International transport for palletised goods: what you need to know

Palletised goods are one of the most widely used transport formats for companies importing or exporting products to and from Europe. Pallets simplify handling, warehousing, truck loading and inspection on delivery. However, a well-organised pallet shipment means more than simply putting boxes on a pallet and calling a truck.

For transport to be efficient, pallet dimensions, weight, volume, packaging, cargo securing, stackability, truck type, documents and the right solution—groupage, LTL or full truckload—must all be considered.

Umav Trans provides international road transport for palletised goods, with groupage, full truckload, warehousing, cargo consolidation and customs brokerage through its own customs brokers. The company’s main route is Moldova–Italy–Moldova.

What are palletised goods?

Palletised goods are placed on pallets and prepared for handling with a pallet truck, forklift or other warehouse equipment. Instead of loading each box or parcel separately, the products are grouped into a more stable logistics unit.

This method is frequently used for:

• commercial products packed in boxes;
• industrial goods;
• parts and components;
• production materials;
• products for distribution;
• equipment;
• product lots for import or export;
• goods that must be warehoused or consolidated before transport.

For international transport, palletisation improves cargo control and reduces the risk of loss, mixing or incorrect handling.

Common pallet dimensions

In Europe, the most commonly used type is the 120 × 80 cm Euro pallet. Pallets measuring 120 × 100 cm are also frequently used for bulkier or industrial goods.

Reference table: pallet types

Pallet type	Dimensions	Common use
Euro pallet / EPAL 1	120 × 80 cm	Trade, distribution, standard palletised goods
Industrial pallet / Euro 2	120 × 100 cm	Heavier or bulkier goods
Half pallet	60 × 80 cm	Small lots, samples, small commercial deliveries
Special pallet	varies according to the goods	Equipment, non-standard products, special loads

Companies shipping goods to or from Europe must communicate dimensions accurately. Even a small difference can affect the calculation of truck space, especially for groupage transport.

How many pallets fit in a truck?

Capacity depends on the truck type, pallet dimensions, cargo height, weight and stackability. Reference values can be used for a quick estimate.

Reference table: truck capacity for palletised goods

Truck type	Euro pallets 120 × 80 cm	Approximate volume	Approximate payload
Standard curtain-side trailer	up to 33 pallets	approximately 82–90 m³	up to 22–24 t
Tandem curtain-side truck	approximately 36–38 pallets	approximately 100–120 m³	depending on the configuration
Van / small truck	4–10 pallets	varies by model	varies by model

These figures are indicative. Exact capacity must be confirmed for each shipment according to the available truck, pallet type, cargo weight and loading method.

On the Fleet page, Umav Trans can provide the exact capacities of its two main truck types separately: standard curtain-side trailer and tandem curtain-side truck.

How do you choose between groupage, LTL and full truckload?

The transport solution depends primarily on the number of pallets, volume, weight and required delivery time.

Reference table: choosing a solution by number of pallets

Transport solution	When it is suitable	Approximate volume
Groupage	Small consignment, economical transport, consolidation with other loads	1–4 pallets
LTL / partial load	Medium-sized consignment occupying a significant part of the truck	5–25 pallets
Full truckload / FTL	Large load, dedicated truck	over 25 pallets
Standard curtain-side trailer	Large quantity of palletised goods	up to 33 pallets
Tandem curtain-side truck	Higher volume, loads requiring additional space	approximately 36–38 pallets

For B2B customers, this choice is important. If you are shipping 2–3 pallets, booking a full truck usually makes little sense. If you have more than 25 pallets, a full truckload may be more efficient and easier to organise.

Groupage transport for palletised goods

Groupage transport is suitable when the goods do not fill an entire truck. Pallets from several customers are grouped and transported along the same route.

This solution is suitable for:

• 1–4 pallets;
• small product lots;
• regular imports from Europe;
• low-volume exports;
• goods that can be consolidated;
• customers seeking to optimise costs.

The main advantage is that you pay for the space used rather than the entire truck. However, for groupage it is essential that the goods are properly packaged, labelled and palletised, because they may be handled several times during the logistics process.

Service details Groupage transport.

LTL / partial-load transport for 5–25 pallets

For 5–25 pallets, transport may fall into an intermediate category: it is neither a full load nor a very small groupage consignment. In such cases, the solution may be partial-load transport, LTL or a tailored logistics combination.

This option is suitable when:

• the goods occupy a significant part of the truck;
• the cost of a full truck is not justified;
• the pallets can be loaded with other compatible goods;
• the delivery time allows for consolidation;
• the customer has regular shipments.

For 5–25 pallets, weight, volume and height must be analysed carefully. Ten very tall or very heavy pallets may sometimes occupy more space than fifteen standard pallets.

