Our main focus is providing business-to-business (B2B) part-load transport (LTL transport) on routes where the origin or destination country is outside the European Union and the shipment also includes — in addition to road transport — customs clearance and transit (T1) formalities. We arrange international part-load shipments between Estonia and non-EU countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Switzerland and Ukraine. We also operate as a customs agency, so on request you can have customs clearance and the related processes covered within the same service, with the entire transport process managed from one place.
We carry standard cargo, hazardous goods (ADR) and oversized cargo as part loads. LTL road transport operates both on a consolidation principle through terminals — where shipments are pooled into a single departure and routed onward to the destination country — and as direct truck shipments (mainly for larger part loads). For standard part loads we use classic semi-trailers, mega, jumbo and full trailers and tail-lift trucks. For oversized part loads we use specialist trailers (flatbed, low-bed, etc.).
Part-load transport allows smaller shipments to be moved cost-efficiently. Our service covers the entire organisation of part-load (LTL) transport — route planning, choice of vehicle and trailer, coordination of loading and departure schedules, consolidation in terminals, customs clearance and advice. We operate regularly on routes towards non-EU countries, such as the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Ukraine, Norway, Switzerland and Serbia.
We provide international part-load transport for standard cargo, hazardous goods (ADR) and oversized shipments. LTL transport covers customs clearance where required, including opening and closing transit (T1) procedures. We coordinate the whole transport process from collection through to destination and keep the customer informed of progress.
Our part-load (LTL) transport service grew out of the need to offer Estonian exporters and importers a clear and managed solution for non-EU shipments. We approach part-load transport as a complete process in which, alongside the carriage and cargo insurance, customs formalities also play an important role. For us, logistics is not a stand-alone service but part of the customer’s supply chain.
Over the years we have built up our international part-load capability, covering standard cargo, hazardous goods (ADR) and oversized shipments. The service also covers customs clearance on request, including help with paying state duties and transit procedures (T1), as well as cargo insurance. Our strength lies in our practical experience of part-load shipments to non-EU countries, where every route, departure and shipment needs precise planning.
Today we serve manufacturing, industrial and trading companies as well as public-sector institutions that need a reliable, trustworthy partner for non-EU road transport and part-load shipments. Our role is not limited to booking orders — we help the customer make well-considered decisions across the entire transport chain and keep the process under control from start to finish.
We mainly carry out non-EU part-load (LTL) transport in both export and import directions. We carry standard cargo, hazardous goods (ADR) and oversized shipments. Part-load shipments are performed with semi-trailers, mega, jumbo, full and flatbed trailers and tail-lift trucks, depending on the nature of the cargo.
As we also operate as a customs agency, our service includes — where required — customs declarations, calculation and payment of state duties, and transit (T1) formalities. The table below shows the most frequently used routes along with estimated transit times. The exact price and schedule depend on the specific route, the departure schedule and the specifics of the shipment.
| Destination market | Main regions | Origin or destination | Cargo type | Estimated transit time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~11–14 days |
| United Kingdom | London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~6–10 days |
| Norway | Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Kristiansand | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~3–7 days |
| Ukraine | Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~6–14 days |
| Switzerland | Zürich, Basel, Bern, Geneva | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~5–9 days |
| Serbia | Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš | All across Estonia | Standard cargo / hazardous (ADR) goods / special shipments | ~6–10 days |
Our part-load (LTL) transport is intended for industrial, manufacturing and trading companies as well as public-sector institutions that need regular or project-based non-EU shipments together with customs formalities.
We carry out non-EU part-load (LTL) shipments, covering both imports into Estonia and exports from Estonia. We carry standard cargo, hazardous goods (ADR) and oversized shipments.
We help coordinate communication with overseas consignors and consignees. As we also operate as a customs agency, the service includes — on request — drawing up customs declarations, calculating and paying state duties, and opening and closing transit (T1) procedures.
Practical guidance for organising part-load (LTL) transport for both imports and exports. We explain customs processes, documentation requirements, the calculation of loading metres, and the types of trucks and trailers and how they differ. We highlight the most common risks and practical questions related to non-EU part-load shipments.
We carry out part-load shipments between Estonia and non-EU countries, covering both imports into Estonia and exports from Estonia. With part-load transport, one customer’s shipment is carried together with goods from other customers in the same vehicle. The shipment is planned based on the route, departure schedule, nature of the cargo and customs requirements.
Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about how part-load transport works, the FTL vs LTL comparison, documentation, customs declarations and transit procedures. If you don’t find an answer or your shipment is still being planned, get in touch — we are happy to give an initial assessment and practical input even when not all details are final.
