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TRANSPORTATION SERVICES / ROAD FREIGHT

International Road Freight

Beyond choosing a truck.

Origin and destination, cargo dimensions, occupied trailer space, equipment type, border crossing, and loading conditions are assessed together to define a route, schedule, and cost that are operationally feasible.
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01 / SERVICE MODE

Select the Service Type

Choosing Between
FTL / LTL / Part Load

This decision is not based on weight alone. Cargo volume, loading metres, stackability, route, and available rates must be assessed together.

01 / FULL TRUCK LOAD

Full Truck Load

A truck or trailer is dedicated to one shipment. FTL is considered for larger cargo, time-sensitive moves, or when intermediate handling should be minimized.

Dedicated Capacity
02 / LESS THAN TRUCKLOAD

LTL and Groupage

The cargo moves with other shipments. Pickup, consolidation, hub stops, and distribution time all form part of the service decision.

Shared Capacity
03 / PART LOAD

Part Load

For cargo larger than a typical LTL shipment that still does not require a full truck. The practical threshold varies by route.

Partial Trailer Capacity

LDMWeight alone is not enough. A loading metre measures the length of trailer floor occupied by the cargo; two shipments of equal weight can therefore have different costs.

  • Temperature ControlledRefrigerated Transport
  • Out of GaugeHeavy and Oversized Cargo
  • Origin to DestinationDoor-to-Door Transport
02 / PROCESS

The road journey—from cargo details to final delivery.

Each stage must produce a clear basis for the next. Service type, equipment, route, and border crossing are confirmed before departure.

  1. START / 01

    Receive Cargo Details

    Origin, destination, commodity description, package count, weight, dimensions, and cargo readiness date.

  2. MODE / 02

    Select the Service

    FTL, LTL, Part Load, or a specialized service based on the actual cargo and route.

  3. EQUIPMENT / 03

    Select the Equipment

    Curtainsider, box trailer, reefer, flatbed, lowbed, or other specialized equipment suited to the cargo.

  4. ROUTE / 04

    Assess the Route and Border

    Transit countries, border crossing, transit restrictions, and route-specific operating conditions.

  5. BOOKING / 05

    Book and Plan Loading

    Secure the truck and coordinate cargo pickup with the loading location.

  6. ORIGIN / 06

    Loading and Origin Documents

    Receive the cargo, supervise loading, and complete the documents required for departure.

  7. TRANSIT / 07

    Transport and Border Crossing

    Execute the route, complete transit procedures, and track the main milestones.

  8. DELIVERY / 08

    Destination Delivery

    Coordinate destination operations and delivery within the agreed scope of services.

Stage 1 of 8

01

Selecting the right truck and trailer

EQUIPMENT SELECTION / 01

Equipment selection begins with the cargo specifications.

01Dimensions and WeightRequired space and equipment capacity
02Cargo TypeGeneral cargo, temperature-controlled goods, machinery, or structures
03Loading MethodRear, side, or top loading
04Route RestrictionsDimensions, axle configuration, and permits
AVAILABLE FORMATS

Equipment is selected around how the cargo must be handled.

GENERAL CARGO / 01

Curtainsider

A curtainsider trailer supports loading from the rear, side, or top.

  • Rear
  • Side
  • Top
PROTECTED / 02

Box Trailer

Suitable for cargo that requires an enclosed space throughout the journey.

Enclosed Space
TEMPERATURE / 03

Reefer

Considered for goods that require temperature control in transit.

Temperature Control
PROJECT CARGO / 04

Flatbed and Lowbed

Flatbeds suit machinery and structures, while lowbeds are considered for certain heavy or over-height cargoes.

Special Cargo
DECISION RULE

The final recommendation follows a review of the actual cargo specifications and equipment availability on the route. Dimensions, axle configuration, route, and permit requirements remain decisive.

02

Route and Border Crossing

ROUTE & BORDER / 02

The shortest route on the map is not always the best operational route.

Transit countries, border crossings, transit feasibility, cargo type, customs restrictions, border conditions, trailer type, and seasonal factors can all change the preferred option.

01Transit CountriesTransit feasibility across the full route
02Border and CustomsCrossing point, restrictions, and border conditions
03Cargo and TrailerCompatibility of cargo and equipment with the corridor
04Seasonal ConditionsOperating conditions at the time of transport
AVAILABLE CORRIDORS

Corridors We Can Assess

01 / WESTIran ↔ TürkiyeDirect road connection to the Turkish network
02 / EUROPEIran ↔ EuropeRoute and transit-country assessment through to destination
03 / CAUCASUSIran ↔ CaucasusCrossing selected around the destination and cargo
04 / CISIran ↔ Central Asia and CISBorder and corridor transit-feasibility assessment
ROUTE DECISION

On some corridors, part of the journey may use Ro-Ro, ferry, or multimodal transport. The final route is assessed separately for each shipment.

03

How Long Does Road Freight Take?

TRANSIT TIME / 03

Transit time is not fixed.

Distance, route, FTL or LTL service, consolidation time, borders, customs inspections, holidays, driving-hour rules, weather, ferry schedules, and traffic restrictions all affect the actual timeline.

01Route and DistanceRoute length and transit countries
02Service TypeFTL, LTL, and consolidation time
03Border and CustomsQueues, documents, and inspections
04Operating ConditionsDriving hours, weather, and traffic restrictions
BORDER DELAY

The border is part of the real transit time.

01Border QueueWaiting time changes with conditions at the crossing.
02Document ControlDocument checks can affect border-crossing time.
03Inspections and RegulationsPhysical inspections or regulatory changes can affect the schedule.
TIME ESTIMATE

NIKCO.LOG treats transit time as an operational estimate for a specific route and cargo.

04

What factors change the cost?

