Corridor
Refrigerated transport Spain – France
The busiest lane on the network: the natural gateway for Spanish perishable freight into Europe, with daily departures and transits of 24 to 48 hours.
Corridor data
- Usual origins
- Catalonia, Valencia region, Aragon and Murcia
- Frequent destinations
- Perpignan, Montpellier, Lyon, Rungis (Paris), Bordeaux, Nantes, Lille
- Distance
- From 200 km (Perpignan) to around 1,050 km (Rungis)
- Transit
- 24 h to southern France · 24–48 h to the centre and north
- Border crossing
- La Jonquera / Le Perthus (AP-7 – A9), about 50 km from base
- Customs
- None: both countries are EU customs territory
- Usual temperature
- From −22 °C (frozen) to +12 °C (fruit and vegetables)
What moves on this lane
This is the classic Spanish fresh-produce export route: fruit and vegetables from the Levante and Andalusia to French wholesale markets and to Rungis, the large Paris wholesale market. Southbound it carries dairy, prepared product and French meat.
Because transit is short, the critical constraint is not the road but time on the bay: on produce loads with several collections, every stop counts, and market delivery windows are narrow and in the small hours.
Things to bear in mind
- Driving bans. France restricts goods vehicles over 7.5 t from 22:00 on Saturday until 22:00 on Sunday, with exemptions for perishable freight. Additional restrictions apply in summer and on public holidays.
- La Jonquera. It is the busiest heavy goods crossing on the border. In peak produce season the crossing is best planned away from rush hours.
- Tolls. The AP-7 in Spain and the French motorway network are tolled. This is included in the firm trip price.
- Rungis. The market has its own, very early, delivery windows, which dictate the departure time from origin.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a refrigerated truck take from Barcelona to Paris?
Between 24 and 48 hours on a full load with a single driver, over roughly 1,050 km to the Rungis area. The range depends on the delivery window and the mandatory breaks: Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 caps driving at 9 hours a day. With a two-driver crew the run is made in one continuous transit.
Is there customs clearance between Spain and France?
No. Both countries are part of the EU customs territory, so goods move freely without clearance. The CMR consignment note does travel with the load and, for products of animal origin, the applicable health traceability documentation.
Need to move temperature-controlled freight?
Tell us origin, destination, set point and volume. A dedicated account manager comes back with a firm quote within one working day. If it is urgent, call.