Shipping Solar Modules — safely packed, transported insured
Logisticoo ships solar modules breakage-proof, upright and palletised — from the top-up delivery of individual modules to a full load for the installer, with a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes. A standard module measures around 1.7 to 2.3 m² and weighs 20 to 30 kg; the real sensitivity lies within: the silicon cells beneath the glass suffer microcracks under torsion, point loading and hard impacts — invisible from the outside, yet costing performance and warranty. That is why strict rules apply: modules travel on edge on manufacturer racks or specialist pallets, never stacked flat without their system packaging, never gripped individually by the frame, and never with strap pressure across the glass surface. We handle original pallets straight from the factory just as readily as leftover quantities from the building site, which are professionally repacked before return transport. For installation firms we schedule deliveries just in time to the fitting crew — including a tail lift if the site has no forklift. Collection in 147 cities, across Europe to 55 countries, and by express direct transport in the event of supply bottlenecks on the project.
Packaging & load securing
Modules stand on edge, slightly inclined, in transport racks or on module pallets with foam or cardboard corner protection, strapped as a unit over the frame edges — never over the glass. The pallet is stowed in a box vehicle in a tight, positive fit and weather-protected; anti-slip mats and lashing straps to VDI 2700 prevent any relative movement.
What matters
- Keep the manufacturer's original packaging wherever possible — it is designed to prevent microcracks
- Never lay modules flat or step on them, not even "just briefly"
- State the quantity and module dimensions; glass-glass modules are heavier than glass-foil
- Wrap in connecting cables and connectors so they cannot chafe between frames
- For returns from the building site: visual inspection and photo documentation before loading
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From a single module to a project load — weight and vehicle
A standard module measures around 1.7 to 2.3 m² and weighs 20 to 30 kg, glass-glass modules more than glass-foil. Individual top-up deliveries travel on edge on module pallets as general cargo, half pallets for single-family-home systems (around 15 modules) likewise as general cargo, full pallets (30 to 36 modules) as a part load, and entire project quantities as a full load on the semi-trailer. For installation firms we schedule deliveries just in time to the fitting crew. The choice of vehicle depends on the quantity and the site situation — with a tail lift, truck-mounted forklift or crane where required, if there is no forklift on site. It is not the weight but the breakage protection that dictates the execution.
Avoiding microcracks — vertical transport and securing
The sensitivity lies within: the silicon cells beneath the glass suffer microcracks under torsion, point loading and hard impacts — invisible from the outside, yet costing performance and warranty. That is why modules travel on edge, slightly inclined, in transport racks or on module pallets with foam or cardboard corner protection, strapped as a unit over the frame edges — never over the glass surface and never stacked flat without their system packaging. The manufacturer's original packaging is designed to prevent microcracks and is kept wherever possible. The pallet is stowed in a box vehicle in a tight, positive fit and weather-protected; anti-slip mats and lashing straps to VDI 2700 prevent any relative movement. Modules are never laid flat or stepped on.
How to ship solar modules with Logisticoo
- You tell us the quantity, module dimensions and type (glass-glass or glass-foil) as well as the site access and ground conditions.
- We select the vehicle and lifting equipment and give you a fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
- The modules stand upright ready on manufacturer or module pallets, with cables and connectors wrapped in.
- Loading by forklift, or with a tail lift or crane vehicle for sites without a forklift.
- Weather-protected transport in a box vehicle to VDI 2700.
- Just-in-time delivery coordinated with the fitting crew, across Europe to 55 countries. In the event of supply bottlenecks on the project we run an express direct transport; returns from the building site are visually inspected and documented before loading.
What does shipping solar modules cost?
You receive a fixed price upfront; as a guide, the rule-of-thumb rates (±15%) are: Sprinter van around €1.10/km (from €89), 7.5 t truck around €1.45/km (from €169), semi-trailer (FTL) around €1.95/km (from €379). Individual modules run as a general-cargo item, full pallets as a part load. A project load as FTL from Berlin to Cologne (around 575 km) works out at about €1.95/km, so roughly €1,120. The main cost drivers are sites without a forklift (tail lift / crane), just-in-time windows for the fitting crew, and urgent direct transports during project bottlenecks. For installers with regular requirements we set up fixed rates.
Solar modules, vehicle and loading
| Quantity / weight | Example | Vehicle | Loading without ramp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 modules 20–30 kg each | Top-up delivery | Module pallet upright, general cargo | pallet truck |
| half pallet (~15 units) | Single-family-home system | Manufacturer pallet, general cargo | pallet truck / tail lift |
| full pallet (~30–36 units) | Commercial-roof system | Pallet, part load | forklift |
| Project load | Solar park, large roof | Semi-trailer (FTL) | forklift / ramp |
Shipping methods compared
| Shipping method | When it makes sense | Transit time | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part load (consolidated) | a few modules, flexible on timing | a few days (consolidated run) | cheapest option |
| Part load (LTL) | full pallet(s) of modules | 1–2 days | medium |
| Direct transport (FTL) | project quantity or just-in-time | same / next day, no transhipment | km-based, from €379 |
| Express direct transport | project bottleneck, immediate | a few hours | higher, but immediate |
Frequently asked questions
Why must solar modules not be transported stacked flat?
Lying flat, the weight of the upper modules bears down across the surface of the lower ones, and every bump in the road creates alternating bending in the laminate — the main cause of microcracks. In manufacturer packaging, modules therefore stand on edge with defined bearing points on the frame. We transport exclusively in this orientation.
Does Logisticoo also deliver straight to the building site without a forklift?
Yes. We deliver to the kerbside or onto paved areas using a tail-lift vehicle and pallet truck; for heavy racks we plan in a truck-mounted forklift or crane vehicle. Tell us the access and ground conditions — your dispatcher coordinates the time slot with the fitting crew.
What does shipping solar modules cost?
Individual modules run as a general-cargo item, full pallets as a part load. We calculate project loads as FTL from around €1.95/km (±15%); a Berlin–Cologne project load thus works out at about €1,120. Quantity, module type and postcodes are enough for your fixed-price quote in 30 minutes.
Do you deliver just in time straight to the building site?
Yes. For installation firms we schedule deliveries to the fitting crew and deliver to the kerbside or onto paved areas using a tail-lift vehicle and pallet truck; for heavy racks we plan in a truck-mounted forklift or crane. Tell us the access and ground conditions.
Do you take back surplus modules from the building site?
Yes. We professionally repack leftover quantities from the building site before return transport and transport them on edge. Before loading, a visual inspection and photo documentation are carried out so that the condition is on record.