Importing goods into the Czech Republic from another EU country is something we handle end to end by road, from your supplier's warehouse door to your own loading dock. Whether you buy in Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands or France, we collect a single pallet or a full truckload, combine goods from several suppliers and deliver anywhere in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Knapek Spedition, based in Břeclav, has been arranging these imports since 2011 through a network of more than 500 vetted contracted carriers.
Importing goods is international road transport: we choose the right carrier for the route and shipment size, for goods and material alike (B2B).
How does importing goods from the EU into the Czech Republic work?
For a business sourcing abroad, buying inside the single market is mainly a logistics exercise. There is no customs clearance between member states, so the shipment never queues at a border for inspection. The truck carries a CMR consignment note and a commercial document from the seller, usually the invoice or delivery note. Goods subject to excise duty, such as alcohol or tobacco, also need accompanying paperwork that the consignor issues. Tax questions on the buyer's side are best checked with your accountant.
- Tell us where the goods are, how much there is and the date they will be ready.
- Within 30 minutes during office hours you receive a price and a proposed collection day.
- Once you confirm, we agree a loading time with the supplier's dispatch team.
- The driver collects the consignment, has the loading confirmed on the CMR and heads for the Czech Republic or Slovakia.
- Before arrival we let you know the expected unloading time; after delivery you get a copy of the signed CMR.
Which countries can you ship freight to the Czech Republic from?
We regularly bring in goods from 23 European countries. The times below run from loading to unloading and are a realistic guide for full trucks as well as pallets on standard routes. See European transit times for the complete list.
| Region | Origin | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbouring countries | freight from Germany, transport from Austria, shipments from Slovakia, imports from Poland | up to 1 day (Austria, Slovakia), 1–2 days (Germany, Poland) |
| Benelux | imports from the Netherlands, freight from Belgium | up to 2 days |
| Western and southern Europe | imports from Italy, freight from France | 2–3 days |
| Iberian Peninsula | imports from Spain, transport from Portugal | 3–4 days |
| Central and south-eastern Europe | Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece | 1–2 days (Slovenia, Croatia) to 3–4 days (Greece) |
| Nordics and Baltics | Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland | up to 2 days (Denmark, Lithuania) to 3–4 days (Finland) |
On longer routes, weekend truck driving bans in Germany, Austria and France matter. If goods are loaded in France or Spain on a Friday, plan for delivery after the weekend.
Who books the transport? Incoterms in practice
The delivery term agreed in your purchase contract decides who arranges and pays for the freight. It is worth settling before you place the order, because it also defines the point at which transport risk passes to you.
| Term | Transport booked by | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | buyer | The goods wait at the seller's premises and you arrange collection – which is exactly the part we take on. |
| FCA | buyer | The seller hands the goods to the carrier you nominate, normally already loaded. You still book the transport. |
| DAP | seller | The supplier brings the goods to your address; unloading is your responsibility. |
| DDP | seller | The seller carries the costs all the way to the destination. |
Buying EXW or FCA keeps the timing and the choice of haulier in your hands, and freight cost shows up separately from the product price.
Collection from the supplier: what needs to be ready?
Most import delays happen not on the motorway but at the loading bay. Larger warehouses in Germany, the Netherlands or Italy work with time slots and will often refuse a driver who turns up without a pickup reference. Before the truck sets off we therefore confirm:
- the exact loading address – the warehouse is often not at the company's registered office,
- dispatch opening hours and any pre-booked slot,
- the order or loading number the consignment is filed under,
- whether there is a dock or the truck is loaded by forklift from the side or rear.
At collection the driver checks the piece count and the visible condition of the packaging and records both on the CMR. For bulky or unusual cargo, see the overview of vehicle types.
Groupage or a full truck for your imports?
You can import from a single pallet upwards. Smaller volumes travel as pallet transport in groupage, where you share deck space with other shippers and pay only for the room your goods take up. A standard semi-trailer offers 13.6 loading metres, 33 euro pallets and about 24 tonnes of payload.
| Volume | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 pallets | groupage | lowest cost, timing follows the vehicle's route |
| 7–18 pallets (2.8–7 ldm) | part load | the truck usually picks up other consignments on the way |
| from roughly 18 pallets (over 7 ldm) | full truckload | direct run with no transhipment, fastest option |
| 33 pallets / 24 t | full semi-trailer | every metre of the deck in use |
An unstacked euro pallet occupies 0.4 loading metres. The LDM calculator does the maths, the article what a loading metre is explains the idea and the euro pallet guide lists the dimensions. To decide between parcel, pallet and truck, read parcel vs pallet vs truck. Food and temperature-sensitive goods travel with refrigerated transport.
Can goods from several suppliers share one truck?
If you buy from several manufacturers in the same region, collections can be combined. The vehicle calls at two to four warehouses in turn – in Bavaria, Lombardy or around Rotterdam, for example – and brings a single load into the Czech Republic. Your goods-in team then receives one vehicle instead of several separate deliveries.
Consolidation works when every supplier has the goods ready within the same window and we know the pallet dimensions beforehand. We plan the order of stops so that freight for the first drop sits by the rear doors. For repeat purchasing we can set up a regular import line, for instance once a week on a fixed day, so suppliers and your warehouse both know exactly when the truck is due.
What should you send us for an import quote?
- collection and delivery addresses (postcode and country are enough for an estimate),
- number and size of pallets, or the loading metres,
- total weight of the consignment,
- the date the goods will be ready and the warehouse opening hours,
- the loading or order reference, if you already have it,
- special requirements such as a tail lift, side loading or a set temperature.
We send quotes within 30 minutes during office hours, and a vehicle is usually available within 24 hours. Road tolls are included in the price. The other factors behind the rate are covered on the freight cost page. For more on paperwork and delivery terms, read our article importing goods from the EU – a practical guide.
See also: Freight from Latvia · Freight from Estonia
Buying from foreign suppliers every week? We set up scheduled collections and consolidation – regular transport, or contact us.
Related guides: Importing goods from the EU · Euro pallet – size and load · Transit times in Europe