We arrange freight from Marseille to the Czech Republic in 2–3 days as a rule – from the port at Fos-sur-Mer, from the logistics centres around Aix-en-Provence and from the produce markets of Châteaurenard and Cavaillon. Prague is about 1,400 km away and Brno about 1,600 km. We move chilled fruit and vegetables, container cargo, wine, olive oil and steel – as groupage from 1 pallet, a part load or a full truck, delivered anywhere in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
How does produce loading work in Provence?
The main season for chilled shipments runs roughly from May to September. At the Châteaurenard and Cavaillon markets the goods are often gathered during the day and loaded in the evening or overnight, so the truck can leave straight away with a fresh load. The trailer arrives pre-cooled to the set temperature, and the temperature is logged for the whole journey. Each product needs slightly different handling:
| Goods | What we watch |
|---|---|
| cherries, apricots | bruise easily – low layers, rigid crates, no overloaded pallets |
| melons | sensitive to cold, so we set gentler cooling |
| tomatoes, courgettes | not loaded with produce that gives off ethylene |
| table grapes | need a steady low temperature without swings |
| wine, olive oil | a curtain-sider is enough, in summer preferably temperature-controlled |
| steel from the Fos industrial zone | flatbed or a trailer that can be loaded from above or the side |
Fresh fruit and vegetables are among the exceptions to the weekend driving bans in France and Germany, so a reefer does not have to stand still over the weekend. Other goods are subject to the French ban for vehicles over 7.5 t from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 and the German ban on Sundays and holidays.
A container at Fos-sur-Mer – what do we need before the truck is sent?
Marseille-Fos is France's largest Mediterranean port, with its container terminals at Fos-sur-Mer. We collect either after the box has been unloaded at a warehouse or straight from the terminal. So that the truck does not wait, we need:
- confirmation that the goods are released and ready for pickup,
- the container number or shipment reference for the driver,
- for warehouse transhipment, the address and opening hours,
- number of pallets or piece dimensions, and the total weight.
Goods from outside the EU must either be cleared in France or travel under a transit document – settle that with your customs broker in advance. Goods already in free circulation in the EU travel on to the Czech Republic without further formalities, with just a CMR note and an invoice or delivery note.
Distribution centres in Grans and Miramas: why the time slot matters
Large logistics centres have grown up between Marseille and Salon-de-Provence, especially around Grans and Miramas. They load only at a pre-booked time (rendez-vous); a truck that turns up late often waits for the next free slot. That is why we need the booking and order number before the vehicle is dispatched. Big centres use dock loading, while smaller warehouses near Aix and Avignon also load from the side. If you collect from several places, we build the route so the slots follow on from each other.
Why do we plan the A7 with a buffer in summer?
From Provence the route follows the A7 up the Rhône valley to Lyon, continues via Besançon and Mulhouse into Germany and passes Nuremberg on the A6 to Waidhaus/Rozvadov. From there the truck takes the D5 to Prague or the D1 to Brno. In summer the A7 is one of the busiest motorways in France, especially on holiday weekends, and selected summer Saturday bans apply too. For goods without an exemption we therefore build in a buffer and prefer loading early in the week. French and German tolls and the Czech electronic toll are included in the price.
More goods can join the truck on the way through Lyon – see freight from Lyon. Loads from the western part of southern France are covered under Toulouse and Bordeaux.
A few pallets or a whole reefer?
A reefer and a curtain-sider each take 33 euro pallets, i.e. 13.6 loading metres and around 24 t. One euro pallet occupies 0.4 ldm. Small consignments, such as a few pallets of olive oil or wine, travel as groupage from 1 pallet; for chilled goods we would rather suggest a part load that avoids transhipment. A return load from the Czech Republic to Provence can also be planned if you have goods going the other way. Under EXW or FCA you as the buyer book the transport; under DAP the supplier takes care of it. Other regions are listed on transport from France.
Your Marseille enquiry: what to tell us
- collection point (market, terminal, warehouse) and delivery address in the Czech Republic or Slovakia,
- loading window or booking, plus the shipment reference,
- number of pallets, weight and, for chilled goods, the set temperature,
- for a container, its release status and number,
- loading date and required delivery.
In office hours the price comes within 30 minutes, and the vehicle is usually arranged within 24 hours of confirmation. We are a forwarder based in Břeclav and have worked with more than 500 vetted contracted carriers since 2011.
Loading melons or cherries in Provence every week of the season? We set up fixed loading evenings and use the trucks for return loads to the south – see regular transport, or contact us before the harvest starts.
Related guides: Refrigerated transport · Food transport · Preparing pallets