Refrigerated transport Spain – Switzerland

Corridor data

Frequent destinations

Basel, Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, St. Gallen

Distance

Around 1,000 km from the Barcelona area

Transit

24 – 48 h, plus clearance time at the border

Customs

Yes: export and import declarations, and T1 transit where applicable

Charges

LSVA, the Swiss distance-related heavy vehicle fee based on distance, weight and emissions

Usual temperature

From −22 °C to +8 °C

What customs means on this corridor

Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not in the customs union, so all goods entering or leaving go through clearance. For a shipper that means three things in practice:

1. Complete paperwork before departure. Commercial invoice, packing list and, for products of animal origin, the applicable veterinary documentation. An incomplete document stops the truck at the border with the freight inside.
2. Clearance time. Border formalities have to be counted on top of road time. They are built into the trip plan.
3. Veterinary control. Products of animal origin enter through designated border control posts, with documentary and, where required, physical checks.

Things to bear in mind

• LSVA. The Swiss charge is calculated on kilometres run, maximum permissible weight and the emission category of the vehicle. A EURO 6 fleet pays the lowest band on the scale.
• 40 t limit. Switzerland applies a 40-tonne gross weight limit, consistent with the standard European combination.
• Night ban. Switzerland restricts heavy goods traffic at night, between 22:00 and 05:00, and on Sundays. It is a first-order planning constraint on this corridor.
• Alpine tunnels. Depending on destination, routing may involve tunnels with their own traffic rules and access metering.

Frequently asked questions