We arrange freight from Lorraine to the Czech Republic – from Nancy, Metz, Épinal or Thionville – usually within 1–2 days of loading. Nancy is about 740 km from Prague and about 940 km from Brno. We move paper and board from the Vosges, steel coils from the Moselle valley, timber, glass and food, from a single pallet to a full truck, delivered anywhere in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
What kind of trailer does Lorraine freight need?
Lorraine ships heavy, bulky goods. A curtain-sider covers only part of them – with steel, paper or glass, the right equipment and load securing are what make the transport safe. By area:
| Area | Goods | Vehicle and securing |
|---|---|---|
| Thionville, Florange, Hayange | steel coils, sheets, sections, rails | coil-well trailer or cradles, lashing straps, anti-slip mats |
| Épinal, Golbey, Chavelot | paper, cardboard, packaging | covered trailer, reels wedged, anti-slip mats |
| Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, Gérardmer | sawn timber, furniture components, textiles | timber strapped and covered, often side-loaded |
| Baccarat, Lunéville, Meisenthal | glass, crystal, faience | padded crates, never stacked |
| Vittel, Contrexéville | bottled mineral water on pallets | weight is watched – the limit often comes before the pallet count |
| Metz area along the A31 | car parts from logistics centres | dock loading in a time slot |
| Nancy and the Moselle valley | food, mirabelle plums, confectionery, bakery goods | refrigerated vehicle for chilled products |
Which route does a truck from Nancy or Metz take?
From Épinal the truck heads north on the N57 to Nancy, then takes the A31 to Metz and the A4 east. Near Saint-Avold it switches to the A320 towards Forbach and the Saarland border; after Saarbrücken it follows the German A6 through Kaiserslautern, Mannheim, Heilbronn and Nuremberg to Waidhaus/Rozvadov. The D5 continues to Plzeň and Prague, while loads for Moravia, the Ostrava region and Slovakia carry on along the D1. French péage, German toll and the Czech electronic toll are all included in the price.
Shipments from the Île-de-France use the same A4 past Metz, so they can share a truck with a load from our Paris freight service. Alsace lies on the other side of the Vosges and has its own Rhine crossings – see freight from Strasbourg and freight from Mulhouse and Colmar.
Can you combine pickups in Metz and Thionville?
Yes – and in Lorraine it makes sense more often than elsewhere. Metz and Thionville are a short stretch of A31 apart, with Nancy and Épinal on the same axis further south. Common combinations:
- steel from Thionville plus parts from a logistics centre near Metz in one vehicle,
- paper from Golbey and sawn timber from Saint-Dié – two Vosges pickups in a day,
- glass from Baccarat and Lunéville added to a part load out of Nancy,
- Vittel mineral water paired with lighter goods to use both floor space and payload.
When combining, we plan the unloading order in the Czech Republic, keep heavy items over the axles and make sure nothing presses on lighter goods.
Moselle holidays and weekend driving bans
In France, vehicles over 7.5 t may not run from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 or from 22:00 on the eve of a public holiday; Germany bans them on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 22:00, the Czech Republic from 13:00 to 22:00. We therefore plan Friday collections in Lorraine so the truck clears the Saarland and much of Germany on Saturday.
Note one difference inside the region: the Moselle département – Metz, Thionville, Forbach – shares Alsace's extra holidays, Good Friday and St Stephen's Day after Christmas, whereas Nancy and the Vosges work normally on those days. Check with Moselle suppliers whether they load then.
How much fits – from a pallet of water to a truckload of coils?
A full truck takes 33 euro pallets over 13.6 loading metres and around 24 t. With paper or board the floor usually fills first; with steel coils and mineral water the weight runs out first – which is why we need the weight of each coil and pallet. One euro pallet occupies 0.4 ldm. Small consignments from 1 pallet travel as groupage; several pallets go as a part load or by van. If you buy from more than one producer in the region, we link the pickups into one run.
Documents, Incoterms and your enquiry
Lorraine goods move within the EU free of customs: an invoice or delivery note and a CMR consignment note are enough. If you buy EXW or FCA, the buyer organises the transport – you write to us and we agree the collection with the supplier. Under DAP the seller arranges it. General information for the whole country is on transport from France. For a quote, please send:
- the loading address and opening hours of the warehouse or plant, plus any loading number,
- type of goods and dimensions (for steel, coil width and diameter),
- total weight and, for coils, the weight per piece,
- number of pallets or loading metres and whether the goods can be stacked,
- loading date and delivery address in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
During office hours the offer reaches you within 30 minutes, and after confirmation the vehicle is normally arranged within 24 hours. We have been in business since 2011 and work with over 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Buying paper or steel from Lorraine on a regular basis? For repeat loadings in Épinal, Metz or Thionville we agree fixed days and the same trailer type – read more about regular transport or write to us via contact.
Related guides: Paper and packaging transport · Steel transport · Building materials transport