Roadfreight

Requesting a road freight quote from Hellmann is quick and easy. Simply use our “Let’s Do Business” form and provide your shipment details, such as origin and destination, shipment volume or weight, number and type of loading units (e.g. full truckloads, pallets, partial loads), as well as any additional services required (e.g. express delivery, temperature-controlled transport, customs clearance, or insurance).

Once your quote has been confirmed, you will receive a booking confirmation including all relevant shipment details, such as loading unit, pickup and delivery dates, route, contact person, and booked services.
Hellmann manages the complete transport process — from pickup and loading to customs formalities and final delivery. Thanks to modern IT integration solutions (e.g. EDI) and GPS-based tracking, you can monitor your shipment in real time throughout the entire transport chain.

Hellmann offers a wide range of road freight transport solutions, including:

• Direct Transport (FTL – Full Truck Load): Dedicated truck transport where the entire vehicle capacity is reserved for a single shipment.
• Groupage Transport (LTL – Less Than Truckload): Consolidated transport solutions combining partial loads from multiple shippers.
• Door-to-Door Transport (Direct Load): End-to-end transport solutions including pickup, delivery, pre-carriage, on-carriage, and optional value-added services.

Hellmann can safely and efficiently transport almost all common types of goods by truck, including standard cargo, industrial products, consumer goods, machinery, palletized freight, partial loads, and full truckloads.
Goods with special requirements — such as dangerous goods, temperature-sensitive cargo, high-value shipments, or fragile products — can also be transported. However, these shipments are subject to specific regulations (e.g. ADR requirements) and additional standards regarding packaging, labeling, temperature control, and security measures.
Our Roadfreight team reviews each shipment individually to ensure full regulatory compliance and safe, efficient transport execution.
 

Hellmann efficiently transports a wide range of standard goods by truck, including consumer products, industrial goods, machinery, and palletized freight. Flexible transport planning also allows partial loads to be handled cost-effectively.
Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled shipments, and cargo with special handling requirements can also be transported — provided they are properly packed, declared, and documented in accordance with applicable regulations. In such cases, each shipment is reviewed individually. (Please also see “Dangerous Goods & Special Requirements” below.)

Yes. Hellmann provides ADR-compliant dangerous goods transportation services, provided all national and international regulations are met.
This includes proper declaration, packaging, labeling, and documentation. Every dangerous goods shipment is individually reviewed prior to transport.

To ensure safe and compliant transportation, the following requirements apply:

• Correct and complete declaration of the goods, including hazard classification
• Use of approved and compliant packaging and loading equipment
• Complete transport documentation and required ADR paperwork
• Early coordination for temperature-controlled, sensitive, or high-value shipments (e.g. cooling requirements, security measures, additional insurance)

Hellmann supports customers with experienced specialists and manages the required coordination and documentation to ensure dangerous goods are transported safely and in full compliance with regulations.

Certain dangerous goods are generally excluded from transportation, regardless of whether the shipment is domestic or international.
Generally excluded (regardless of ADR class):

• Hazardous waste
• Dangerous goods subject to special ADR security regulations according to ADR 1.10.3
• Temperature-controlled dangerous goods

Excluded dangerous goods classes and substances (excerpt):

• Class 1 (Explosives): Generally excluded, with only very limited domestic exceptions
• Class 2 (Gases): Especially toxic gases and certain regulated gases
• Class 3 (Flammable Liquids): Certain substances and UN numbers excluded
• Class 4.1 / 4.2: Selected flammable or self-igniting substances excluded
• Class 5.1 / 5.2: Certain oxidizing substances and organic peroxides excluded
• Class 6.1: Highly toxic substances (Packing Group I) excluded
• Class 6.2: Infectious substances fully excluded
• Class 7: Radioactive materials generally excluded, except for limited exempt shipments
• Class 8: Certain highly corrosive substances excluded
• Class 9: Selected hazardous substances and articles excluded

Special regulation: 

• Lithium batteries can only be transported if a valid UN 38.3 test summary is available.

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1. Shipping mode

• Full Truck Load (FTL): Larger shipments are often charged at a fixed rate per truckload, making this option suitable for high-volume consignments.
• Groupage / Less Than Truckload (LTL): Costs are typically calculated based on shipment quantity, weight, or volume.

2. Weight and volume vs. chargeable weight

The gross weight refers to the actual physical weight of the shipment, including packaging.
For transport pricing, the higher value between gross weight and volumetric weight (chargeable weight) is always used.

• Lightweight but bulky shipments are charged based on volumetric weight if it exceeds the gross weight.
• Heavy or compact shipments are charged based on gross weight if it is higher.

This ensures fair and transport-efficient pricing.

3. Route 

The distance between pickup and delivery location affects costs through fuel consumption, transit time, and toll charges.
Base kilometre rates may be combined with additional surcharges such as fuel surcharges or toll fees, depending on the route and destination country.

