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Wrapped pallets loaded in a semi-trailer

Road transport · groupage

Groupage transport (LTL): a few pallets, no whole truck

Your goods are consolidated with those of other shippers going the same way, so you pay only for the space and weight you take up. Suitable for a few pallets, within Romania or across Europe.

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On this page
  1. Groupage service
  2. What to know · pallets
  3. When it is not the right option
  4. Types of goods
  5. How it works
  6. Information for the quote
  7. Documents and restrictions
  8. What affects the cost
  9. Related services and questions

You have three, five or ten pallets and it makes no sense to pay for a whole truck. With groupage (LTL, less than truckload), your goods are loaded together with those of other shippers going the same way. The cost is shared according to the floor space used (loading metres), volume and weight.

Groupage

How groupage transport works

We organise groupage with carriers and groupage networks, on the routes where they have departures. For each request we check whether the route is covered, how the goods are collected (with a loading dock or with a tail lift) and what the estimated time is.

Before you order

What you need to know first

  • Transit time

    It is longer than with a full truckload: the goods are collected, may be transshipped at a warehouse and are then distributed.

  • Packing and labelling the pallets

    The pallet is handled several times, so it must be stable, stretch-wrapped and labelled.

  • Paying for space (loading metres)

    A light but tall, non-stackable pallet can cost as much as a heavy one: what counts is the floor space it takes up.

Calculate the loading metres (LDM) in “What vehicle do I need?”

Preparing the pallets

How to prepare pallets for groupage

In groupage, your pallet is loaded, moved and unloaded several times. A well-prepared pallet arrives intact and is charged correctly.

  • The goods do not overhang the edges of the pallet and have a stable shape, with no parcels hanging over
  • The pallet is tightly stretch-wrapped, with corner protectors where the goods are fragile
  • Each pallet has a label with the shipper, the consignee and the number of pallets in the consignment
  • Tell us whether the pallet can be stacked; if not, the space above it is also charged
  • The actual dimensions and weight of each pallet, not just of the consignment
  • Dangerous goods are declared separately; in groupage they are accepted only under certain conditions

A EUR pallet measures 1.20 × 0.80 m, an industrial pallet 1.20 × 1.00 m. The height and weight accepted per pallet depend on the network, and we confirm them in the quote.

Alternatives

When it is NOT the right option

  • The goods are urgent or have a fixed delivery date.

    Express transport

  • You take up most of the semi-trailer: a part load or a full load usually works out better.

    Full truckload / FTL

  • The goods are fragile and cannot withstand repeated handling: a dedicated run is safer.

    Full truckload / FTL

Types of goods

What types of goods go by groupage

  • One or more EUR pallets or industrial pallets, stackable or not
  • Spare parts, components and consumables for production
  • Restocking shops or distributors, in small quantities
  • Large parcels or crates, placed on a pallet
  • Samples and trade fair goods, if the deadline allows

How it works

How groupage transport works

  1. Step 1

    Give us the pallet details

    The number and type of pallets, the dimensions (including height), the weight of each and whether they can be stacked.

  2. Step 2

    We calculate the space and propose an option

    Your details give the loading metres; we tell you whether it is groupage, a part load or a full truckload.

  3. Step 3

    The quote and the collection

    The quote shows the estimated time and what is included (for example the tail lift or notification before delivery). The goods are collected on the agreed date.

  4. Step 4

    Consolidation and transport

    The goods are loaded together with other shipments going the same way and may pass through a transshipment warehouse.

  5. Step 5

    Delivery

    The consignee is notified in advance, if you asked for notification. You receive the confirmation and the copy of the signed transport document.

Information needed

Information needed for a quote

For groupage, what matters most is the dimensions and weight of each pallet. If you don’t know something, choose “I don’t know”.

  • Country, postcode and town of collection and of delivery
  • Number of pallets and their type (EUR pallet, industrial pallet, other)
  • Dimensions of each pallet, including the height with the goods
  • Weight of each pallet or the total weight
  • Whether the pallets can be stacked on top of each other
  • Whether there is a loading dock or forklift at collection and at delivery (otherwise a tail lift is needed)
  • Notification before delivery, time slot, pallet exchange
  • Whether the goods are dangerous (ADR): the UN number and the class

Documents

Documents for groupage transport

  • CMR consignment note For international transport; one for each shipment.
  • Delivery note or invoice Issued by the shipper.
  • The label on each pallet Consignee, address, reference and pallet number (“1 of 3”); it reduces the risk of pallets going astray at transshipment.
  • RO e-Transport UIT code When the transport falls under the ANAF (Romanian tax authority) system.
  • ADR transport document Only for dangerous goods accepted in groupage.

Restrictions

Restrictions we take into account

  • The pallets must be stable, stretch-wrapped and labelled; a damaged or unstable pallet may be refused at collection.
  • Very tall, very heavy or unusually sized pallets may not be accepted in groupage; we check them when quoting.
  • Dangerous goods are accepted in groupage only for certain classes and quantities; we confirm case by case.
  • Transit times are estimates; departures depend on the network’s schedule on the route concerned.
  • Deliveries to private addresses or construction sites may require a smaller vehicle and a separate appointment.

Costs

What affects the cost of groupage

We do not publish fixed rates: the quote starts from the space and weight of your pallets and states clearly what it includes.

  1. 01

    Loading metres taken up on the floor, volume and weight: the highest value is charged, according to the network’s rules

  2. 02

    Number of pallets and whether they can be stacked

  3. 03

    Collection and delivery area (a large city or a remote location)

  4. 04

    Tail lift, notification and fixed time slots

  5. 05

    Dangerous goods (ADR) and special requirements

  6. 06

    Pallet exchange

How much does freight transport cost in 2026? Prices per kilometre and calculation factors

Related services

Groupage or another option?

Groupage suits a few pallets that are not urgent. For large volumes or tight deadlines, see the related options.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about groupage

Talk to the team

What does loading metre (LDM) mean?

One metre of the truck’s floor length, across its full width. In groupage, the price takes into account how much floor space you take up, not just the weight. You can calculate the loading metres in “What vehicle do I need?”; the definition is also in the glossary.

Can I send a single pallet?

Yes, on the routes where we organise groupage. We confirm in the quote whether the route is covered and how long the goods are estimated to take.

Why do I pay for more than the pallet’s weight?

Because the pallet takes up space: if it cannot be stacked, it also blocks the space above it. Groupage networks compare the actual weight with a weight calculated from the volume or the loading metres and invoice the higher value. The exact rule is stated in the quote.

How long does groupage take compared with a full truckload?

Usually longer, because the goods are collected, may be transshipped and are then distributed. In the quote you get an estimated time. If the deadline is strict, express transport or a full truckload is more suitable.

Do my goods pass through warehouses?

Often, yes: groupage is consolidated and sorted in transshipment warehouses. That is why the packaging and labelling of each pallet matter.

I don’t have a loading dock. Is it still possible?

Yes, with a vehicle with a tail lift. Tell us in your request that you have no loading dock or forklift, so that we choose the right vehicle.

Guides

Useful guides and articles

Guides on costs, shared loading and the CMR document.

See all guides

Related articles

More about groupage and quote requests

Suitable vehicles

Practical reference values. We confirm the exact dimensions in the quote. Honexpres organises transport with this vehicle, on request.

Quote request

Do you have goods to transport?

Tell us what you are transporting, from where and to where. The HONEXPRES team reviews your request and gets back to you with a quote.

Request a quote: Groupage / less than truckload (LTL)
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About: Groupage / less than truckload (LTL)

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