Full truckload for palletised goods

A full truckload is suitable when the goods occupy most of the truck or when the customer needs a dedicated solution.

It is recommended for:

• more than 25 pallets;
• large loads;
• shipments with a clear deadline;
• direct deliveries;
• goods that must not be combined with other loads;
• importers and exporters with consistent volumes;
• shipments where control of the journey is important.

Advantages of a full truckload:

• a truck dedicated to one customer’s goods;
• clearer planning;
• fewer intermediate handling operations;
• better control over loading;
• suitable for large volumes;
• efficient for regular routes.

Service details Full truckload.

Why does weight matter?

Weight is one of the most important factors in pallet transport. The gross weight of each pallet must be known—that is, goods + packaging + pallet.

Weight affects:

• truck selection;
• cost calculation;
• load distribution;
• transport safety;
• documents;
• warehouse handling;
• stackability;
• compliance with legal limits.

Simple example

Situation	Number of pallets	Total weight	Note
Light, bulky goods	10 pallets	1,500 kg	volume matters more
Heavy goods	10 pallets	9,000 kg	payload matters more
Standard goods	10 pallets	4,000 kg	volume + weight are assessed

Two shipments with the same number of pallets may require different solutions and have different costs if their weight or volume differs.

Why does volume matter?

Volume indicates how much space the goods occupy. In pallet transport, volume depends on length, width and height.

Basic formula:

Volume = length × width × height

For a 120 × 80 cm Euro pallet, volume depends greatly on the height of the load.

Reference table: volume of one Euro pallet

Pallet dimensions	Cargo height	Approximate volume
120 × 80 cm	1.00 m	0.96 m³
120 × 80 cm	1.20 m	1.15 m³
120 × 80 cm	1.50 m	1.44 m³
120 × 80 cm	1.80 m	1.73 m³
120 × 80 cm	2.00 m	1.92 m³

These calculations help the carrier estimate the space required in the truck. If the load is tall and the pallet cannot be stacked, the occupied space may matter much more than the weight.

Stackable or non-stackable pallet?

A very important detail is whether the pallet can be stacked. If other goods can be placed on top, truck space can be used more efficiently. If the goods are non-stackable, the full vertical space must be reserved.

Table: difference between stackable and non-stackable pallets

Pallet type	What it means	Impact on transport
Stackable	other goods can be placed on top	uses space more efficiently
Non-stackable	nothing can be placed on top	occupies more truck space
Fragile	requires additional protection	may limit consolidation
Heavy	must be positioned correctly	affects weight distribution

If the goods are non-stackable, this must be communicated from the outset. Otherwise, problems may arise during warehousing, consolidation or loading.

Packaging palletised goods

Correct packaging is essential in international transport. The goods must withstand handling, vibration, braking, loading, unloading and possible temporary storage.

Useful packaging materials:

• stretch film;
• strapping;
• cardboard or plastic corner protectors;
• edge protectors;
• layer separators;
• strong boxes;
• cardboard top sheets;
• visible labels;
• protection for fragile products.

Practical recommendation: stretch film should also be secured to the pallet base, not only wrapped around the boxes. If the film does not grip the base, the goods may slide off the pallet.

How should boxes be arranged on a pallet?

A common mistake is pyramid stacking or placing boxes beyond the pallet edges. This may seem acceptable in a warehouse but becomes risky during international transport.

Arrangement recommendations

Correct	Avoid
boxes arranged in stable columns	pyramid stacking
weight distributed evenly	weight concentrated on one side
goods do not extend beyond the pallet	boxes protruding beyond the edges
film secured to the pallet base	film only around the upper section
labels on the sides	labels only on top

Goods extending beyond the pallet edges are more easily damaged and may cause loading problems.

Pallet labelling

Labels help identify the goods quickly. They must be visible to the carrier, warehouse, customs broker and consignee.

Each pallet should display at least:

• the consignor’s name;
• the consignee’s name;
• destination country and city;
• pallet number;
• total number of pallets;
• the weight;
• handling instructions where necessary;
• markings such as “Fragile”, “Do not stack” or “This way up”, where applicable.

Labels should be placed on the sides, not only on top. A label placed only on top may become invisible when the pallet is stacked or stored.

Wooden pallets and ISPM 15 requirements

For international transport, wooden pallets may require treatment in accordance with the ISPM 15 standard. This standard concerns wood packaging used in international trade and aims to reduce the risk of spreading pests.

In practice, treated pallets must carry a visible mark. If the pallet does not have the required marking, inspection or customs-clearance problems may arise depending on the country and operation.

Companies exporting or importing goods are advised to check pallets before loading.

Documents required for transporting palletised goods

The documents must match the actual goods. If the paperwork states eight pallets but ten are loaded, clarification and delays may result.

