Freight to Spain

A long haul across four countries

Spain is one of the longest lanes we run for Czech customers. Between Prague and Andalusia there are three or four countries, several toll systems and two different weekend driving regimes, so choosing the right loading day matters more here than almost anywhere else.

The standard route uses the D5 via Rozvadov/Waidhaus, Nuremberg and Karlsruhe into France, then down the Rhône valley via Lyon and along the Mediterranean through Montpellier and Perpignan to the La Jonquera crossing. From there trucks follow the coast to Catalonia and Valencia or head inland to Zaragoza and Madrid. Northern Spain and the Basque Country are reached via Bordeaux and Irún.

Transit times by region

• Barcelona and Catalonia – roughly 1,700 km from Prague, about 3 working days for a full truck.
• Valencia and Castellón – roughly 2,050 km, 3–4 working days.
• Madrid and Zaragoza – 2,000 to 2,300 km, 3–4 working days.
• Murcia, Almería and Andalusia – 2,400 to 2,700 km, 4–5 working days.

These figures assume a single driver. For urgent loads we can arrange a double-manned truck, which usually saves around a day.

Weekend bans and tolls on the way

France bans trucks over 7.5 t from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 and around public holidays. Spain publishes annual restrictions for certain roads at weekends, on holidays and during peak travel periods, and Germany has its Sunday ban. A truck loaded on Thursday or Friday will therefore usually sit out the weekend, with delivery moving to Monday or Tuesday. Perishables are exempt in most countries, though not everywhere and not on every road.

Toll is charged per kilometre in Germany, on French motorways and on parts of the Spanish network; it is always included in the calculator price.

What Czech companies import from Spain

Greenhouse vegetables from Almería and Murcia (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, mainly autumn to spring), citrus and stone fruit from Valencia, ceramic wall and floor tiles from Castellón – one of Europe's largest ceramics hubs – automotive parts from Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and Navarre, chemicals and plastics from Tarragona, olive oil, wine, and footwear and textiles from around Alicante. Regional detail is on our Valencia and Madrid pages.

Produce and tiles: two very different loads

Fresh produce travels in a reefer set to the right temperature for each product, with a temperature log for the whole trip. Packhouses often load in the afternoon or evening so the truck leaves the same day. On arrival in the Czech Republic, have a dock and quality check ready straight away; after such a long journey there is no slack for waiting.

Ceramic tiles are heavy, so the truck reaches its weight limit long before the trailer floor is full. Expect fewer pallets per truck, ask your supplier for the exact weight of every pallet, and make sure pallets are tightly wrapped with corner protection so cartons do not shift over two thousand kilometres. Unloading is usually by forklift from the side or at a dock.

Groupage and documents

For a few pallets of tiles, samples, wine or webshop stock, pallet groupage is the sensible choice: your goods share a truck with other shipments, which lowers the cost but adds collection and consolidation time – plan on five to eight working days. Paperwork is simple: CMR, invoice or delivery note, plus a temperature record for food. The exception is the Canary Islands, which lie outside the EU VAT area and require customs documents.

Southbound, we carry Czech machinery, car parts, glass, paper and metal and plastic semi-finished goods to Spain.