General Cargo & Groupage Shipping
General cargo and groupage shipping is the most economical way for consignments between one pallet and around 2.5 tonnes: your goods share the load space with other consignments and you pay only the share you take up instead of a whole vehicle. The principle: we collect your consignment, it runs consolidated over the groupage terminal into the destination region and is delivered there — standard transit times within Germany typically 24 to 72 hours depending on the lane. Because every handling is a point of risk, the packaging determines the damage rate: palletised, flush-packed, wrapped, with clear labelling — and here we advise you concretely rather than with platitudes. Costing is based on chargeable weight derived from actual weight, volume and loading metres; honest dimensions prevent additional charges. Your personal dispatcher also checks with every enquiry whether your consignment reaches the threshold from which a handling-free part load would be cheaper or safer. Collection in 147 German cities, groupage services into 55 countries, delivery with tail lift even to private addresses — fixed-price quote within 30 minutes.
Service features
- Economical for 1 pallet up to approx. 2.5 t — you pay only your share of the load space
- Standard transit times within Germany 24–72 hours depending on the lane
- Packaging advice to reduce the handling risk
- Transparent costing based on chargeable weight with no hidden additional charges
- Automatic cheaper-option check against a part load by your dispatcher
- Private delivery with tail lift and telephone notification
Or call us directly: +49 30 346 467 850
When groupage is the right choice
Groupage is the most economical way for anything that is too big for a parcel but too small for its own vehicle — roughly one pallet up to around 2.5 tonnes. It is ideal for plannable, easily palletised and stackable standard goods without a hard deadline: trade goods to the warehouse, replenishment to branches, part quantities to customers. Because you pay only the share of load space you take up, it is considerably cheaper than a dedicated run. The flip side: one or two handlings and a standard transit time of 24 to 72 hours. If your goods are deadline-, shock- or theft-critical, or exceed the groupage threshold, the handling-free part load or a direct transport is the better choice — the dispatcher checks which applies with every enquiry.
Process, handling and groupage-suitable packaging
Your consignment is collected, runs consolidated over one or two handling points into the destination region and is delivered there. Every handling is a point where goods are stacked, moved and handled by changing personnel — which is why the packaging determines the damage rate. Groupage-suitable means: on an intact pallet, stacked flush with no overhang, heavy goods at the bottom, everything wrapped tightly into a unit with stretch film, edges protected and clearly labelled. An overhang gets damaged during handling, and non-palletised goods get lost or crushed. The note "not stackable" costs stowage space and therefore money — only use it when the goods really require it. Delivery is by tail lift and pallet truck, including to private addresses with telephone notification.
Groupage, part load and part load (spare capacity) — the distinction
All three share load space, but in different ways. Groupage (general cargo) runs over a fixed line network with handling points: a calculable standard transit time, cheap, but with one or two transhipments. The part load reserves a fixed share of load space and runs handling-free with only one or two compatible consignments directly to the recipient — faster and gentler, but somewhat more expensive, worthwhile from around 4 to 6 pallet spaces. The part load using spare capacity (Beiladung) makes use of space that becomes free at short notice on a run that is happening anyway — the cheapest option and handling-free, but it requires a flexible time window, because departure depends on a suitable run. Rule of thumb: plannable small quantity with a deadline → groupage; larger quantity or in need of gentle handling → part load; not urgent and cost-focused → part load using spare capacity.
What does groupage shipping cost?
Unlike a part or full load, groupage is calculated not per kilometre but via the chargeable weight: the highest value from actual weight, volume and loading metres taken up is applied (rules of thumb include 1 loading metre ≈ 1,850 kg, 1 m³ ≈ 333 kg). Light, bulky goods therefore pay by volume — and honest dimensions prevent additional charges at the weighing during handling. As a rough guide: a palletised groupage consignment of around 300 kg within Germany over a medium distance often lies in the low three-figure range, well below a dedicated run. If the consignment exceeds the threshold from which a part load is cheaper, we point this out to you. You receive the fixed price based on your actual dimensions within 30 minutes.
Groupage, part load and part load (spare capacity) compared
| Route | Handling | Transit time | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groupage (general cargo) | 1–2 handlings | 24–72 hrs | 1 pallet up to ~2.5 t, plannable |
| Part load (LTL) | handling-free | 1–2 days | from ~4–6 pallet spaces, gentle |
| Part load (spare capacity) | handling-free | flexible | not urgent, cost focus |
| Direct transport | handling-free, exclusive | same/next day | deadline-/damage-critical |
Frequently asked questions
How does groupage differ from a direct transport?
With groupage your consignment is consolidated with others and handled once or twice — that costs a little transit time but saves considerable money. The direct transport runs exclusively and handling-free, but is more expensive as a result. Rule of thumb: plannable standard consignment → groupage; deadline- or damage-critical → direct transport.
How do I pack my goods to be groupage-suitable?
On an intact pallet, stacked flush with no overhang, heavy goods at the bottom, everything wrapped into a firm unit with stretch film, edges protected and the consignment clearly labelled ("do not stack" only when necessary — it costs stowage space). Unsure? Your dispatcher will go through the packing method with you before collection.
What is chargeable weight and why do honest dimensions matter?
In groupage you pay by the highest value from actual weight, volume and loading metres taken up — so light, bulky goods are charged by volume. If dimensions other than those stated are measured during handling, additional charges follow. That is why we calculate correctly from the outset with your actual details, so that the fixed price holds.
When is a part load better than groupage?
From around four to six pallet spaces, or when your goods are sensitive to shock, pressure or theft: at that point the price advantage of groupage falls away, while the handling-free part load runs faster and gentler. Your dispatcher checks this threshold automatically with every enquiry and recommends the cheaper route for your specific consignment.
What does groupage shipping cost?
Groupage is calculated via the chargeable weight (the highest value from weight, volume and loading metres), not per kilometre. A palletised consignment of around 300 kg within Germany over a medium distance often lies in the low three-figure range — well below a dedicated run. If the consignment exceeds the part-load threshold, we point this out to you; we quote the fixed price based on actual dimensions within 30 minutes.