Part-load transport (LTL — Less than Truck Load) means that one customer’s shipment does not fill the whole trailer, and the same vehicle (trailer) is used to carry goods for several customers. The customer pays for the space their shipment actually uses.
Unlike full-load transport (FTL), part-load transport is more likely to involve interim handling at a terminal, depending on the route and the transport setup. For non-EU part-load shipments, the usual transport operations are joined by customs formalities, including export or import declarations, the calculation and payment of state duties and, where required, transit procedures (T1).
Part-load transport means that the goods of several customers are carried in one vehicle (trailer). Each customer pays for the space their shipment uses, and the freight charge is based on the cargo’s dimensions, weight, volume and the loading metres (LDM) calculated. With part-load transport the cargo may pass through terminals, and there may be interim handling depending on the route.
Full-load transport means that the whole trailer is reserved for the goods of one customer. The same vehicle does not carry goods for other customers during the same order, and the shipment generally moves from origin to destination without reloading.
For non-EU shipments both transport modes involve customs clearance and, where required, transit procedures (T1), but the transit time, pricing and logistical setup differ significantly.
Part-load transport (LTL) is a sensible choice when the volume or weight of the shipment does not fill the permitted load space and/or weight limit of an entire vehicle, and booking the whole vehicle is not economically justified.
Based on our experience, it is worth choosing part-load (LTL) transport when the customer has less than 75% of the trailer’s load space. A classic 13.6 m semi-trailer has a volume of about 90 m³, and 75% of that is roughly 67 m³ — or about 10 loading metres (LDM). For volumes below this, part-load transport is often the more economical option compared with full-load transport (FTL).
The customer doesn’t have to do these calculations — we assess each shipment individually and recommend the most sensible solution for the specific cargo.
The basis for non-EU part-load shipments is correct cargo and transport documentation. The commercial invoice and packing list — drawn up by the customer — are typically required. An international CMR consignment note is also required, which we issue when needed or which the customer can prepare on their own form.
For non-EU shipments (e.g. towards Norway, the United Kingdom, Türkiye or Ukraine) export or import declarations are required and, depending on the route, a transit document (T1). As a customs agency we handle these formalities for the customer on request, including the calculation and payment of state duties. Depending on the cargo and the destination country, other documents may also be required — for example, an A.TR document, a certificate of origin, a phytosanitary certificate or other cargo-specific evidence.
For hazardous goods (ADR) a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required and, where applicable, a Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) and other cargo-specific documents. The data on the documents must match the actual cargo and transaction, since gaps or inaccuracies can cause delays at the border or in customs.
No, we do not offer part-load (LTL) transport to private individuals and we do not handle removals.
Our road-transport service is aimed at business-to-business (B2B) shipments. We arrange shipments where the consignor and consignee are legal entities and the movement is a commercial transaction requiring correct documentation and, where needed, customs clearance.
We do not perform loading or unloading at private addresses. For shipments and removals involving private individuals, we recommend contacting companies that specialise in international removals.
Yes, it does.
All carriers operating international shipments work under the CMR Convention, and in Estonia the Law of Obligations Act (LOA) also applies. Under these rules the carrier’s liability is capped, and the compensation limit is calculated on the basis of the cargo’s gross weight rather than its actual value.
For part-load transport the carrier’s liability is limited to 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight. For example, if the cargo is worth €12,000 and the gross weight is 600 kg, the carrier’s maximum compensation will be around €6,000, depending on the SDR exchange rate. In other words, in this example the regulatory compensation is significantly lower than the actual value of the goods. In a situation like this, taking out cargo insurance (all-risk insurance) is strongly recommended.
There are also cases where the carrier is not liable at all, regardless of the CMR cap — for example, when the damage is not directly linked to the carrier’s actions or falls outside the scope of liability under the conventions (e.g. fire, natural disaster or robbery). All-risk insurance can cover losses that fall outside the carrier’s liability.
For these reasons, taking out additional cargo insurance (all-risk insurance) is often a sensible move for non-EU part-load shipments. In our experience, a significant share of customers opt for additional all-risk cover. We offer cargo insurance as an official reseller for insurer PZU. We arrange the international shipment so that the customer obtains transport, customs service and all-risk insurance from a single company, without having to deal with several different parties.
Practical articles on part-load (LTL) transport and customs processes. We cover documentation, transit (T1), customs formalities, the logic of calculating loading metres (LDM), cargo insurance and the most common questions about non-EU part-load shipments.
