We arrange truck freight from Bordeaux to the Czech Republic in 2–3 days from loading as a rule, covering the whole Gironde including Mérignac, Bruges, Libourne and Cognac. Prague is about 1,550 km away and Brno about 1,750 km, which makes Bordeaux one of the most distant French regions we serve. We carry wine, cognac, timber from the Landes and industrial parts, from one pallet to a full truck, and deliver anywhere in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
Which day should you load to get delivery the same week?
Over this distance the loading day matters more than it does for nearer regions. Vehicles over 7.5 t may not run in France from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 or on public holidays, and Germany bans them on Sundays and holidays. A truck loaded late in the week therefore sits out part of the weekend. As a guide:
| Loading in Bordeaux | Usual delivery in the Czech Republic | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Wednesday to Thursday | the safest choice for same-week delivery |
| Tuesday | Thursday to Friday | fine if the consignee also unloads on Fridays |
| Wednesday | Friday, otherwise Monday | depends on traffic and the consignee's receiving hours |
| Thursday, Friday | Monday to Tuesday | the truck waits out the weekend ban en route |
If your consignee needs the goods on a specific day, put it in the enquiry and we will propose the loading day to match.
Northern or eastern route?
Most loads take the northern route: the A10 via Poitiers towards Paris, then the A4 via Reims and Metz into Germany and on through Mannheim and Nuremberg to the Waidhaus/Rozvadov crossing. Goods from the Île-de-France can be added on the way, which is why we often combine this route with freight from Paris. The eastern route runs along the A89 via Clermont-Ferrand to Lyon and from there past Mulhouse into Baden. We use it when a shipment from the south or centre of the country is joining; loads from Toulouse use the same axis.
Delays most often happen on the Bordeaux ring road (the rocade) and around Paris, so we allow a buffer for collections during the morning rush. French and German tolls plus the Czech electronic toll are included in the price.
Wine and cognac: excise, paperwork and temperature
Bordeaux and Cognac ship mainly alcohol, which is subject to excise duty. The sender issues the electronic administrative document (e-AD), and the consignee in the Czech Republic or Slovakia must be authorised to receive excise goods. A standard CMR note and invoice travel with it – there is no customs duty inside the EU. Wine does not like heat, so from spring to September we recommend a temperature-controlled trailer. Have ready before collection:
- the e-AD reference, or confirmation that duty has already been paid,
- pallets with flush cartons, stretch-wrapped and with corner protection,
- whether the pallets can take stacking,
- the required temperature if it needs monitoring.
Landes timber and industrial parts – which vehicle?
The pine forests of the Landes south of Bordeaux supply sawmills and board makers. We carry sawn timber and boards on tilt trailers that open at the side for forklift loading – sawmills often have no dock. Parts for aerospace and engineering from Mérignac and the surrounding area, on the other hand, are loaded at a dock and normally travel direct without transhipment, so they are handled as little as possible.
A full truck takes 33 euro pallets, i.e. 13.6 loading metres and about 24 t. For smaller quantities there is groupage from 1 pallet or a part load – one euro pallet equals 0.4 ldm, so you pay only for the space you use.
One pickup in the Gironde or several?
Wine châteaux usually load in the morning, often from the side by forklift because there is no dock. Large warehouses around the airport and on the north side of the city work with booked loading slots instead – the driver checks in with the order number and may not be served outside the window. We take both into account when choosing the vehicle and the order of stops.
If you buy from several estates or manufacturers, we link them into one run – for example Saint-Émilion and Libourne to the east, a warehouse in Bruges on the north side of the city and Cognac on the way to Poitiers. Regular Bordeaux lanes are matched with return loads, which helps keep the price steady. Who books the transport? Under EXW and FCA the buyer, i.e. you with us; under DAP the seller. On the west coast we also collect in the Loire area – see freight from Nantes – and the full picture is on transport from France.
What to include in a Bordeaux enquiry
- collection address (all of them for several suppliers) and delivery point,
- loading hours and the reference under which the warehouse releases the goods,
- number, dimensions and weight of the pallets,
- whether the goods are excise goods and whether temperature must be controlled,
- loading day and latest delivery date.
We send a price within 30 minutes during office hours and, after confirmation, usually arrange the vehicle within 24 hours. Since 2011 we have worked with a network of more than 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Shipping from the Gironde regularly? We agree fixed loading days and a rate for a longer period, with a return load to France if it helps – regular transport, or simply contact us.
Related guides: Beverage transport · Machinery transport · Preparing pallets