Long Distance Route Planning
The transportation of goods Long-distance It is divided according to the type of transport to be used, depending on whether it is by land, sea or air. Freight transport is an activity that consists of the movement of goods from one place to another for a specific purpose. We speak of short-distance freight transport if it involves trips of up to 600 km and long-distance freight transport if it exceeds 600 km. This type of long-distance freight transport is usually used for the transport of high-value goods, since it is usually carried out by road due to its ease of combining different possibilities to save time and costs. For example, instead of transporting by rail, you can carry it out on the road, since about 700 km can be carried out in 24 hours. If double driving is carried out (a very common possibility in road transport in long-distance transport), in about 24 hours about 1000 or 1200 km can be done and in 48 hours 2000 or 2500 km can be done, that is, if we want to make a trip from Barcelona to Munich it would take approximately, including the breaks stipulated by law, 28 to 30 hours to reach the destination. On the other hand, if it is done in double driving, the trip could be made in a stretch of 18 to 20 hours to reach the destination, with the breaks stipulated by law.What should we take into account when transporting long-distance goods?
If we talk about transporting heavy goods, it is more economical to do it using trucks and trailers, since if it is done by rail transport or by air transport it can be more expensive due to its weight and the high times of the first and the high costs of the second. It is more convenient to use road transport for the long-distance transport of very heavy goods. If we want to carry out the long-distance transport of goods more quickly in terms of transport, we can do it through air transport, but the only drawback it has This type of transport is that its procedures in terms of documentation, which can delay this process many times and can make it slow and an expensive process that, although it is fast, is not usually one of the most used due to this same inconvenience. The most used long-distance transport of goods and that today is faster and safer is road transport, since it does not require as much documentation management and you can immediately process the trip to be able to get started with the trip.What vehicles are usually used to transport long-distance goods?
As indicated by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, the length of vehicles that can be used in transport is as follows: The maximum length of rigid trucks is 12 meters, coaches and buses are excluded.The maximum length of the road trains is 18.75 meters measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the road train, between the outer points located further in front of the loading area behind the cabin and further back of the trailer of the set of vehicles, it will be 16.40 meters.
What is the maximum weight of long-distance freight transport vehicles?
The maximum weight of long-distance freight vehicles usually ranges between 24,000 and 26,000 kg.What is the cost per km?
The cost of the km oscillates between two prices:- A international level It ranges in price between €1 and €1.3 per km.
- A national level It ranges in price between €0.8 and €1 per km.
Frequently Asked Questions about Long-Distance Freight Transport
From what distance is considered “long distance” transportation and what does it entail?
Long-distance = above 500 km. Operational implications: 1) Mandatory driver rests (EU 561/2006: 45 min every 4.5h, 11h daily). 2) Lead time doubles versus short: 24-48h instead of 8-12h. 3) Fuel cost dominates (40% of cost). 4) Double driver use more recommended. 5) Critical route and toll optimisation. Typical long-distance Spain routes: Madrid-Galicia (600-700 km), Madrid-Catalonia (650 km), Madrid-Andalusia (540-700 km).
How do I optimise long-distance transport cost for a B2B business?
Five levers: 1) Leverage return trip (load + unload both ways). 2) Double-deck or mega-trailer (more m³ per trip). 3) Road + rail combination on long sections (Mediterranean, Atlantic). 4) Route optimisation avoiding critical tolls. 5) Weekly cargo consolidation in single FTL versus two partial FTL. B2B business with regular long-distance flow: 15-25% saving with systematic optimisation.
When is road + rail better than road only?
Punto equilibrio modal: 1) Ferroviario gana en distancia >500 km, volumen >5 contenedores/mes, destinos terminal-served. 2) Carretera gana en <500 km, plazo <24h crítico, capilaridad door-to-door. Ahorro ferroviario en larga distancia: 30-40% coste, 75% CO2. Plazo similar (3-4 días vs 4-5 carretera larga). Para B2B con volumen mensual constante: análisis modal con tu agencia identifica oportunidades.
What consumption and CO2 footprint does a long-distance route have and how do I cut it?
24t trailer long-distance consumption: 28-35 l/100km. Madrid-Galicia (650 km): 200-230L = ~600-650 kg CO2. Per-pallet footprint: 18-20 kg CO2 (vs 2-3 kg by rail). Five reduction levers: 1) New Euro VI trailer (-15% consumption). 2) Aerodynamics (-8%). 3) Eco-driving (-10%). 4) Optimal route planning (-5-10%). 5) Modal switch road-rail (-75%). For CSRD-committed B2B, systematic reduction.
What specific risks does long-distance carry and how do I manage them?
Five critical risks: 1) Breakdown in remote area (specialist workshop response over 4h). 2) Sudden weather changes (snow, heavy fog). 3) Theft at non-secure parking (only certified S-PARK recommended). 4) Driver fatigue despite rests (double driver cuts 80%). 5) Port/airport delay in intermodal combinations. Contingency plan with your agency: backup vehicle at intermediate hubs + 24/7 GPS communication.
Need full-truckload (FTL) haulage?
Dedicated lorry for your cargo, 2-hour collection and the same contact throughout.