4. Type of goods & additional requirements

Shipments with special requirements — such as dangerous goods, temperature-controlled cargo, high-value, or sensitive goods — may generate additional costs due to specialised equipment, insurance, security, or handling requirements.
Additional services such as door-to-door delivery, express transport, tail lift service, customs clearance, or special loading equipment (e.g. swap bodies or trailers) may also be charged separately.

5. Capacity utilisation / loading meters / pallet space / trailer volume

In road freight transport, pricing is also influenced by vehicle capacity utilisation, such as:

• loading meters,
• pallet spaces,
• or trailer volume usage.

For smaller shipment volumes, groupage transport (LTL) is often the more economical solution.
Where shipment volume is low, the ratio between weight and volume (volumetric weight) can significantly influence transport costs.

1. Pre-Carriage Services

Pickup of shipments from the sender using standard trucks, tail-lift vehicles, or specialised equipment.
Typical services include:

• Collection of pallets, groupage shipments (LTL), or full truckloads (FTL)
• Provision of swap bodies, trailers, or specialised vehicles
• Integration into national and international groupage networks

2. On-Carriage & Delivery Services

Delivery to the consignee with flexible service options tailored to operational requirements. Services may include:

• Delivery notification and appointment scheduling
• Deliveries within defined time windows
• Use of unloading equipment (e.g. tail lifts)

Store Delivery Services (e.g. Fashion & Retail):

• Direct store deliveries from distribution centres (DCs)
• Time-critical deliveries to designated receiving areas
• Consideration of logistical restrictions such as pedestrian zones, access limitations, or shopping centre regulations
• Planning and coordination of complex retail supply chains

3. Time Slot Bookings / Fixed Delivery Slots

For retail, fashion, and FMCG shipments, exact delivery time slots can be arranged to improve planning efficiency and reduce waiting times.
Delivery slot requirements may also influence the selected transport mode (FTL vs. LTL) and overall transport costs.

4. Customs Clearance & Documentation Services

• Handling of all customs formalities for international transports
• Preparation and verification of transport and customs documentation
• Ideal for cross-border shipments

5. Handling & HUB Services

Especially relevant for HUB operations and consolidation depots in road freight logistics.
Services may include:

• Loading and unloading
• Sorting and consolidation
• Palletising and labelling
• Temporary storage / cross-docking
• Scanning and document handling

6. Transport Insurance

Optional additional insurance coverage is available for shipments with elevated risk profiles, such as:

• High-value goods
• Sensitive or fragile cargo
• Cross-border transports
• Continuous cargo flows and serial shipments

7. Fuel & Toll Surcharges

Additional surcharges may apply depending on:

• Diesel prices
• Electricity and energy costs (e.g. for electric trucks or alternative drive systems)
• Country-specific toll and road usage charges

1. High flexibility & comprehensive network coverage

• Daily departures across Europe
• Groupage, LTL, FTL, specialised, and express transport services
• Direct pickup from the shipper (door-to-door services)
• Flexible delivery options such as time slot deliveries, delivery notifications, tail-lift services, or construction site deliveries

2. Cost-efficient for short and medium distances

• Particularly economical for pallet shipments, LTL, and partial loads
• Predictable pricing for full truckloads (FTL)
• Lower handling costs compared to air, sea, or rail freight in many B2B and B2C distribution networks

3. Extensive European & international cross-border coverage

Comprehensive road freight solutions connect key economic regions across Europe and beyond.

• Europe-wide transport services
• United Kingdom
• Switzerland
• Türkiye
• Ireland

Extended reach beyond Europe:

• Middle East ↔ Asia:
  Direct transport services and groupage networks to destinations such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with established connections extending towards Southeast Asia (e.g. Thailand)
• Asia ↔ Europe:
  Continuous truck transport solutions between China or Korea and Europe, including transports for high-demand industries such as pharmaceuticals
• USA ↔ Mexico:
  Efficient cross-border transport solutions across North America
• North Africa:
  Gateway transports via Barcelona with connections to Morocco, Algeria, and other regional destinations

This extensive network enables flexible, efficient, and reliable global road freight solutions, even for complex supply chains.

4. Sustainable road freight solutions

Cleaner road freight solutions may include:

• Emission reduction through alternative drive technologies
• CO₂ tracking and emissions reporting
• Optimised route planning
• Digital document management

5. Predictable & transparent transit times

• GPS-supported shipment tracking
• IT integration (EDI / ERP connectivity)
• Predictive ETA forecasting
• Stable supply chains through structured transport networks

In road freight transport, size and weight requirements may vary depending on the transport environment, vehicle type, shipment profile, and customer requirements.
For every road freight shipment, both regulatory requirements and vehicle-specific capacities must be considered to ensure safe and compliant transport operations.

1. Standard shipments (Groupage, LTL, FTL)

• For door-to-door transports within direct load services, typical minimum shipment requirements may start from approximately six Euro pallets or 2,500 kg, enabling economically efficient groupage or direct transport operations.
• Maximum dimensions and weight limits are not defined universally, as they may vary depending on the transport route, vehicle type (e.g. mega trailers or semi-trailers), and regional regulations.

