Road transport
TOP connects ports, terminals and final destinations with flexible road transport — fast, efficiently planned and executed with the Rotterdam mentality that keeps your supply chain moving.
Road Transport • First Mile • Last Mile • Containers • Pallets
Road transport: flexible, tightly planned and reliable
TOP connects ports, terminals and final destinations with flexible road transport — fast, tightly planned and carried out with the Rotterdam mentality that keeps your supply chain moving. For import and export, with a large network of reliable carriers across Europe.
In short: what is road transport?
Road transport is the carriage of goods by truck — from full containers and trailers (FTL) to part loads and individual pallets (LTL). It is the most flexible mode in route and timing and forms the indispensable first and last kilometres of almost every logistics chain: to and from ports, terminals, warehouses and final destinations. TOP organises road transport for import and export through a network of reliable carriers.
Road transport rarely stands alone. It connects to sea freight and air freight, to container handling in the port and to the customs handling for import. And on longer routes, TOP smartly combines the truck with rail and barge in an intermodal solution — with road transport as the flexible opening and closing leg.
Why road transport is indispensable in every chain
No other mode gets as close to the door as the truck. Ships and trains stop at terminals; the truck drives on to the warehouse, the construction site or the distribution centre. Almost every container therefore begins or ends its journey on the road — and with around 14.2 million TEU handled by the port of Rotterdam in 2025, that means an enormous, continuous flow of pre- and on-carriage trips.
At the same time, road transport is the most time-sensitive part of the chain. Loading and unloading times, delivery slots at distribution centres, customs release and the return of the empty container all have to connect precisely. One link shifts, and the whole planning shifts with it. Good road transport is therefore not just about driving, but above all about planning and communicating.
And there is the sustainability side: the Dutch transport sector emitted around 28 billion kilos of CO₂ equivalent in 2024, roughly 15% of the Dutch total. Whoever smartly combines road transport with rail and barge on the long leg keeps the truck's flexibility and lowers the footprint per shipment.
What companies often get wrong about road transport
The first misconception: "you can arrange a truck at the last minute." In practice, capacity is scarce: driver shortages, peak moments in the port and delivery slots at distribution centres mean that last-minute booking is often more expensive and sometimes simply impossible. Whoever includes road transport early in the planning — ideally when booking the sea freight — has the choice; whoever waits takes what is left.
The second misconception: "in case of damage, the carrier pays for everything." In international road transport, the carrier's liability under the CMR convention is limited to 8.33 SDR per kilo — often far less than the actual value of the cargo. For valuable goods, separate transport insurance is therefore not a luxury but a deliberate choice.
The third misconception: "the truck is always the fastest and best option." For the first and last kilometres that is true, but on long corridors into the European hinterland an intermodal combination with rail or barge is regularly more reliable, cheaper and cleaner — with the truck as the flexible closing leg. The best choice differs per route, volume and time pressure.
Practical example
An importer is waiting for a container arriving by sea in Rotterdam that has to be at the distribution centre in Brabant on Tuesday before 2 p.m. — within a tight delivery slot. TOP plans the road transport directly after customs release, aligns the pick-up time with the terminal, and makes sure the empty container is back with the carrier within the detention period. The importer receives the planning in advance and follows the trip in real time — no waiting driver, no missed slot, no extra container costs.
FTL or LTL: which form of road transport fits your shipment?
Within road transport, the main distinction is between a full truck and a part load. Below they are set out side by side.
Road transport in numbers: sources and methodology
The facts below come from Stichting Vervoeradres, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and evofenedex, and were verified for this page in August 2026.
CMR: 8.33 SDR per kilo — In international road transport, the carrier's liability under the CMR convention is limited to 8.33 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per kilo of damaged or lost cargo. For valuable goods that often covers only a fraction of the actual damage — the argument for deliberately weighing up transport insurance.
15% of Dutch emissions — The Dutch transport sector emitted around 28 billion kilos of CO₂ equivalent in 2024: roughly 15% of total Dutch greenhouse gas emissions. Smartly planned road transport — full trucks, fewer empty kilometres, combined with rail and barge — lowers emissions and costs at the same time.
