Freight forwarding Cologne – transport to and from the Czech Republic

Cologne within the Rhine-Ruhr region

Cologne is the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia and sits at the southern end of the Rhine-Ruhr conurbation, one of Europe's densest industrial areas. Düsseldorf, Bonn, Duisburg and the Ruhr are all within an hour's drive, which makes Cologne a natural collection point for goods from the whole region. The motorway ring around the city connects the A1, A3, A4, A57 and A59; it is among the busiest stretches in Germany, and roadworks or restrictions on the Rhine bridges are common.

One practical tip for Czech paperwork: always write "Köln" with the German postcode. Kolín is also a town in Central Bohemia, and mix-ups do happen.

River port, rail terminal and a night-time cargo airport

Cologne is one of Germany's most important inland ports. Its Rhine ports handle containers that come upriver from Rotterdam and Antwerp, as well as bulk goods, chemicals and metals. A large combined transport terminal in the south of the city transfers containers and trailers between rail and road, and Cologne Bonn Airport is one of Germany's biggest cargo airports, with night operations that make it a key hub for express and parcel shipments. Much of what we load in Cologne for the Czech Republic arrived there by barge or by air.

What the region makes

• plastics granulate, resins, rubber, paints, coatings and adhesives,
• industrial chemicals, solvents and lubricants from refineries and chemical sites along the Rhine – often dangerous goods,
• cars, car parts, engines and drives,
• pharmaceuticals and crop protection products,
• sugar and confectionery from Rhineland sugar beet, cosmetics and fragrances (eau de Cologne is named after the city),
• steel and metal products from the nearby Ruhr.

Czech exports to the area include car parts, machinery, glass, wood products, paper and packaging. Cologne's big trade fairs, including a major food fair and a video games fair, also attract Czech exhibitors.

Transit time and road rules

Prague to Cologne is approximately 700 km via the D5, Rozvadov / Waidhaus, the A6 to Nuremberg and the A3 via Würzburg and Frankfurt. That is at the edge of one driver's daily limit, so plan on loading one day and unloading in Prague the next working day. Brno is approximately 900 km and two working days away; pallet groupage takes two to three working days. Trucks over 7.5 t may not drive on Sundays and public holidays, and on selected motorways on Saturdays in July and August. More on transport to Germany.

North Rhine-Westphalia adds Corpus Christi and 1 November to the nationwide holidays. Carnival matters too: from the Thursday before Ash Wednesday to Rose Monday many companies close or work reduced hours and parts of the centre are shut for parades, so book loadings that week in advance. Cologne's large low-emission zone admits only vehicles with a green sticker.

Which service for which shipment

Chemicals in drums or IBCs travel as ADR transport; we need the safety data sheet and UN numbers. Plastics granulate in big bags or octabins usually fills a full truck, often side-loaded. A few pallets of paint, cosmetics or confectionery suit groupage, with temperature control for chocolate in summer. A container unloaded from a barge can be collected from the port or as pallets from a port warehouse, and a spare part that landed overnight can go by express van. Prices for your addresses are in our calculator.