2. Oversized, specialised & heavy cargo transports

For exceptionally large, heavy, or unusually shaped cargo, tailored transport solutions are available, including planning, load securing, specialised vehicles, and customs handling. Depending on operational requirements, solutions may include:

• Mega trailers or specialised trailers
• Low-loader or low-bed vehicles
• Crane or lifting equipment for loading and unloading
• Additional equipment or safety measures for fragile or oversized cargo

3. Important additional considerations

• Stackability & load securing: Non-stackable cargo requires specialised securing measures, such as:
  • lashing points, anti-slip mats, edge protection and additional load securing equipment.
• Route & infrastructure: Transport planning must consider infrastructure limitations such as:
  • tunnel clearances, bridge load capacities, route restrictions and crane accessibility.
• Packaging requirements: Appropriate packaging is essential to protect cargo against weather conditions, vibrations and temperature fluctuations.

For particularly large, heavy, or sensitive shipments, customised road freight solutions can include transport planning, specialised load securing, and customs clearance services.

Special services in road freight transport include tailored logistics solutions that go beyond standard transportation requirements. These services are used when shipments require special handling due to size, weight, security, temperature control, or regulatory requirements.

Temperature-Controlled Transport (Cool Chain Logistics)

Temperature-controlled transport solutions are essential for goods requiring consistent temperature conditions throughout the supply chain.

Typical cargo includes:

• Food products such as fish, meat, fruit ...
• Pharmaceuticals and medical products
• temperature-sensitive goods and samples

Suitable refrigerated vehicles, insulated equipment, and continuous temperature monitoring help ensure an uninterrupted cold chain and secure temperature management throughout the entire transport process.

Dangerous Goods Transport (ADR / DG-Compliant Transport)

Dangerous goods transport covers substances that may pose risks to health, safety, or the environment.

Examples include:

• Chemicals and gases, flammable liquids and aerosols, Lithium batteries (ADR Class 9), Pyrotechnic products such as fireworks (ADR Class 1)

These transports require compliance with legal regulations, certified and specially trained drivers, UN-certified packaging, correct documentation, and, where necessary, segregation from incompatible goods. ADR-compliant handling and international dangerous goods logistics ensure safe and compliant transport operations for sensitive or high-security cargo.

Oversized & Heavy Cargo Transport

Specialised transport solutions are available for exceptionally large, heavy, or bulky cargo such as:

• Machinery and industrial components
• Industrial plants and equipment
• Vehicles
• Offshore or large-scale project cargo

These transports may require:

• Special transport planning
• Dedicated vehicles and trailers
• Advanced load securing systems
• Lifting and loading equipment
• Route surveys and transport permits

High-Value Cargo Transport

Special security solutions are available for valuable or highly sensitive goods, including:

• High-end electronics
• Artwork and prototypes
• Precious metals
• Other high-value cargo

Security measures may include:

• Secure and discreet handling
• GPS tracking
• Additional insurance coverage
• Priority handling
• Special packaging
• Customer-specific route planning
• Secure parking during transit

Shipments can also be reviewed according to recognised security standards such as TAPA requirements or comparable security guidelines.

Tailor-Made Routes & Charter Solutions

Custom transport concepts may be required when standard routes or conventional groupage/direct transport services are not sufficient.

Typical use cases include:

• Urgent deliveries
• Remote destinations
• Special delivery time requirements
• Humanitarian shipments
• Complex project cargo

Dedicated FTL/LTL solutions, customised transport planning, and coordinated door-to-door services provide maximum operational flexibility.

Combined Dangerous Goods & Special Transport Solutions

Complex shipments may require the combination of multiple specialised services, such as:

• temperature-controlled transport
• dangerous goods compliance
• and oversized cargo handling

These operations require careful logistics planning and close coordination between drivers, infrastructure providers, and loading teams.

Integrated solutions may include:

• Temperature-controlled transports across different temperature ranges
• ADR-compliant dangerous goods transport with specialised vehicles and trained personnel
• Oversized and heavy cargo solutions with dedicated equipment and route planning
• End-to-end door-to-door logistics with GPS-based shipment tracking

This ensures that even highly complex shipments involving temperature requirements, dangerous goods, or oversized dimensions can be transported safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Road freight express transport is a priority logistics solution designed for particularly urgent shipments. It offers significantly faster transit times compared to standard transport services and is ideal for time-critical goods that must reach their destination as quickly as possible.

Key features

• Same-day or next-day delivery, depending on distance and route
• Direct transport without transshipment or consolidation stops
• Dedicated vehicles such as vans, sprinters, trucks, or specialised transport units
• Prioritised loading and immediate dispatch
• GPS tracking with accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA)
• 24/7 availability for urgent transport requests

Typical use cases

Road freight express transport is commonly used for:

• Emergency spare parts and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) shipments to avoid production downtime
• Perishable or temperature-sensitive goods requiring fast delivery
• Time-critical retail, industrial, or project cargo
• High-value goods such as electronics or sensitive equipment

Express transport ensures maximum speed, reliability, and control when standard transport lead times are not sufficient.