We arrange freight from Nantes to the Czech Republic usually within 2–3 days of loading – chilled and frozen food, wine, parts from Saint-Nazaire or clothing from Cholet. Nantes is about 1,400 km from Prague and about 1,600 km from Brno. We collect in Nantes, Carquefou, Rezé, Saint-Nazaire, Angers and Cholet, from one pallet to a full trailer, and deliver anywhere in the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
What temperature do your goods from Nantes need?
The Pays de la Loire is a major food-producing region, so almost every enquiry from here starts with temperature. Before we book a vehicle we need to know which regime your goods fall into:
| Regime | Temperature | Typical goods from the region |
|---|---|---|
| chilled | above zero, usually +2 to +8 °C | lamb's lettuce and other vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry |
| frozen | −18 °C or colder | frozen bakery, fish, ready meals |
| dry, temperature-monitored | as set by the shipper and season | biscuits, chocolate, Muscadet and Anjou wine |
| dry, unregulated | no requirement | canned goods, packaging, clothing, footwear, parts |
A temperature record for the whole trip is available on request. Mixed loads of chilled and dry goods are assessed case by case, depending on whether the dry goods tolerate the set temperature.
Why must goods be pre-cooled before loading?
The reefer unit holds temperature but cannot pull warm goods down – it lacks the capacity, and in a closed box the other pallets would warm up too. Goods must therefore be at target temperature when loaded, frozen goods at −18 °C. We send the trailer pre-cooled, and the driver checks the product temperature at loading. Chilled goods are loaded only at a dock so the cold chain is not broken.
At the Rezé market and in large food warehouses, loading follows a booked time. The driver checks in with the order reference and the trailer must already be cold on arrival – turning up late means waiting for the next free slot and, with fresh produce, losing valuable shelf life. We therefore send the vehicle with time in hand and confirm the loading window the day before.
Where around Nantes do we collect?
- Rezé – the MIN Nantes wholesale market for fruit, vegetables and fresh food; loading starts early in the morning.
- Carquefou and the north-east of the city – food and distribution warehouses working with time slots.
- Saint-Nazaire – aerospace and shipbuilding parts; please flag oversized pieces in advance.
- Montoir-de-Bretagne – container terminals of the Nantes Saint-Nazaire port; we need the container number and release confirmation.
- Angers – nursery stock and plants that must neither freeze nor overheat.
- Cholet – clothing and footwear in cartons, often several shippers on one vehicle.
- vineyards around Nantes and in Anjou – Muscadet and Anjou; the sender issues the e-AD excise document.
Which route does the truck take from Nantes?
The route follows the A11 through Angers and Le Mans towards Paris. There the truck either skirts the centre on the Paris ring road or takes the southern bypass via Orléans and Troyes, depending on traffic. It continues to Metz, through Saarbrücken onto the German A6 past Mannheim and Nuremberg to Waidhaus/Rozvadov, and along the D5 via Plzeň to Prague. France bans vehicles over 7.5 t from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00, Germany on Sundays from 00:00 to 22:00; we time the loading so the goods do not stand over the weekend. Tolls are included in the price.
Because the truck passes Paris, goods from our Paris freight service can be added on the way. In the north-west we also collect in Normandy – see freight from Rouen and Le Havre – and south of Nantes in the Gironde, covered under freight from Bordeaux.
Small consignment, mixed load or a full reefer?
A refrigerated trailer takes up to 33 euro pallets, i.e. 13.6 loading metres at around 24 t. One euro pallet occupies 0.4 ldm. Dry goods from one pallet travel as groupage; for chilled food a part load or a direct vehicle without transhipment is more reliable. Buying from several suppliers in the region? We link Rezé, Carquefou and Angers into one run along the A11. A return load from the Czech Republic to France can be planned as well.
If you buy EXW or FCA, you as the buyer book the transport and we agree the collection with the supplier; under DAP the seller arranges it. EU goods travel duty-free with a CMR note and an invoice or delivery note. The overview for the whole country is on transport from France.
What we need for a Nantes quote
- collection address and loading hours, plus any booking and reference,
- delivery address in the Czech Republic or Slovakia,
- number of pallets and weight,
- temperature regime – chilled, frozen or dry,
- the date the goods will be ready.
During office hours we send the offer within 30 minutes, and after confirmation the vehicle is usually arranged within 24 hours. Since 2011 we have worked with more than 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Bringing in food from the Pays de la Loire every week? We agree fixed loading days, the same temperature regime and a rate for a longer period – regular transport, or send us a message.
Related guides: Food transport · Refrigerated transport · Preparing pallets