We arrange freight from France to Slovakia as full truckloads, part loads and groupage from a single pallet. From Paris or Lyon, goods usually reach Bratislava and Žilina in 2–3 days and Košice in eastern Slovakia in 3–4 days. The Czech Republic is not the destination on this lane: from our office in Břeclav we plan the leg between a French supplier and a Slovak consignee – plants, wholesalers and companies running a warehouse in Slovakia.
For general information on collections anywhere in France see transport from France; deliveries and domestic routes are covered on transport Slovakia. This page deals only with the France → Slovakia corridor.
How many days does a truck take from France to Bratislava, Žilina or Košice?
| Collection → delivery | approx. km | Usual transit |
|---|---|---|
| Paris → Bratislava | 1,350 | 2–3 days |
| Paris → Žilina | 1,500 | 2–3 days |
| Paris → Košice | 1,750 | 3–4 days |
| Lyon → Bratislava | 1,400 | 2–3 days |
| Lyon → Žilina | 1,550 | 2–3 days |
| Lyon → Košice | 1,700 | 3–4 days |
Košice is several hundred kilometres beyond Bratislava, and the driver has to respect daily driving limits and mandatory breaks. For eastern Slovakia we therefore normally add a day and recommend loading on Monday or Tuesday.
Northern or southern corridor – which one suits your load?
The northern option runs from Paris via Metz and Saarbrücken to Nuremberg, crosses into the Czech Republic at Waidhaus / Rozvadov and continues via Prague and Brno into Slovakia. It fits collections in the Paris region, northern France and Lorraine, deliveries in the Váh valley around Trenčín and Žilina, and loads with a partial drop in the Czech Republic on the way.
The southern option goes via Strasbourg and Kehl to Stuttgart, Munich and Salzburg, then past Vienna to Bratislava. We use it for loads from Alsace, the Lyon area and the Rhône valley, and for consignees in Bratislava, Trnava or Nitra. Mind the weekend: in Austria trucks over 7.5 t may run on Saturday only until 15:00, so a Friday collection in France routed this way often waits until Sunday evening. France bans heavy trucks from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00, Germany on Sundays and public holidays from 0:00 to 22:00. French péage, German Maut, Czech or Austrian tolls and the Slovak electronic toll are included in the price.
Where in Slovakia do we deliver most often?
| Delivery area | Who receives French goods there | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Bratislava, Senec | distribution warehouses, wholesalers | booked time slot, advance notice |
| Trnava, Nitra, Galanta | automotive suppliers | exact delivery hour, labels and delivery note as the plant requires |
| Trenčín, Žilina, Považská Bystrica | engineering and subcontracting plants | dock usually available, goods-in often weekdays only |
| Banská Bystrica, Zvolen | retail, smaller manufacturing | often no dock – tail-lift vehicle |
| Košice, Prešov | trade and industry in the east | longer transit, load early in the week |
Car parts, tyres, wine and cosmetics: what to prepare
Production parts need accurate delivery notes and the consignee's order number – without them a plant will often refuse the delivery. Tyres are light but bulky, so the price follows loading metres rather than weight. Wine from Bordeaux, Burgundy or Champagne travels with the electronic e-AD document issued by the shipper. Cosmetics go in a closed curtainsider, while machinery and spare parts are often loaded from the side by forklift. If the consignee has no dock, we arrange a vehicle with a tail lift.
From how many pallets is a dedicated vehicle worth it?
A curtainsider takes 33 euro pallets on 13.6 loading metres at around 24 t, and one euro pallet occupies 0.4 ldm. Roughly 1–6 pallets travel as groupage; ten pallets make a typical part load. From roughly 18 pallets – over about 7 ldm – a full truck running straight through is often the better deal, and we are happy to quote both options. Groupage is combined with other freight on the route, so its date is less fixed. If you buy from several French suppliers, we collect from each and consolidate onto one vehicle. We work the same way on freight Spain–Slovakia and freight Portugal–Slovakia; when French goods go to customers elsewhere, see France–Germany and France–Austria.
Who books the transport, and what do we need for a quote?
Under EXW or FCA the Slovak buyer books the haulage; under DAP the French seller does – we work for either side. EU goods move without customs; a CMR consignment note plus invoice or delivery note is enough. Return loads from Slovakia to France can be arranged too.
- supplier address in France and its loading hours,
- order or collection reference (rendez-vous number),
- delivery address in Slovakia and any time slot,
- number of pallets or loading metres, weight, stackability,
- whether there is a dock at delivery, and whether the load is wine or temperature-sensitive.
During office hours you get a price within 30 minutes, and once confirmed we usually arrange the vehicle within 24 hours. We have been forwarding freight since 2011 and work with more than 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Buying from France for Slovakia every month? For repeat shipments we agree a fixed collection day in France – read more about regular transport, or reach us via contact.
Related guides: Importing goods from the EU · Automotive freight · Preparing pallets