Pallet freight is the everyday backbone of European B2B road transport — standardised, efficient, scalable. Whether you ship 1 pallet or 33, national or international, Transvolando coordinates pallet freight from Spain across every major European corridor.
Why pallets are the universal B2B unit
- Euro pallet standard: 1,2 × 0,8 m fits 33 in a 13,6 m tautliner, universal across Europe
- Mechanised handling: forklift and pallet-jack compatible everywhere
- Damage protection: stretch-wrapped pallets ship safer than loose cartons
- Scalable: 1 pallet to full truck load, same logistics infrastructure
- Pallet pools: Europool, CHEP, LPR enable closed-loop circulation
Pallet freight service modes
Groupage (LTL — less than truck load)
Share truck space with other shippers. Daily cross-dock consolidation. Priced per pallet.
- 1-20 pallets per consignment
- 24-72 hours transit across Europe
- Best per-pallet pricing
- Daily services on major corridors
Part-load
Between groupage and FTL — typically 8-20 pallets. Sharing truck with one or two other shippers.
FTL (Full Truck Load)
Dedicated 13,6 m tautliner for your cargo. Up to 33 Euro pallets.
- 13-33 pallets typical range
- 24-48 hours domestic, 2-3 days cross-border EU
- Direct transit, no cross-docking
- Lowest per-pallet cost at high volume
Specialist pallet freight
- Reefer pallets: temperature-controlled for pharma, food
- ADR pallets: dangerous goods compliance
- Non-stackable pallets: fragile cargo, surcharge applies
- Overweight pallets: above 1.000 kg, case-by-case
Indicative pricing per Euro pallet
Single Euro pallet up to 500 kg (+30% buffer for negotiation):
National (Spain)
- Madrid ↔ Barcelona: EUR 70-110 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Valencia: EUR 60-95 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Bilbao: EUR 75-115 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Seville: EUR 80-120 per pallet
International
- Madrid ↔ Lisbon: EUR 75-115 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Paris: EUR 130-180 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Frankfurt: EUR 160-220 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Milan: EUR 150-210 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Rotterdam: EUR 160-225 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ Warsaw: EUR 210-290 per pallet
- Madrid ↔ London (post-Brexit): EUR 200-280 per pallet
Transit times
- National Spain groupage: 24-48 hours
- Spain → France/Portugal groupage: 48-72 hours
- Spain → Germany/Italy groupage: 4-5 working days
- Spain → UK (post-Brexit) groupage: 5-7 working days including customs
- FTL transits: 24-48 hours cross-border intra-EU
Pallet preparation best practice
- Use Euro pallets (1,2 × 0,8 m)
- Stretch-wrap at 100% coverage, 4-5 base turns, 2-3 top turns
- Weight maximum 1.000 kg per pallet for standard service
- No overhang — cargo within pallet footprint
- Stackability labelled clearly
- Shipping labels on at least 2 sides, forklift-operator visible
- Temperature / fragile / ADR marks where applicable
- ISPM-15 heat-treated wood for non-EU export
Pallet exchange on regular lanes
On closed-loop B2B lanes, we arrange pallet exchange — the carrier returns equivalent Euro pallets on the return leg. Reduces pallet purchasing cost significantly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship a single pallet to Germany?
Yes. Daily groupage services from Spain cover every major European destination for single-pallet consignments.
What if my pallet exceeds 1.000 kg?
Weight surcharges apply. Let us know at quote stage — some carriers limit at 700-800 kg on groupage; heavier may need FTL or specialist service.
Do I need ISPM-15 for France or Germany?
No — intra-EU shipments accept untreated wood. Only non-EU (UK, Morocco, Switzerland, Turkey) require ISPM-15 certification.
Can you ship non-stackable pallets?
Yes, with surcharge (typically 30-50% uplift because they consume double the floor space). Mark clearly «No stacking».
Is reefer pallet groupage available?
Yes on major corridors. Consolidation hubs run separately for reefer flows.
How does pallet exchange work?
On regular lanes with return flow, the carrier returns equivalent Euro pallets on the reverse leg. Subject to commercial agreement and pallet quality standards.
Looking for pallet transport?
Transvolando runs pallet groupage, part-load and FTL services across Spain and Europe. Share your brief and we come back in 2 working hours.