Truck Traffic to the Czech Republic: Plannable Deliveries

Regular deliveries to the Czech Republic: when a part load or a full truck pays off

Six pallets to Prague on Monday, ten to Plzeň on Wednesday and eight to Brno on Friday: for the shipping department, these are three deliveries. For transport planning, several decisions arise. Can shipments be combined? When is a dedicated truck worthwhile? And which regulations affect delivery?

For regular transports between Germany and the Czech Republic, it is not only the price per journey that counts. What matters are the actual total costs, the available loading space, goods receiving at the consignee and the reliability of the agreed delivery dates.

The most important rule: LTL and FTL should not be chosen on the basis of a fixed number of pallets. A reliable comparison takes into account loading space, weight, tariff structure, delivery windows and possible additional costs.

This guide shows how companies can plan their deliveries systematically – with verifiable vehicle data, calculation formulas, model calculations and the most important special features of routes between Germany and the Czech Republic.

General cargo, part load or full truckload: what is the difference?

Not every shipment that only partly fills a truck is handled in the same way.

Mode of transport	Typical handling	What shippers should look out for
General cargo / groupage	Consolidation of smaller shipments, often with transhipment via depots	Frequency of transhipment, transit time, package labelling
Part load (LTL)	Use of part of the vehicle capacity, possibly with further loading points	Loading metres, weight, conditions for shared loading, delivery window
Full truckload (FTL)	Provision of the agreed vehicle capacity for one order	Vehicle type, payload, direct run, waiting times

The boundaries between general cargo and part loads can vary depending on the service provider. There is no generally applicable number of pallets above which a shipment automatically becomes a full truckload.

Practical example: five pallets of robust packaging materials may be suitable for groupage transport. Five pallets of sensitive machine components, on the other hand, can justify a direct transport in order to avoid additional transhipments.

For the request, two questions are therefore more important than the mere name of the mode of transport:

May the shipment be transhipped and combined with other goods?
Does it have to arrive within a bindingly agreed time window?

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Calculating loading metres and weight correctly

A Euro pallet measures 1,200 × 800 mm. Its footprint is 0.96 m².

For rough transport costing, a reference width of 2.40 m is often used.

Loading metres = length × width × quantity ÷ 2.40 m

For a non-stackable Euro pallet, this gives:

1.20 m × 0.80 m ÷ 2.40 m = 0.40 loading metres (LDM).

Euro pallets	Calculated space required
4	1.6 LDM
8	3.2 LDM
12	4.8 LDM
18	7.2 LDM
24	9.6 LDM
28	11.2 LDM
33	13.2 LDM

The values assume non-stackable pallets without overhangs and are intended for costing, not as a binding loading plan.

Why do 33 Euro pallets often fit on a 13.6-metre trailer?

A standard semi-trailer typically offers a usable loading length of about 13.6 m. With a suitable arrangement of pallet spaces, 33 Euro pallets can be accommodated on one level.

For example, three pallets, each 0.80 m wide, can be placed side by side in eleven rows, each 1.20 m long:

3 × 0.80 m = 2.40 m width

11 × 1.20 m = 13.20 m length

3 × 11 = 33 pallets

Simply dividing 13.6 by 0.4 arithmetically gives 34 loading metre units of 0.4 m each. However, this does not result in an additional real pallet space.

Internal width, door opening, overhangs and other practical factors limit the actual loading.

Why the payload has to be checked separately

Ten pallets with a gross weight of 1,250 kg each take up only 4.0 LDM arithmetically, but together they weigh 12,500 kg.

Both figures are therefore always required for choosing the vehicle:

Loading space required and total weight.
In addition, individual weights, centre of gravity, axle loads, packaging stability and load securing must be taken into account.
EPAL specifies a load capacity of 1,500 kg for the Euro pallet. This does not mean that every pallet of that weight can be transported without problems regardless of load distribution and packaging.

From when is FTL to the Czech Republic cheaper than LTL?

There is no generally applicable switching point. What matters are the specific quotes for the same route and for comparable services.

A model calculation shows how companies can determine the switching point themselves.

Example: regular deliveries to a consignee in Prague

The following calculation expressly assumes fictitious prices:

Part load: €85 per pallet
Full truckload: €1,190 per journey

Pallets	LTL model costs	FTL model costs	Cheaper in the model
6	€510	€1,190	LTL
10	€850	€1,190	LTL
14	€1,190	€1,190	Break-even
18	€1,530	€1,190	FTL
24	€2,040	€1,190	FTL

Switching point = FTL price ÷ LTL price per pallet

€1,190 ÷ €85 = 14 pallets.

