Timber Intermodal Transport in Europe
Sawn Lumber & Logs
We move sawn lumber, timber packages and logs in our cranable curtain-sided trailers between the Baltic States, Scandinavia, Germany and Italy. The long haul runs by rail or ferry via our Lübeck hub, with trucks only for collection at the sawmill and the final delivery.
cranable curtain-sider
instead of 40t by road
forklift from both sides
Why Intermodal for Timber
- Long distances from forest to customer. Timber often travels a long way from the sawmill to builders, merchants and manufacturers. Rail and sea take the long haul; road is used only at both ends.
- Up to 28 t per trailer. Freshly sawn timber is heavy. In combined transport the gross weight may be 44 t instead of 40 t by road, so more timber travels in each trailer.
- Packages stay as built. Bundles strapped at the sawmill are not restacked at the terminals — the crane lifts the whole trailer by its four corner points.
- Fewer road kilometres, less CO₂. A low-carbon material deserves a low-carbon delivery. With every quote we add a CO₂ estimate for your lane.
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 sawmill. Strapped packages of sawn timber are loaded from the side by forklift through the 2.65 m opening, on anti-slip mats, and lashed down with straps over the top.
- 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. At the builders’ merchant, factory or yard the packages come off the side by forklift, just as they were loaded.
What to Know When Shipping Timber
- Moisture changes the weight. Freshly sawn timber weighs considerably more than kiln-dried timber of the same volume. Plan the load on actual weights, not on cubic metres.
- Kiln-dried timber needs protection. The curtains keep off rain and road spray, but wrapped packages should stay wrapped so the timber arrives at the moisture content it left with.
- Stable packages travel best. Well-strapped packages of even length can be secured with straps over the top and anti-slip mats between package and floor. Loose or uneven packages shift during crane lifts and rail shunting.
- Length. Lumber has to fit inside the 13.6 m trailer. Longer pieces are a case for road transport.
- Logs: check before booking. Whether round timber can be loaded and secured in a curtain-sided trailer depends on log lengths and how they are bundled. Send us the details and we will plan the loading with you before booking.
Corridors We Run
Timber moves on our lanes between the Baltic States, Scandinavia, Germany and Italy, for example:
- Baltics ⇄ Italy — the Baltic States to Northern Italy via Lübeck
- Italy ⇄ Sweden — road, rail and ferry, door to door
- Italy ⇄ Finland — rail and short-sea, including project cargo
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 timber, which is often chosen for its low carbon footprint, a documented transport figure completes the picture for your customers.
Compare your own volumes: CO₂ calculator — intermodal vs road
FAQ: Timber
Do you carry logs as well as sawn lumber?
Sawn lumber in strapped packages is the typical load. For round timber it depends on log lengths and how the logs are bundled — send us the details and we will plan the loading with you before booking.
How much timber fits in one trailer?
Up to 28 t of cargo per cranable trailer, 13.6 m long. With fresh timber the limit is usually weight; with kiln-dried timber it can be the volume.
Can the trailer be loaded from both sides?
Yes. The curtains open on both sides with a 2.65 m side opening, so timber packages can be loaded and unloaded by forklift from either side.
Are the packages handled at the terminals?
No. The whole trailer is lifted by crane; the packages stay loaded and secured from the sawmill to the consignee.
Can you price several timber lanes at once?
Yes. Send your tender or RFQ file through our tender page — we price every lane and add a CO₂ estimate for each.
Other industries: steel and metal products · paper rolls and pulp · cement and building materials.
Shipping Timber Across Europe?
Send us your sawmills, delivery points, volumes and package sizes — 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