Paper & Pulp Intermodal Transport in Europe
Rolls, Reels & Bales
We carry paper rolls, cardboard reels and pulp in our own cranable curtain-sided trailers between Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Germany and Italy. Rolls loaded at the mill stay in the same trailer until they reach the converter, printer or warehouse — there is no transhipment between modes.
cranable curtain-sider
instead of 40t by road
forklift from both sides
Why Intermodal for Paper and Pulp
- Fewer touches, fewer damaged rolls. Every extra handling is a chance for crushed edges, torn wrapping or out-of-round rolls. In intermodal transport the rolls are loaded once; at the terminals the crane lifts the whole trailer.
- Heavy for their size. Paper on rolls and pulp in bales are dense. The 44 t gross weight allowed in combined transport, instead of 40 t by road, leaves room for up to 28 t of cargo per trailer.
- Regular flows suit fixed timetables. Paper and pulp usually move in steady, repeating flows. The main leg runs on fixed rail and ferry timetables, without weekend driving bans, which keeps deliveries to converters predictable.
How It Works with Cranable Trailers
Every shipment runs in our own cranable curtain-sided trailers — 13.6 m long, with a 2.65 m side opening for forklift loading from both sides and the securing equipment on board: straps, edge protectors, anti-slip mats, distancing boards and pillows.
- Loading at the mill. Rolls, reels or bales are loaded from the side through the 2.65 m opening — by clamp or fork truck — onto anti-slip mats, with gaps filled so nothing can shift.
- Truck to the terminal. A truck takes the loaded trailer to the intermodal terminal.
- Crane lift. A gantry crane or reach stacker lifts the whole trailer by its four corner points onto a rail wagon or a RoRo ferry deck. The cargo itself is not touched or re-secured.
- Main leg by rail or sea. The long haul runs by rail or RoRo ferry, connected through our hub in Lübeck.
- Destination terminal. The trailer is lifted off and handed over to a local truck.
- Delivery. A local truck brings the trailer to the converter, printer or warehouse with the rolls exactly as they were loaded; unloading is from the side.
What to Know When Shipping Paper and Pulp
- Keep it dry. Paper and pulp take up moisture. The curtains protect against rain, but the trailer floor must be clean and dry at loading, and the mill wrapping should stay intact.
- Protect edges and surfaces. Rolls are damaged by clamp pressure, sharp edges and rubbing against each other or the trailer. Edge protectors and anti-slip mats are part of our securing kit.
- Standing or lying rolls need different blocking. Rolls standing on end (eye to sky) are usually loaded in tight patterns; rolls lying on their side (eye to side) must be chocked against rolling. Tell us how your rolls are packed.
- Fill the gaps. Mixed diameters leave voids. Pillows and distancing boards stop the load moving during crane lifts, rail shunting and ferry crossings.
- Weight or volume. Heavy grades and pulp bales reach the weight limit first; light, bulky grades may fill the trailer before. Share roll weights and diameters and we plan the load with you.
Corridors We Run
Our lanes connect the Nordic and Baltic countries with Germany and Italy, for example:
- Italy ⇄ Sweden — road, rail and ferry, door to door
- Italy ⇄ Finland — rail and short-sea, including project cargo
- Baltics ⇄ Italy — the Baltic States to Northern Italy via Lübeck
All our lanes and how they connect: combined transport in Europe.
CO₂
Per tonne of cargo, our intermodal lanes emit up to 66% less CO₂e than the same shipment by road — well-to-wheel, calculated with EcoTransIT World (ISO 14083 / GLEC methodology), with first and last mile by truck included. The saving differs by lane; ferry legs reduce it. Assumptions and sources: methodology. For paper and packaging producers, a documented figure per lane helps answer customers’ questions about the transport footprint of their product.
Compare your own volumes: CO₂ calculator — intermodal vs road
FAQ: Paper & Pulp
Can paper rolls travel standing on end?
Yes. Rolls can travel standing or lying in a curtain-sided trailer, each with the right blocking. Send us roll diameters, widths and weights and we will plan the loading with you.
How do you avoid moisture damage?
The rolls are not unloaded at the terminals — the whole trailer is lifted — and the curtains keep rain out. Load dry cargo onto a clean, dry floor and keep the mill wrapping intact.
Do you transport pulp bales?
Yes. Pulp in bales or units is dense cargo that suits the 28 t payload of our trailers. Bales are loaded from the side by forklift and secured with the equipment carried on the trailer.
Can you quote a full year of paper flows?
Yes. Send your annual tender or multi-lane RFQ through our tender page — we price every lane and add a CO₂ estimate for each.
Other industries: steel and metal products · timber and sawn lumber · cement and building materials.
Moving Paper or Pulp Across Europe?
Send us your mills, delivery points and yearly volumes — as a tender file or as a single request. We come back with a quote and a CO₂ estimate per lane.
Send your tender → Get a quote