Corridor
Refrigerated transport Spain – Germany
The highest-volume corridor into central Europe: between 1,350 and 1,900 km depending on destination, with transits of 48 to 72 hours and two-driver crews where the window is critical.
Corridor data
- Frequent destinations
- Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen
- Distance
- From about 1,350 km (Munich) to about 1,900 km (Hamburg)
- Transit
- 48 – 72 h with a single driver · roughly half that with two
- Routing
- Via the Rhône axis (Lyon – Strasbourg) or through Switzerland, by destination
- Customs
- None: both countries are EU customs territory
- Usual temperature
- From −22 °C to +8 °C
What moves on this lane
Northbound it is mostly fruit and vegetables, prepared product, meat and fish. Southbound, industrial food product, dairy and frozen goods. Germany is also the redistribution hub into Scandinavia and eastern Europe, so many consignments terminate at a consolidation platform rather than at the end customer.
Things to bear in mind
- German Sunday ban. Goods vehicles over 7.5 t may not run in Germany on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00, and also on Saturdays in July and August on certain stretches. Perishable transport is exempt, but it needs planning rather than improvising.
- LKW-Maut. Germany charges heavy vehicles per kilometre across the network. Included in the firm price.
- Distance and rest. At 1,900 km a single driver needs two full daily rests. This is the corridor where a two-driver crew makes the largest difference to transit.
- Platform windows. German logistics platforms work to strict booked slots; missing the slot can mean waiting until the following day.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a refrigerated truck take from Spain to Germany?
Between 48 and 72 hours on a full load with a single driver, depending on destination: about 1,350 km to Munich and about 1,900 km to Hamburg. With a two-driver crew taking turns at the wheel and no stop for daily rest, transit is roughly halved.
Can you deliver on a Sunday in Germany?
Goods vehicles over 7.5 t are banned from German roads on Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 22:00. Perishable transport is among the exemptions, but delivery also depends on the consignee having a bay open, which is uncommon on a Sunday.
Need to move temperature-controlled freight?
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