Transport for Flowers & Plants
Cut flowers and potted plants forgive no delay — which is why Logisticoo runs flower transports temperature-controlled and to schedule, from the wholesale-market overnight run to the direct run out of the Dutch trading hubs. Fresh goods live on an unbroken cold chain: depending on variety, cut flowers typically run at 2–8 °C, while sensitive tropical plants need 12–15 °C to avoid chilling damage. Our refrigerated vehicles hold the agreed temperature, documented across the entire route, with a temperature log accompanying the shipment on request. We drive while the trade sleeps: collection in the evening, delivery to wholesale markets, garden centres and stores in the early morning hours, before selling begins. We handle CC containers and other roll trolleys including exchange processing, and loose carton goods on pallets too. For peak dates such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and All Saints' Day, we scale capacity up rather than putting you on a waiting list — your fixed-price quote arrives within 30 minutes then too. Your personal dispatcher knows your consignees and gets in touch before things get tight, not afterwards. From a single trolley in the refrigerated van to a full load for the holiday season, the goods stay continuously chilled and traceable.
Vehicles & equipment
We deploy refrigerated box bodies from van to articulated truck with adjustable temperature and recording; a tail lift and lashing rails secure CC containers against shifting during the run.
Typical requirements
- Unbroken cold chain with variety-appropriate temperature (2–8 °C or 12–15 °C)
- Overnight-run logistics: collection in the evening, delivery before selling begins
- Handling and exchange of CC containers and roll trolleys
- Extreme seasonal peaks for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and public holidays
- Careful handling of pressure- and ethylene-sensitive fresh goods
- Connection to the Dutch trading hubs and German wholesale markets
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Typical shipments in flower and plant transport
We carry four shipment types in the green trade. First, cut flowers from import and cultivation — roses, tulips, chrysanthemums, seasonal goods — in buckets and cartons on CC containers, predominantly on the overnight run from the Dutch trading hubs. Second, potted and bedding plants as well as foliage plants from nurseries to garden centres and DIY stores, often palletised or on trolleys. Third, sensitive tropical goods — orchids, anthuriums, houseplants — which need cold protection rather than deep chilling. Fourth, floristry supplies and decorations around peak dates. Consignees are wholesale markets, flower wholesalers, garden centres, chain retailers and florists. From a single trolley in the refrigerated van to a full load for the holiday season, the goods stay continuously temperature-controlled and traceable.
Cold chain and regulations in flower transport
Fresh flowers are not foodstuffs, but they follow the same logic: every degree of deviation costs vase life. We transport variety-appropriate — most cut flowers at 2–8 °C, cold-sensitive tropical plants at 12–15 °C, so that no chilling injury occurs. The refrigeration unit holds the agreed set temperature and logs the profile across the entire route, with a temperature log accompanying the shipment on request. Ethylene is critical: the ripening gas accelerates wilting, which is why we separate ethylene-producing and ethylene-sensitive goods and ensure air exchange. CC containers are stacked to the industry standard with perforated shelves and securing bars and fixed against shifting via lashing rails. Container exchange runs via managed CC accounts.
How a flower transport works at Logisticoo
- Enquiry with type of goods, set temperature, number of trolleys/pallets and delivery window.
- Fixed price in 30 minutes, even at peak dates.
- Dispatch of the right refrigerated vehicle and pre-cooling of the load space to the set temperature.
- Collection in the afternoon or evening, temperature-controlled loading without a cold-chain break.
- Overnight run with documented temperature and status update, with no transhipment on direct runs from the Netherlands.
- Delivery to the wholesale market, central warehouse or store in the early morning hours before selling begins, including CC-container exchange. Your dispatcher knows your consignees and gets in touch before things get tight — not afterwards.
What does a flower transport cost?
The fixed price is set in advance; as a guide, the rule-of-thumb rates per kilometre (±15 %): refrigerated van around 1.10 €/km (from 89 €), refrigerated truck 7.5 t around 1.45 €/km (from 169 €), refrigerated truck 12 t around 1.65 €/km (from 219 €), refrigerated articulated truck around 1.95 €/km (from 379 €). Example: an overnight run by refrigerated van from Aalsmeer (NL) to Berlin (around 650 km) is roughly 700–820 €. Surcharges apply for night and holiday delivery as well as extreme seasonal peaks such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, when capacity becomes scarce. Fixed weekly overnight-run lanes lower the per-kilometre price compared with a one-off run.
Flower and plant shipments and the right cooling
| Goods | Set temperature | Vehicle/load carrier | Typical process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut flowers | 2–8 °C | Refrigerated box body, CC container | Overnight run, before market opening |
| Tropical potted plants | 12–15 °C | Refrigerated vehicle (cold protection) | on schedule, no chilling |
| Bedding/foliage plants | 8–15 °C | Refrigerated articulated truck, trolleys | plannable series |
| Holiday peak | variety-appropriate | scaled refrigerated fleet | Valentine's Day, Mother's Day |
| Single trolley | 2–8 °C | Refrigerated van | direct run / part load |
Frequently asked questions
At what temperature do you transport cut flowers?
We carry most cut flowers at 2–8 °C to slow down metabolism and ripening. Cold-sensitive tropical goods such as orchids or anthuriums, by contrast, need 12–15 °C. We agree the set temperature with you before the run begins, and the unit logs the profile across the entire route.
Can you achieve delivery to the wholesale market before market opening?
Yes, the overnight run is our standard model in the flower business: collection in the afternoon or evening, delivery between 4 and 6 a.m. at the wholesale market or central warehouse. For direct runs from the Netherlands, we calculate the driving time so that the goods are ready for dispatch at the stall by market opening.
How do you prevent chilling damage to tropical plants?
Cold-sensitive goods such as orchids, anthuriums or houseplants we do not carry at the low cut-flower temperature but at 12–15 °C, because otherwise they suffer chilling damage. We agree the set temperature with you before the run begins and separate different temperature requirements, if necessary by separate runs or multi-compartment vehicles. The unit documents the profile seamlessly.
Do you handle the exchange of CC containers?
Yes. We handle CC containers and other roll trolleys including exchange processing and keep a clean container account so that full and empty stocks reconcile. The containers are stacked to industry standard and secured against shifting via lashing rails, so the goods arrive breakage-free.
Will I still get capacity for Valentine's Day and Mother's Day?
Yes, for these peak dates we scale the refrigerated fleet up rather than putting customers on waiting lists — your fixed-price quote arrives within 30 minutes then too. We do, however, recommend announcing the demand for the major dates early so that we can reserve fixed slots. Your dispatcher plans the peak together with you in advance.