Transport for Art & Antiques
Paintings, sculptures, antiques or entire exhibitions - Logisticoo transports works of art with the calm and precision that irreplaceable objects demand: air-sprung, climate-protected, discreet and as a direct delivery without handling. Art is sensitive to three things: vibration, climate fluctuation and unfamiliar hands. That is why art transports at Logisticoo always run in enclosed, air-sprung box-body vehicles, the works stay in their transport packaging - from the glazed frame with corner protectors to the custom-built crate - and are handled only by the agreed persons. On request, we document handovers with a photo and condition report, and we align the insurance in advance to the declared value. We supply galleries, collectors, auction houses and restorers on time, including in the evening or outside opening hours where discretion is required. For fairs and exhibitions, we time delivery and collection precisely to the build-up and dismantling windows. Across borders, we organise the process including customs formalities within our network of 55 countries. Your fixed-price quote is ready in 30 minutes. On request, a second driver accompanies the tour so that the vehicle is never left unattended at rest stops.
Vehicles & equipment
Works of art travel in air-sprung box-body vehicles with lashing rails, ceiling padding and soft lashing gear; glazed works and crates are transported upright, secured without pressure on the frame or the picture surface.
Typical requirements
- Low-vibration transport in air-sprung, enclosed vehicles
- Protection against climate fluctuation and moisture during the run
- Direct delivery without handling, handover only to named persons
- Condition and photo documentation at collection and delivery
- Insurance to the declared value before departure
- Discreet, on-time delivery to galleries, collectors and auction houses
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Typical consignments in art and antiques transport
We move irreplaceable objects for galleries, collectors, auction houses, museums and restorers. Most common are framed paintings and works behind glass, which travel upright and with corner protection. Alongside these are sculptures and figures in bronze, stone or delicate materials, which are critical in terms of centre of gravity and tipping. Antiques and furniture require surface protection against scratches and climate fluctuation. A field of its own comprises complete exhibitions and collection relocations with many heterogeneous objects, as well as fair items and loans with tight build-up and dismantling windows. Values range from the insurable single piece to the seven-figure loan. From a single picture in an art case to a complete exhibition, we drive discreetly, climate-protected and as a direct delivery without handling.
Climate, insurance and rules in art transport
Art is sensitive to three things: vibration, climate fluctuation and unfamiliar hands. That is why art transports always run in enclosed, air-sprung box-body vehicles, many of them climate-controlled so that temperature and relative humidity stay within a gentle range and neither wood nor canvas moves. The works stay in their transport packaging - from the glazed frame with corner protectors to the custom-built climate crate - and are handled only by the named persons. Insurance is central: the basis is the value you declare, which we align with the transport insurer before departure, because the statutory carrier liability (8.33 SDR/kg under CMR for international traffic) would be far too low for art. Across borders, we organise customs formalities, using a Carnet ATA for exhibitions outside the EU.
How an art transport works at Logisticoo
- Enquiry with object type, dimensions, weight, declared value, packaging condition and destination.
- Advice on the right packaging level - soft packaging with corner protection or a custom climate crate - depending on value and route.
- Fixed price in 30 minutes and alignment of the insurance to the declared value.
- Collection by named persons, condition and photo report at pick-up.
- Direct delivery without handling in the air-sprung, climate-protected box body, on request with a second driver so that the vehicle is never left unattended at breaks.
- Discreet delivery to the gallery, collector or auction house - in the evening or outside opening hours, too - with documented handover. For fairs and exhibitions, we time delivery and collection precisely to the build-up and dismantling windows.
What does an art transport cost?
The fixed price is set in advance. Rule-of-thumb figures per kilometre (+/-15%): art-case Sprinter around 1.10 EUR/km (from 89 EUR), a 7.5 t truck around 1.45 EUR/km (from 169 EUR), a 12 t truck around 1.65 EUR/km (from 219 EUR), an articulated truck for entire exhibitions around 1.95 EUR/km (from 379 EUR); the art surcharge for climate control, soft loading and named drivers sits at the upper end of the range. Example: a framed painting as a direct delivery in the air-sprung art case from Cologne to Basel (around 400 km) comes to roughly 480-560 EUR, plus customs clearance and, where applicable, a carnet for Switzerland. A custom crate, second driver, night delivery and insurance premium are itemised separately. The premium depends on the declared value.
Art consignments and the right handling
| Object | Special feature | Packaging/vehicle | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting / work behind glass | flat, pressure-sensitive | Soft packaging, art case | upright, corner protection |
| Sculpture / figure | centre-of-gravity/tipping-critical | Climate crate, air-sprung | individually secured |
| Antique / furniture | surface/climate-sensitive | Climate box body, padding | climate control |
| Exhibition / collection | many objects, tight windows | Articulated truck, named drivers | direct delivery, timed |
| Fair item/loan (non-EU) | high value, customs | Art case + Carnet ATA | insured, documented |
Frequently asked questions
Does a painting need to go into a crate for transport?
Not necessarily - for many runs, proper soft packaging with corner protection and upright transport in the padded, air-sprung box body is sufficient. We recommend a custom-built crate for high values, long distances, overseas pre-/on-carriage or delicate surfaces. We advise you in advance which packaging level suits the work and the route.
How is the work of art insured during transport?
The basis is the value you declare, which we align with the transport insurer before departure - the carrier's statutory basic liability would be far too low for art. In addition, we document the condition at collection and delivery, so that in the unlikely event of damage a clean chain of evidence exists.
Can you deliver discreetly and outside opening hours?
Yes. We supply galleries, collectors and auction houses on time and, on request, in the evening or outside opening hours where discretion is required. The works are handled exclusively by the agreed persons, and on request a second driver accompanies the tour so that the vehicle is never left unattended at rest stops.
How do you time the transport for fairs and exhibitions?
For fairs and exhibitions, we align delivery and collection precisely to the build-up and dismantling windows, which are often tight at the venue. Your dispatcher coordinates the time windows with the stand builder or the exhibition management and factors customs and carnet clearance for international loans into the schedule, so that the works are in place on time and without waiting.
What does an art transport cost and how is the value insured?
You receive a fixed price in advance; an art-case Sprinter is calculated at around 1.10 EUR/km (from 89 EUR), an articulated truck for entire exhibitions at around 1.95 EUR/km (from 379 EUR), each at the upper end of the range because of climate control and named drivers. We align the transport insurance to your declared value before departure, because the statutory carrier liability would be far too low for art. A custom crate, second driver and night delivery are itemised separately.