Sundays and holidays.
Special permits are required for exceptional transport (when exceeding permitted dimensions and weights) and additional route and time restrictions may apply.
Neele-Vat We operate in Germany every business day. For full truckloads (FTL) and LTL shipments, transit time is typically one business day, calculated from departure from our facility to delivery at the specified address; groupage shipments of fewer than three pallets are first consolidated at our cross-dock facility and therefore reach their destination in two to three business days. We’re able to reach nearby regions within a day thanks to the short distance—the Rhine-Ruhr region is about 230 kilometers away—and our network of more than 135 company-owned trucks in Germany. On Sundays and holidays, vehicles weighing over 7.5 metric tons are prohibited from driving, and since holidays vary by state, we take this into account in our scheduling.
Shipment Type
What It Entails
Transit time
Explanation
FTL
(Nearly) full truck, drives straight through
1 business day
Fastest option; no transshipment.
LTL
LTL shipments starting at ~5 pallets
1 to 2 business days
Riding along on a fixed route; short transit times due to a dense network. Southern and Eastern Germany incur a one-day longer transit time.
Groupage
Small shipment, fewer than 5 pallets
3–4 business days
Bundled via cross-dock; additional transshipment = delivery via pallet network takes slightly longer.
Departure Dates
Frequency of departures
Every business day
Your shipment will be included in the next available trip following the cutoff time.
Time-Sensitive Delivery
Delivery at an agreed-upon time
To be determined
Fixed time slot or scheduled delivery time upon request. Morning delivery only.
Useful to know
Important holidays in Germany
Driving bans apply on most German holidays, but vary by state. Please check the dates below so that your transport to or from Germany is not delayed.
January 1 - New Year's Day
January 6 – Epiphany (Only in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Saxony-Anhalt—no driving ban)
March 8 – International Women’s Day (Only in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania)
c.a. March/April (date varies) - Good Friday
c.a. March/April (date varies) - Easter Sunday
c.a. March/April (date varies) - Easter Monday
May 1 - Labor Day
c.a. May (date varies) - Ascension Day
c.a. May/June (date varies) - Whit Sunday
c.a. May/June (date varies) - Whit Monday
Approx. May/June (date varies) – Corpus Christi (driving ban in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Hesse, and Bavaria)
August 15 – Assumption of Mary (Only in Bavaria and Saarland—no driving ban)
September 20 – World Children’s Day (Only in Thuringia)
Oct. 3 - German Unity Day
October 31 – Reformation Day (Driving ban in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bremen, Hamburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia)
November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Driving ban in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Bavaria)
Approx. November (date varies) – Day of Penance and Prayer (Only in Saxony – no driving ban)
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day
Frequently asked questions about road freight Germany
What is the average duration for a transport Germany?
The exact duration depends on the type of transport you choose. We use the following standards for Germany:
Full loads (FTL): 1 day (24 hours)
Less-than-truckload (LTL): 1 day (24 hours)
Groupage (pallets): 2 to 3 days
For both FTL and LTL, we leave every day. Do you have a specific deadline or must the shipment be delivered at an exact time? A time delivery is always possible in consultation. Contact our Germany specialists to discuss the possibilities for your shipment.
What about the German driving ban on weekends and holidays?
In Germany, there is a general driving ban for trucks over 7.5 tons on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00. During the summer vacations (July and August), this ban often also applies on Saturdays on specific highways. Neele-Vat proactively takes this into account in its planning so that your shipment is not delayed.
Are German Maut fees charged separately?
Yes, the Lkw-Maut (German toll for freight traffic) is required by law on all German freeways and selected Bundesstraßen. Since the introduction of CO2 differentiation, these costs depend on the emission class of the truck. We calculate these costs transparently in our rates, so you will never be surprised afterwards.
Does Neele-Vat also deliver to German inner cities?
Yes. Many German cities have Umwelt zones where only vehicles with a green environmental sticker(Feinstaubplakette) or zero-emission trucks are allowed to drive. The fleet of vehicles Neele-Vat deploys meets the strictest Euro 6 standards and has the appropriate certifications to make trouble-free deliveries in these zones.
How does Neele-Vat help with project cargo?
Neele-Vat assists with project cargo by providing comprehensive, customized logistics solutions for exceptionally large, heavy, or complex shipments. They handle every step—from intake and planning to engineering, route calculation, permits, deployment of specialized equipment, and multimodal transport (such as road, barge transport, rail, and sea)—with a single point of contact and global coordination. This ensures safe, efficient, and well-coordinated transport of heavy installations or oversized goods. Want to learn more? Read the full article here.
What transport documents do I need for road transport in Germany?
Because Germany is a member of the EU, there is free movement of goods and you don't need customs documents. However, a standard CMR waybill is required by law. In addition, make sure you have a clear packing slip and commercial invoice. Additional documents may be required for specific goods (such as hazardous or excisable goods). We will be happy to advise you on this.
Can Neele-Vat also transport hazardous materials to Germany?
a, Neele-Vat is fully certified for the transport of hazardous materials (ADR) by road. Our drivers are specially trained for this, and the trucks are equipped with the required safety equipment. Please note: ADR shipments are sometimes subject to different transit times and restrictions (such as specific tunnels in Germany).
Is it possible to unload shipments using a tailgate in Germany?
Sure. If the delivery address does not have a loading dock or forklift (for example, for deliveries to smaller distribution centers or stores in inner cities), we can use a truck with a tailgate (Hebebühne) and transpallet. Please do indicate this clearly when booking so that we can schedule the right truck.
What is the frequency of your trips to Germany?
Germany is one of our core markets. We depart daily with dozens of trucks to all corners of Germany. Thanks to our finely meshed network and strategic hubs, we can scale up flexibly, even during peak periods (such as around the holidays at the end of the year).
Are local holidays taken into account?
Yes, we anticipate international holidays to ensure the continuity of your flow of goods. View an overview of all holidays and their impact on our transport planning here.
Through the Neele-Vat network, you can ship groupage, partial loads, and full truckloads quickly and reliably to any destination. This also applies to intermodal transport and express shipments.
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