Road Transport for Food Products B2B — Complete Guide

FTLFull truck 33 pallets

LTLGroupage from 1 pallet

Lead time FR24 to 48h

Lead time UK48 to 72h post-Brexit

Road transport is the backbone of food distribution in Europe. Martigane delivers its clients in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom by road, in full trucks (FTL) or groupage (LTL) depending on volumes. But food road transport is not ordinary transport: temperature, hygiene, documentation and cold chain compliance are precise technical constraints that every B2B buyer must understand.

FTL vs LTL: choosing the right road transport mode

Criterion	FTL — Full Truck Load	LTL — Groupage
Volume	From 15-20 pallets (up to 33)	1 to 14 pallets
Lead time	Direct, D+1 to D+2	D+2 to D+4 (hub transit)
Price	Fixed truck price, optimal above 20 pallets	Price per pallet/tonne
Damage risk	Low (no transhipment)	Moderate (multiple handlings)
Best for	Large volumes, fragile confectionery, HoReCa	Regular replenishments, small grocery stores

Our Lille warehouse location is strategically ideal: 1h30 from Brussels, 2h from Paris, 3h from Amsterdam, and via the Eurotunnel or Calais-Dover ferry, we can deliver to England in 48 to 72 hours.

🌡️ ATP temperature classes

Class A (deep frozen): ≤ -20°C — Ice cream, frozen fish
Class D (refrigerated): ≤ +2°C — Dairy products
Class E (chilled): ≤ +4°C — Fruit, vegetables, charcuterie
Ambient (dry): Confectionery, beverages, dry grocery, oils

Mandatory documentation for food road transport

CMR (International consignment note): mandatory for all international road transport. Engages carrier liability and proves goods have been collected.
Commercial invoice: for intra-EU (France-Belgium) and with VAT justification for UK post-Brexit exports.
Packing list: detailed list of packages, gross/net weight, product references.
T1 (customs transit): mandatory for goods transiting the UK since its exit from the EU.

🇬🇧 Post-Brexit UK: what has changed

Since 1 January 2021, the UK is no longer in the EU. For Martigane:
• Mandatory customs declaration on export (French side) and import (UK side)
• Customs duties: most food products benefit from zero duty under the UK-EU TCA
• Extended lead times: 48-72h vs 24h pre-Brexit
• Martigane manages UK customs documentation for its British clients

✅ Martigane's logistics expertise

Martigane manages UK customs documentation, product traceability and returns handling for its clients. You focus on your business — we manage the logistics.

Do you have a food export project?

Martigane supports you end-to-end: sourcing, documentation, logistics, Incoterms. Quote within 48h.

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Other logistics guides

B2B food road transport: Martigane's complete guide

FTL vs LTL: choosing the right road transport mode

Mandatory documentation for food road transport

Do you have a food export project?