In this simplified model, FTL is cheaper from 15 pallets.

In practice, however, LTL tariffs may include minimum charges, weight or loading metre bands, surcharges and different delivery services. A linear price per pallet is therefore not a general market rule.

In addition, the full truck must be suitable for the weight and dimensions of the shipment.

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Which costs belong in the comparison?

A useful comparison of quotes takes into account:

Basic freight and kilometres included
German and Czech tolls
Additional loading or unloading points
Agreed waiting times and demurrage
Time-slot delivery and advance notification
Equipment required
Handling and, where applicable, storage costs
Costs due to delays or additional inventory

Total cost of the transport solution = freight costs + additional services + transport-related inventory and process costs

Only if the same services and risks are compared is the result meaningful.

Is it worth consolidating several deliveries?

For regular shipments, a possible cost advantage does not arise from a higher number of pallets alone. It must be derivable from the actual tariff structure.

Example with a transparent tariff model

A manufacturer sends four pallets three times a week to the same consignee.

Fictitious tariff assumption:

€120 basic charge per shipment
€60 per pallet

Three separate shipments:

3 × €120 + 12 × €60 = €1,080

One consolidated shipment of twelve pallets:

€120 + 12 × €60 = €840

The calculated saving is:

€1,080 − €840 = €240 per week.

Over 48 corresponding shipping weeks, that would be €11,520.

In this example, the saving comes from dropping two basic charges. The tariffs are freely chosen calculation values, not current market prices.

When consolidation brings no advantage

If the consignee has to hold higher stocks because of less frequent deliveries, or if additional storage and process costs arise, the advantage is reduced.

Suppose these additional costs amount to €300 per week:

€240 transport saving − €300 additional costs = €60 extra costs per week.

The supposedly cheaper transport organisation would be more expensive overall.

The shipping department and the consignee should therefore jointly decide how long a shipment may wait for the next consolidated collection.

Which truck routes connect Germany and the Czech Republic?

For route planning, not only the countries but also the actual loading and unloading locations are decisive.

Two important road axes are:

Traffic axis	Connection	Typical relevance
A17 / D8	Dresden – Ústí nad Labem – Prague	Transports via Saxony to northern and central Bohemia
A6 / D5	Nuremberg – Waidhaus/Rozvadov – Plzeň – Prague	Transports via Bavaria to western and central Bohemia

Other crossings and roads may make sense depending on the place of departure and destination. For Brno, Ostrava or smaller industrial locations, the entire route, including the Czech domestic leg, must be planned.

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Why the same destination city can have different transit times

A delivery to Prague from Dresden is not the same as a delivery to Prague from Hamburg.

In addition to distance, the following factors affect the actual transport time:

Time at which the goods are ready
Vehicle and driver availability
Statutory driving and rest times
Traffic and roadworks
Driving bans and public holidays
Further loading points for LTL
The consignee’s receiving window

General transit time information can serve as a guide. However, a binding delivery date must be agreed for the specific shipment.

Planning correctly for truck driving bans in Germany and the Czech Republic

Especially for Friday collections and weekend deliveries, the national rules differ considerably.

Czech Republic: Sunday and summer driving bans

Under Section 43 of the Czech Road Traffic Act No. 361/2000 Coll., the following restrictions generally apply on motorways and class I roads to the vehicle categories covered:

Period	Driving ban
Sundays and other non-working public holidays	13:00–22:00
Fridays from 1 July to 31 August	17:00–21:00
Saturdays from 1 July to 31 August	07:00–13:00

This applies in particular to trucks with a maximum permissible mass of over 7.5 t and trucks with a coupled trailer with a maximum permissible mass of over 3.5 t. The statutory group of vehicles also includes other types of vehicle.

There are statutory exceptions for certain transports. These must be checked on the basis of the specific load and the relevant exemption. An exception must not be derived solely from the urgency of the delivery.

Practical case: a heavy truck is to be loaded in Germany on a Friday afternoon in August and unloaded in the Czech Republic on Saturday morning.

Dispatch must check when the vehicle reaches Czech territory, which roads are used and whether the summer restrictions interrupt the journey. Switching to smaller roads is not automatically a permissible solution.

