The transport costs of a pallet or truck depend on a handful of factors: how much you ship, how far and to which country, whether your consignment shares a truck with other freight or gets its own, and what is needed at the delivery address. In this article we explain those cost drivers in general terms and show how to compare freight quotes fairly: per kilo, delivered to your address. We do not quote specific rates, because every journey is different; we quote freight per request.
Why freight is not included in the price per kilo
Our prices per kilogram and per box are excl. VAT and excl. freight. That is not small print but a consequence of how transport works: the same lot costs something different to a warehouse with a loading dock in Rotterdam than to a shop in a pedestrian zone in Vienna. A flat freight surcharge would make one buyer pay too much and another too little.
That is why our ordering process works with a tailored quote. You state what you want to buy and where it needs to go, we confirm stock and send a final quote including shipping costs. If you want to avoid freight altogether, you can also collect the lot yourself from our warehouse in The Hague, by appointment.
Volume and weight: pallets, loading metres and kilos
Carriers generally charge for the space your consignment takes up in the truck and for its weight. For pallets that is often a price per pallet space or per loading metre; for heavier consignments the weight counts too, because a truck also has a maximum payload. A tall, light pallet can therefore cost as much as a low, heavy one.
So always translate your order into pallets, dimensions and kilos before requesting a quote. An Amazon Overstock Box measures 120 × 80 × 60 cm and weighs about 100 kg; that 120 × 80 cm footprint matches a standard Euro pallet, so you can quickly estimate how many pallet spaces an order needs. The Amazon Mystery Box (Mix Large/Mid/Small), by contrast, is loaded loose, 5,000 to 8,000 kg per truck, which places different demands on unloading.
- Number of pallets or packages, with dimensions (length × width × height).
- Total weight and the heaviest individual package.
- Stackable or not: non-stackable pallets take up more space.
- Loose loaded or palletised: determines how and how fast unloading goes.
Distance, country and groupage versus full truck
The longer the journey and the more borders, the higher the price; tolls, ferries and the availability of return freight in the destination area also play a role. A delivery in the Netherlands or Belgium is usually easier to plan than a run to southern Spain or eastern Poland, but rates also differ by region within a single country.
For smaller consignments your pallet travels in a groupage network: the carrier combines freight from several customers, which is cheaper per pallet but means more handling and a longer lead time. With a full truck you pay for the whole vehicle, whether or not it is full. Per kilo, a full truck therefore becomes more favourable the closer you get to its maximum volume, and that is exactly why our Full Truck lines have a minimum order per truck.
Tail-lift, unloading facilities and the delivery window
A large share of surcharges arises at the delivery address. If you have no loading dock or forklift, a truck with a tail-lift is needed, and the driver generally places the pallets next to the vehicle, not inside your storage. A tractor with semi-trailer also has to be able to enter your street; otherwise a smaller vehicle is needed, which means extra costs or a second run. Loose-loaded consignments require people and time to carry the truck empty.
Time costs money too. Delivery within a fixed time window, a pre-booked appointment or delivery on a specific day is usually more expensive than a standard delivery on working days. Waiting time during unloading is often charged after a number of minutes. So state precisely in your request how your location can be reached and when you can unload; incorrect information is the most common cause of additional charges.
- Loading dock, forklift or pallet truck available, or tail-lift needed?
- Access: can a full-size truck get right up to the door?
- Unloading spot: next to the vehicle, or does the freight need to go inside?
- Time window: standard on working days, or a fixed day or part of the day?
- Contact person and phone number for the driver.
Insurance, liability and documents
A carrier's liability for damage or loss is generally limited by law or contract to an amount per kilogram, which for trade goods is often lower than the actual purchase value. If you want the full value covered, separate transport insurance is usually needed, which comes back as an extra item in the freight price. What cover is sensible depends on the value of your lot and your own appetite for risk.
Check the consignment on arrival for visible damage and note any discrepancies on the consignment note immediately, before you sign; photos of the pallets during unloading are your most important evidence later. Keep the consignment note and invoice with your purchase records. If in doubt about cover, conditions or liability, consult the carrier, your insurer or an adviser.
Comparing quotes: calculate the price per kilo delivered
The only fair comparison between offers is the total price per kilo at your address: lot price plus freight, divided by the weight. Worked example: suppose you buy 1,000 kg of Parcel Returns Small/Mid for €6,000 excl. VAT and the freight quote for this fictitious journey is €400. Delivered, the lot then costs €6,400, or €6.40 per kilo. An offer with a lower price per kilo but higher freight can end up more expensive overall.
Also compare exactly what the freight price includes: tail-lift, time window, insurance and any surcharges for access. If you are considering collecting yourself, include the hire of a van or truck, fuel, tolls and your own hours; collection is not free, but for small lots it can be the cheapest and fastest option. Always request the quote before you pay, so that freight is part of the final price and you are not surprised afterwards.
Transport costs are determined by volume and weight, distance and country, groupage or full truck, the situation at the delivery address, the delivery window and the insurance you want. If you supply that information in full, you get a sharper quote and avoid additional charges, and if you calculate per kilo delivered, you compare suppliers fairly. Thinking about starting your own mystery box business? Get in touch — we are happy to help you find a suitable first lot.
Frequently asked questions
- What does it cost to transport one pallet of return goods?
- There is no fixed rate: the price depends on dimensions and weight, the distance and country, whether the pallet travels in groupage, whether a tail-lift is needed and whether you want a time window. We quote freight per request in the final quote; you can also collect a lot yourself in The Hague.
- What is the difference between groupage and a full truck?
- With groupage your consignment shares the truck with other customers' freight; you pay per pallet or loading metre, with more handling and a longer lead time. With a full truck you pay for the whole vehicle and the freight travels directly. Per kilo, a full truck becomes more favourable the better you fill it.
- Can I collect my lot myself from CNJ in The Hague?
- Yes. Collection from our warehouse in The Hague is possible by appointment, after the (pro forma) invoice has been paid by bank transfer; we can be reached on working days from 09:00 to 17:00. Bring a vehicle that can handle the volume and weight, and include your own costs for hire, fuel and time in the comparison.