At a Glance
- Typical consignment size
- 1–10 LDM / 100–5,000 kg
- Domestic transit time
- 1–2 business days
- Cost advantage vs direct run
- 30–60 %
How does groupage transport work?
At the departure depot, consignments from various customers on the same route are bundled. A vehicle collects the goods and brings them to the depot. From there they are sorted by destination and loaded onto scheduled vehicles heading for the destination depot. At the destination depot the final distribution to consignees takes place. This hub-and-spoke process is highly standardised and efficient.
Groupage vs direct run: which is better?
Groupage is 30–60 % cheaper but takes 1–3 days longer than a direct run. Groupage is recommended for consignments with no tight time window, goods that are not time-critical, and regular shipments to fixed destinations. Direct runs are better for just-in-time deliveries, oversized freight, dangerous goods with special conditions and sensitive machinery.
Groupage transit times in Germany
In domestic groupage traffic the following standard transit times apply: within the same region 1 day (Munich–Augsburg, for instance), the national standard 1–2 business days, and EU countries near the border 2–3 business days. Forwarders with dense networks (DB Schenker, Dachser, Rhenus) reach almost every German postcode within 24 hours.