Documents that may be required:

• commercial invoice;
• packing list;
• CMR;
• customs documents;
• certificate of origin, where applicable;
• EUR.1 certificate, if required;
• other documents depending on the type of goods.

What should the packing list contain?

Information	Why it is important
number of pallets	for checking and loading
gross weight	for truck planning
net weight	for commercial documents
dimensions	for volume calculation
contents	for identifying the goods
invoice number	for cross-referencing commercial documents
country of origin	for customs brokerage and clearance

For more details, see the article: Documents required for importing and exporting goods.

Warehousing and consolidation for palletised goods

Palletised goods are well suited to warehousing and consolidation. If goods come from several suppliers, the pallets can be grouped in a warehouse and then transported together.

This solution is useful for:

• imports from several locations;
• groupage transport;
• pallets prepared on different days;
• optimising costs;
• reducing separate shipments;
• preparing a full truckload;
• checking documents before departure.

For details: Warehousing.

Recommended article: Warehousing and goods consolidation for international transport.

Moldova–Italy–Moldova pallet transport

The Moldova–Italy–Moldova route is one of Umav Trans’s main directions. For palletised goods, it is suitable for both groupage and full truckload transport.

The following can be organised on this route:

• groupage transport of 1–4 pallets;
• partial-load transport for medium volumes;
• full truckload for large loads;
• warehousing and consolidation;
• customs brokerage;
• document support;
• imports from Italy to Moldova;
• exports from Moldova to Italy.

For details: Moldova – Italy – Moldova transport

Practical example: how is the transport solution chosen?

Example 1: two pallets from Italy to Moldova

Detail	Situation
Number of pallets	2
Weight	600 kg
Volume	2.5 m³
Likely solution	groupage
Note	suitable for consolidation with other goods

Example 2: twelve pallets from Germany to Moldova

Detail	Situation
Number of pallets	12
Weight	5,000 kg
Volume	15 m³
Likely solution	partial-load / LTL transport
Note	space, weight and deadline are assessed

Example 3: 33 pallets from Moldova to Italy

Detail	Situation
Number of pallets	33
Weight	20,000 kg
Volume	almost a full truck
Likely solution	full truckload
Note	suitable for a standard curtain-side trailer

Example 4: high volume but low weight

Detail	Situation
Number of pallets	26
Weight	4,000 kg
Volume	very high
Likely solution	full truckload or tandem truck
Note	volume may matter more than weight

These examples are indicative. The final solution is determined after analysing the goods, route and available truck.

Common mistakes in palletised-goods transport

The most common problems arise from inaccurate information or inadequate packaging.

Mistakes to avoid:

• damaged pallets;
• boxes protruding beyond pallet edges;
• insufficient stretch film;
• missing corner protectors;
• incorrectly declared weight;
• incomplete dimensions;
• non-stackable pallet not declared as such;
• labels placed only on top;
• documents showing a different number of pallets;
• missing packing list;
• goods prepared too late;
• insufficient communication with the carrier.

Proper preparation before loading can prevent delays, additional costs and damage risks.

What information should you provide for a quote?

For an accurate quote, provide as much detail as possible about the goods.

Request checklist

Information	Example
Loading country and city	Italy, Milan
Unloading country and city	Moldova, Chișinău
Number of pallets	4 Euro pallets
Dimensions	120 × 80 × 150 cm
Total weight	1,200 kg
Are the goods stackable?	Yes / No
Type of goods	commercial products / parts / equipment
Available documents	invoice, packing list
Required date	approximate date
Required services	transport, warehousing, customs brokerage

With these details, the Umav Trans team can recommend the right option more quickly: groupage, partial-load transport or full truckload.

How can Umav Trans help?

Umav Trans provides solutions for international transport of palletised goods to and from Europe. Depending on the number of pallets, weight, volume and required date, the team can recommend groupage, partial-load transport, full truckload, warehousing or consolidation.

Available services:

• international road transport;
• groupage transport;
• full truckload;
• temporary warehousing;
• goods consolidation;
• customs brokerage;
• support for the EUR.1 certificate;
• Moldova–Italy–Moldova route;
• fast communication by phone, WhatsApp and Viber.

Final checklist before loading

Before the goods are collected, check the following:

• Are the pallets in good condition?
• Are the goods secured correctly?
• Is the film secured to the pallet base?
• Do the boxes remain within the pallet edges?
• Has the weight been checked?
• Are the dimensions correct?
• Is the pallet stackable or non-stackable?
• Are labels placed on the sides?
• Does the number of pallets match the documents?
• Is there a commercial invoice?
• Is there a packing list?
• Is a CMR required?
• Is customs brokerage required?
• Is an EUR.1 certificate required?
• Are the loading and unloading locations clear?