Road freight pricing is not simply distance multiplied by a fixed rate.

Route and border, service type, cargo specifications, equipment, and operating conditions must be assessed together to produce a comparable cost estimate.

ROAD FREIGHT / COST SHEET

Breakdown of Cost Components

Document Type
Cost Estimate
Assessment Basis
Route and Cargo Details
Line Items
07 Items
01 / ROUTE

Route and Service

  1. 01

    Route, distance, transit countries, and border crossing

    ROUTE
  2. 02

    FTL, LTL, or Part Load service

    MODE
02 / CARGO

Cargo and Equipment

  1. 03

    Weight, volume, LDM and stackability

    CARGO
  2. 04

    Trailer type and capacity available on the route

    EQUIP
03 / OPERATIONS

Route Operations

  1. 05

    Tolls, ferry, or Ro-Ro charges

    TOLL
  2. 06

    Waiting time at loading, border, or unloading

    TIME
  3. 07

    Permits, escort, and special operations

    SPC
Final TotalConfirmed after the route, cargo, and scope of services are definedESTIMATE
05

Transport Documents, CMR, and TIR

ROAD DOCUMENTS / 05

A road freight file is built from several complementary documents.

Common documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, CMR consignment note, export and customs documents, certificate of origin, cargo permits, and transit documents.

CORE FILE / 03Cargo and Contract Documents
  1. 01Commercial Invoice
  2. 02Packing List
  3. 03CMR Consignment Note
REGULATORY / 04Customs and Transit Documents
  1. 04Export and Customs Documents
  2. 05Certificate of Origin
  3. 06Cargo Permits
  4. 07Transit Documents
CONTRACT / CMR

What Is CMR?

CMR provides the framework for the international road carriage contract and records the consignor, consignee, carrier, pickup and delivery locations, and cargo details. Official UNECE guide to CMR and e-CMR

CMR is not the same as cargo insurance.
TRANSIT / TIR

What Is TIR?

TIR is an international customs transit system for eligible operations.

Its availability depends on the countries, carrier, and shipment file; it is not automatic.
06

Dangerous Goods and Refrigerated Transport

SPECIAL CARGO / 06

Two special cargo types. Two different control frameworks.

In both cases, the cargo specifications must be clear before the vehicle is selected and operations begin.

DANGEROUS GOODS / ADR

Dangerous Goods — DG

On routes subject to ADR, the cargo, packaging, vehicle, equipment, and documents must all comply with the applicable requirements.

Identification and Classification
UN number, hazard class, and packing group
Documents and Packaging
SDS/MSDS, packaging type, and weight
This information is required for an initial review.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Refrigerated Transport

The commodity, required temperature, acceptable range, packaging, loading method, and destination requirements must be specified from the outset.

Temperature Control
Required temperature and acceptable range
Operating Conditions
Packaging, loading method, and destination requirements
Simply requesting a “refrigerated truck” is not enough.
07

Heavy and Oversized Road Transport

HEAVY & OVERSIZED / 07

Non-standard cargo is a technical project.

When dimensions or weight exceed standard limits, the equipment, route, and execution method must be assessed for that specific cargo.

TECHNICAL FILE

The cargo technical file starts with these details.

Dimensions and Weight
Length, width, height, weight, and weight distribution
Technical Documents
Cargo photographs and technical drawings
Loading Operations
Loading and unloading locations
Lifting Geometry
Lifting points and center of gravity
ROUTE ENGINEERING

Why Does the Route Require Separate Assessment?

01ClearanceBridges, clear height, road width, and tunnels
02Movement and TurningTurning radius and route geometry
03Route Load CapacityPermitted axle load and weight distribution
04Operating RulesBorder restrictions, travel hours, special permits, and escort
ENQUIRY & DISPATCH

For accurate pricing, describe the cargo as it is.

Two country names are not enough. Exact locations, dimensions, loading method, and cargo conditions determine which service is operationally feasible.

01

Information Required for a Quote

  • Route AddressesLoading and delivery address or postal code
  • Cargo DetailsDescription, number, and type of packages
  • Weight and DimensionsDimensions of each package, gross weight, and LDM
  • Site OperationsLoading and unloading method and equipment
  • Schedule and ConditionsReadiness date, Incoterm, temperature, or DG status
  • Supporting FilesPacking list, photographs, or technical drawings for special cargo
02

Check Before Dispatch

  • Is the address precise?Confirm the urban zone and truck access.
  • Has the loading method been declared?Specify side, rear, or top loading.
  • Is the cargo stackable?This directly affects LTL space and cost.
  • Are the border and route confirmed?The crossing point forms part of the transport plan.
  • Is the rate scope clear?Included items and ancillary charges must be identified.
  • Has insurance been reviewed?Carrier liability is not the same as cargo insurance.

Do not have every detail yet? Send the information available; we will identify what else is required to continue the review.

Send Road Freight Details
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: FTL or LTL?
FTL may be more suitable for larger cargo or dedicated transport. LTL may be more economical for smaller volumes. Weight, volume, LDM, route, and actual rates determine the better option.
Does the truck have to be completely full for FTL?
No. FTL refers to the assignment of a truck to a shipment and is not necessarily the full use of physical capacity.
What is LDM?
Loading Meter is the length of the trailer floor that the shipment occupies and is important for some LTL and Part Load rates.
Why is a postal code required?
Actual distance, truck access, and urban restrictions depend on the precise address. A postal code supports more accurate pricing.
What is CMR, and is it the same as cargo insurance?
CMR is the document and legal framework for international road carriage. Insurance coverage for the cargo itself is a separate matter.
Is door-to-door transport available?
It can be assessed on routes where customs and operating conditions allow it.

The right road freight service starts with a precise address.

Define the origin and destination; we assess the route around the cargo itself.

Send Shipment Details