Germany: different time windows

In Germany, under Section 30(3) of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), a Sunday and public holiday driving ban from 00:00 to 22:00 generally applies to the commercial goods transports concerned, for trucks with a permissible total mass of over 7.5 t and for trailers behind trucks.

Statutory exceptions are regulated separately. In addition, further restrictions may apply on certain routes in summer. Important for tour planning: a Czech public holiday does not have to be a German public holiday – and vice versa. Both holiday calendars must be checked for the planned journey.

Truck tolls: both parts of the route belong in the calculation

A quote for Germany–Czech Republic can only be compared fairly if it is clear which toll costs are already included.

Germany

Since 1 July 2024, the German truck toll has generally applied to vehicles intended or used for road haulage with a technically permissible total mass of more than 3.5 t.

For vehicle combinations, the basic toll obligation depends on whether the motor vehicle exceeds the relevant limit. Statutory exceptions must still be taken into account.

The amount of the toll depends, among other things, on vehicle characteristics and the CO₂ emission class.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, an electronic, distance-based toll system for the heavy vehicles covered applies on the corresponding toll roads.

The following are particularly relevant for determining the tariff:

Tolled road sections
Vehicle weight category
Number of axles
Emission characteristics including CO₂ class
Applicable tariffs

The exact toll therefore cannot be calculated reliably from the straight-line distance between two cities alone.

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Three questions before placing the order

Is the German toll included in the quote?
Is the Czech toll included in the quote?
Are the vehicle class used and any surcharges clearly shown?

This makes it easier to compare seemingly cheap quotes.

Delivery dates: combining driving times and fixed collection windows

A fixed collection day is not yet a delivery guarantee.

For journeys covered by the EU driving time rules, the following apply as a general principle, among others:

Rule	Principle
Driving time before a break	A maximum of 4.5 hours
Break	At least 45 minutes, which can be split into 15 + 30 minutes under certain conditions
Daily driving time	Generally 9 hours
Extension	Up to 10 hours, no more than twice a week
Weekly driving time	A maximum of 56 hours
Two consecutive weeks	A maximum of 90 hours

Further rules on daily and weekly rest periods must also be observed.

Example: a planned route of 650 km

Suppose a truck averages 65 km/h while driving.

650 km ÷ 65 km/h = 10 hours of pure driving time.

With a corresponding course of the journey, there are also at least two breaks totalling 90 minutes. This gives 11.5 hours for driving and breaks alone, without loading and unloading, waiting times or traffic obstructions.

Moreover, the permissible extension of daily driving time to ten hours is limited. Such a tour must therefore not be classified across the board as a regular one-day transport.

What applies to light vans?

Since 1 July 2026, the EU rules on driving and rest times and the tachograph obligation have been extended to certain vehicles or vehicle combinations over 2.5 and up to 3.5 t in cross-border road haulage for hire or reward and in cabotage.

There are statutory exceptions, including for certain own-account transport situations. For an express run, vehicle dimensions, type of use and the applicable exemptions must therefore be checked in advance.

CMR: what shippers need to know about damage and delays

The CMR generally applies to international road freight transports for hire or reward between Germany and the Czech Republic. Among other things, it governs transport documentation, liability and important deadlines.

Which liability limit applies in the event of loss?

Under Article 23(3) CMR as amended by the 1978 Protocol, compensation for loss of goods is generally limited to 8.33 special drawing rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight short.

Example:

500 kg × 8.33 SDR = 4,165 SDR.

This is a calculated upper liability limit for the assumed total loss of this quantity of goods, not an amount that is paid out automatically. The basis of liability, the damage, possible exclusions of liability and, where applicable, increased liability must be assessed separately.

The equivalent value in euros depends on the relevant exchange rate.

For high-value, comparatively light goods, the value of the goods can considerably exceed the regular liability limit. Declarations of value, special agreements and suitable transport insurance should therefore be checked before dispatch.

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Which deadlines apply to reservations?

Problem	CMR rule
Externally visible damage	Reservation at the latest on delivery
Damage that is not externally visible	Written reservation within 7 days, excluding Sundays and public holidays
Delay in delivery	Written reservation within 21 days of the goods being placed at the consignee’s disposal

These rules follow from Article 30 CMR. A missing reservation can have significant consequences for the burden of proof. The 21-day rule is particularly important because, without a timely written reservation, no compensation for delay in delivery can generally be claimed.

