Single pallet transport to the UK is groupage carriage: your pallet travels together with other senders' loads in one trailer, and the crossing cost is split between them. You do not have to fill a whole truck or pay for empty space. We carry from a single pallet, consolidate small quantities and arrange the clearance to the United Kingdom.
The Polish-language version of this article is the reference one. This is an informational translation.
Why a single pallet to the UK can be a problem
After Brexit every shipment to the United Kingdom goes through clearance, and that alone puts some carriers off small loads: the paperwork is similar to a full truck while the revenue is much lower. So to a query about one pallet many reply "full loads only" or do not reply at all. We do the opposite: we consolidate such shipments and treat groupage clearance as part of the service, not a reason to refuse.
Who it makes sense for
- A small sender shipping one pallet or a few pieces who will not fill a trailer.
- An online shop or manufacturer topping up a partner's stock in the UK.
- A company sending a missing batch to add to an earlier, larger delivery.
- An exhibitor carrying part of the exhibits or materials rather than a whole stand.
One pallet, groupage, full truck: what to choose
| How much you send | Solution |
|---|---|
| 1 pallet or a few cartons | groupage (LTL), consolidation with other senders |
| A few to a dozen or so pallets | groupage or a part load, depending on the route |
| A full trailer | full truckload (FTL) on an exclusive basis |
How groupage works as a service is covered more fully in the article on groupage and LTL across Europe and on the groupage service page.
Clearance on a small shipment
A small quantity does not exempt you from the formalities. Even one pallet to the UK needs a correct invoice, a description of the goods, a tariff code and an EORI number on both sides. We arrange this together with the transport, so the sender does not have to look separately for a customs agency for one pallet. It is also worth knowing that in imports to the United Kingdom the value of the consignment affects how it is accounted for (GOV.UK describes, among others, the GBP 135 consignment value threshold), so on small loads we make sure the invoice data is complete.
How we secure a single pallet
In groupage your pallet travels next to others', so securing matters twice over. We watch for stable wrapping, marking and that the pallet is fit for consolidated carriage without risk to the neighbouring loads. How to prepare a pallet well for transport is covered in the article on pallets, packaging and load securing.
Where and how we carry it
We handle groupage and single pallets to the United Kingdom on the United Kingdom route, combining consolidation, transport and clearance. Thanks to our own Milton Keynes warehouse we can also take in, tranship and forward small quantities already on the island.
Sources
- GOV.UK: goods sent from abroad and accounting by the value of the consignment
- GOV.UK: importing goods into the United Kingdom
Have one pallet or a few cartons to the UK and keep hearing "full loads only"? Describe the shipment in the contact form and we will consolidate it with others, arrange the clearance and deliver it to the consignee.
