We arrange freight from Spain to Slovakia as full truckloads, part loads or groupage from one pallet. A truck from Barcelona to Bratislava usually takes 3 days, 4 at most; from Madrid to Žilina or Košice, plan on 4–5 days. Our office in Břeclav is a few kilometres from the Slovak border, so we schedule Slovak deliveries every day and know local conditions first-hand.
How quickly do goods from Spain reach Slovakia?
Two things decide it: where in Spain the load is collected and which part of Slovakia it is going to. Catalonia borders France, whereas from Madrid or Valencia much of the first day goes on reaching the frontier. Inside Slovakia, west and east are another driving day apart. As a guide:
| Part of Slovakia | Typical drop points | approx. km from Barcelona / Madrid | What we usually carry there |
|---|---|---|---|
| West | Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra | 1,900 / 2,550 | automotive parts, goods for logistics centres along the D1 |
| North | Žilina, Martin | 2,100 / 2,700 | components for engineering and manufacturing in the Váh valley and Turiec |
| East | Košice, Prešov | 2,200 / 2,800 | tiles, food products and smaller shipments combined with other drops |
Via Rozvadov or via Vienna?
From Spain the truck crosses at La Jonquera, follows the Rhône valley to Lyon and continues via Mulhouse into southern Germany. Past Stuttgart the route splits. The northern option runs via Nuremberg and the Waidhaus / Rozvadov crossing on the D5 and D1 to Brno, then to Bratislava or along the D1 through Trnava and Trenčín to Žilina – we use it mainly when there is also a drop in the Czech Republic. The southern option via Munich, Salzburg, Linz and Vienna is usually quicker straight to Bratislava.
Each option has different weekend rules for trucks over 7.5 t: in the Czech Republic Sundays and holidays 13:00–22:00, plus Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in summer; in Austria from Saturday 15:00 to Sunday 22:00. Add France from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00, Germany on Sundays 0:00–22:00 and Spain's calendar of restrictions for certain days and roads. A Thursday collection is therefore routed so the weekend holds it up as little as possible. Tolls in every country, including Slovakia's electronic toll, are included in the price.
One trip, drops in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Many companies buy in Spain for sites in both countries. The truck then unloads part of the goods in Plzeň, Prague or Brno and the rest in Bratislava or Žilina, without you paying for two separate movements. We plan the sequence by route and warehouse opening hours. General collection information is on transport from Spain, and domestic Slovak deliveries are covered on transport Slovakia.
Parts for Slovak production: what has to be right at delivery
Slovak plants and their suppliers receive goods in a precise window, and missing details leave the truck waiting at the gate. Before the vehicle leaves Spain we check:
- the order or delivery number the consignee books the goods under,
- the reserved unloading window and the gate or dock,
- that the delivery note matches the pallet count on the CMR,
- whether the consignee requires a pallet exchange,
- a warehouse contact in case of a delay en route.
Parts are loaded in Martorell, Zaragoza, Valencia or Vigo; several Spanish pick-ups are combined into one trip, and Zaragoza lies between Madrid and Barcelona anyway.
Groupage and part loads to eastern Slovakia
To Košice and Prešov a dedicated truck pays off only for large volumes, so smaller shipments are combined: one euro pallet takes 0.4 loading metres, and a full trailer offers 13.6 ldm, 33 euro pallets and around 24 t. Three to five pallets of tiles from Castellón or food from Andalusia thus travel together with other drops along the route. For groupage to the east, allow one extra day; if the goods are urgent, we arrange a dedicated vehicle or a two-driver express crew. The Spain–Germany and Spain–Austria lanes work the same way; for suppliers elsewhere see France–Slovakia and Portugal–Slovakia.
Ordering, delivery terms and documents
Under EXW or FCA the Slovak buyer books us and we liaise with the Spanish warehouse; under DAP the Spanish seller is our client. The goods travel with a CMR note and a delivery note or invoice, and there is no customs clearance within the EU. The process:
- send the supplier's address in Spain, loading hours and reference,
- give the drop point in Slovakia (and in the Czech Republic if needed),
- add pallets or ldm, weight and the date,
- receive a price within 30 minutes during office hours; once confirmed, the vehicle is usually arranged within 24 hours.
We have been forwarding freight since 2011 and work with more than 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Need to ship from Spain to Slovakia on a regular basis? We agree fixed loading days and combine them with Czech drops – see regular transport, or call or write to us.
Related guides: Importing goods from the EU · Automotive freight · Preparing pallets