Under Article 32 CMR, the regular limitation period is one year; for certain qualified cases of fault it is three years. The start of the period and possible suspensions must be considered separately.

Practical procedure for a damaged delivery: document the damage at handover, record a reservation, secure photos and package data, inform the carrier without delay and keep the documents, including the consignment note.

Organising regular deliveries better in four weeks

For recurring transports, it pays to analyse the actual shipment data first instead of immediately booking fixed full trucks.

Week 1: create a shipping profile

For each shipment, record:

Loading and unloading postcodes
Type of goods and number of packages
Dimensions and gross weight
Stackability and special requirements
Readiness of the goods and delivery window
Mode of transport and actual costs

Week 2: group shipments

Check which consignees are supplied regularly, which delivery dates are flexible and which shipments can be combined without disadvantages.

Week 3: compare transport models

For recurring routes, calculate LTL, FTL and a combined model under comparable service conditions.

Week 4: measure a pilot phase

Test an agreed shipping rhythm and document the results.

Key figure	Calculation or check
On-time performance	Punctual deliveries ÷ all deliveries × 100
Cost per shipment	Total costs ÷ number of shipments
Cost per pallet	Total costs ÷ number of pallets, only for comparable shipments
Transit time deviation	Actual arrival minus agreed arrival
Damage rate	Damaged shipments ÷ all shipments × 100

The definition of a punctual delivery must be clearly agreed in advance. For delivery within a time window, not every deviation from a non-binding ETA automatically counts as a delay.

What should be agreed before the first regular collection

An agreed written procedure should contain at least the following points: the cut-off time for transport orders, the readiness of the goods, the collection window, the delivery requirements, how to deal with quantity deviations and responsibility for loading and unloading.

It should also be clarified whether the consignee has a forklift, whether there is a ramp or whether special unloading equipment is required.

Especially with several consignees in the Czech Republic, missing information on unloading can delay the entire tour.

Which transport structure suits your company?

Regular deliveries between Germany and the Czech Republic can be organised particularly reliably if shipment sizes, delivery dates and vehicle capacities are planned together.

Three steps form a solid basis for this: analyse actual shipping volumes, calculate LTL and FTL quotes on a comparable basis and review the agreed shipping rhythm against real results.

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FAQ: practical questions about Germany–Czech Republic transports

Are customs documents required for a delivery of goods to the Czech Republic?

For ordinary Union goods in free circulation, no customs declaration of the kind used for imports or exports to a third country is generally required for the movement of goods between Germany and the Czech Republic. Commercial, transport and, where applicable, tax proofs remain relevant. Additional regulations may apply to certain goods.

Does an LTL transport have to go through a transhipment warehouse?

No. A part load can also be carried without depot transhipment, either directly or as part of a multi-stop tour. Whether transhipment is planned should be clarified before the order is placed.

How are Euro pallets exchanged in transports to the Czech Republic?

A pallet exchange is not automatically part of every transport agreement. Whether pallets are exchanged, booked to an account or delivered without exchange should be agreed in writing with the sender, consignee and transport service provider.

What happens if the Czech consignee refuses to unload?

The carrier or freight forwarder should be informed immediately. Depending on the cause, new instructions, waiting times, a replacement delivery or a return may be necessary. The cost consequences depend on the contract and the applicable legal rules.

Can several Czech consignees be supplied with one truck?

Yes, if loading capacity, the order of unloading points, accessibility and time windows fit together. Additional stops must be factored into cost and transit time planning.

Does every shipment need its own CMR consignment note?

For several shipments, types of goods or vehicles, separate documentation may be necessary or useful. Article 5 CMR expressly provides for the right to demand separate consignment notes in certain situations. The specific transport structure is decisive.

Which information is most often missing from transport requests?

For a reliable calculation, exact loading and unloading locations, dimensions, gross weight, stackability, type of goods and time windows are essential. For machines or other heavy individual items, individual weights and information on the centre of gravity are also important.

What makes sense when the number of pallets fluctuates regularly?

A flexible model can handle small weekly quantities as LTL and larger quantities as FTL. Whether it is cheaper must be calculated on the basis of the actual tariffs, delivery requirements and additional inventory costs.

As of: October 2026 | Guide for commercial shippers