Source: CBS, greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector
14.2 million TEU often begins or ends on a truck — The port of Rotterdam handled around 14.2 million TEU in 2025. Almost every container covers its first or last kilometres by truck: road transport is the fine-meshed capillary network of Europe's largest container port.
How TOP organises road transport in practice
TOP works with a large network of reliable, screened carriers for container transport, trailers and pallet shipments across Europe. Per shipment we look at which carrier, which equipment and which route fit — from standard trailer to refrigerated transport and from FTL to groupage.
The strength lies in the connections. TOP plans the road transport in coherence with the rest of the chain: the vessel's arrival, the customs release, the delivery slot at the distribution centre and the return of the empty container within the demurrage and detention periods. You follow the status of your shipment in real time via the TOP platform with API integrations.
And where the long leg can be done smarter by rail or water, TOP honestly advises an intermodal combination — with road transport exactly where it adds the most value: at the beginning and the end of the trip.
Want to know the best approach for your trips? Request a quote, prepare your shipment via book a shipment, or schedule an introduction with TOP.
Which companies is TOP suitable for?
TOP is suitable for companies that need road transport as part of a broader chain. These can be SMEs with a few pallet shipments per week, but also multinationals with daily container flows to and from the port, where every missed delivery slot directly affects operations.
Boards want predictable costs and no surprises afterwards. Logistics managers want trips that connect to releases, delivery slots and container deadlines. Procurement wants reliable carriers on sharp terms. TOP understands that these interests come together in one thing: road transport that simply works.
That is why TOP works in an advisory and practical way. No unnecessary jargon, but clear agreements on planning, equipment and costs. For general developments in the transport sector, TOP also refers where relevant to industry information from Transport en Logistiek Nederland.
TOP is not a standard freight forwarder
TOP helps companies with a practical combination of customs matters, sea freight, air freight, intermodal transport, warehousing, rail and barge. This makes TOP particularly suitable for entrepreneurs and logistics teams who want understandable advice on importing, exporting and smartly planning their trips without complicated jargon. Its strength lies in organising, explaining and following up on the entire logistics chain — up to and including the last kilometre.
Frequently asked questions about road transport
What is road transport?
Road transport is the carriage of goods by truck — from full containers and trailers to individual pallets. It is the most flexible mode and provides the first and last kilometres in almost every chain.
What is the difference between FTL and LTL?
With FTL (Full Truckload), your shipment fills the whole truck and it drives directly to the unloading address. With LTL or groupage, your shipment shares the truck with other cargo: cheaper for smaller volumes, with a slightly longer transit time.
Is the carrier liable for damage to my cargo?
To a limited extent. In international road transport, the CMR convention sets a limit of 8.33 SDR per kilo — often less than the actual value. For valuable cargo, separate transport insurance is therefore worth considering.
Does TOP provide road transport across Europe?
Yes. TOP organises road transport for import and export across Europe through a network of reliable carriers — from container transport to and from the port of Rotterdam to international trailer and pallet shipments.
Can road transport be combined with rail or barge?
Yes. On longer routes, TOP combines the long leg by train or inland vessel with road transport for the first and last kilometres. That is regularly cheaper, more reliable and more sustainable than the entire trip by road.
How do I track my road transport?
Via the TOP platform and my.top.nl you follow the status of your shipment in real time, including planning and delivery moments. With API integrations you can link that information directly to your own systems.
Conclusion: road transport is planning work, not an afterthought
Road transport is the most flexible link in the chain, but also the most time-sensitive. Whoever includes the truck early in the planning, secures the connection to releases and delivery slots, and smartly combines the long leg with rail or barge, gets the most out of every trip.
TOP arranges road transport from planning to delivery: reliable carriers, clear communication and trips that connect seamlessly to the rest of your chain.
Arrange your road transport with TOP
From a single pallet to daily container trips: TOP plans the road transport that connects to your chain — safely, on time and as agreed.
Request a quoteWant to know more about Trans Ocean Pacific forwarding? Visit the TOP homepage.
Last updated: August 2026. Sources: Stichting Vervoeradres, CBS and evofenedex. Online findability and AI readiness of this page in collaboration with HEF Digital.