FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to get your price quote as quickly as possible, let us know all relevant information right away. This includes:

• description of goods — type, dimensions, packaging, weight,

• date, time and location of loading and unloading,

• price of goods,

• customs declaration.

Is there anything else that might be relevant for transport? Let us know. In case you’re not sure whether a piece of information is relevant, have a look at the following frequently asked questions — Factors to Consider in Freight Transport Pricing. 

These two factors play the most important role:

• Load volume (size and weight).

• Load time: The more urgent demand, the higher the price.

Other factors affecting freight transport pricing:

• Load packaging: Transporting goods on standard Euro pallets usually costs less than transporting floor-loaded goods or goods that require special handling. 

• Loading and unloading requirements: Loading from the back of the truck (which is standard) or from its side? Do we need a crane for loading and unloading? We need to know all the un/loading specifics of your shipment. 

• Delivery location: the more ordinary location, the lower the price. Transport to Germany may be much cheaper than transport to less common countries.

• Season: e.g., transport in autumn (i.e., the Christmas season in transport) is more expensive than transport in summer.
  
  

In advance for sure. How much ahead depends on other specifications; load size and loading requirements being the two most important ones. We always do our best to meet our clients’ requirements.

Thanks to years of practice, we can give you general recommendations for when to place your transport order. The less frequented the location, the more in advance you should order transport.

• Order transport at least 1 day in advance —  Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. 

• Order transport at least 2 days in advance — Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

• Order transport at least 3 days in advance — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Ireland, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine.

When it comes to standard Euro pallets (120 × 80 cm), we have these vehicle options:

If you need to transport pallets of various sizes, boxes, transport cages or other types of packaging, let us know their dimensions and other specifics. We’ll get back to you with a made-to-measure solution.

Not sure whether your load is considered oversize? This is how Czech law (as Czechia is our homeland) defines the maximum size of road vehicles:

• Maximum Width: 2.55 m 

• Maximum Height: 

  • 4.00 m, 

  • for the N3, O4 category (vehicles transporting other vehicles): 4.20 m

• Maximum Length:

  • A semi-trailer truck with one trailer unit: 16.50 m

  • A set of a motor vehicle + one trailer: 18.75 m

  • A set of a motor vehicle + one trailer in the O4 category: 20.75 m

  • A vehicle trailer for transport of large work equipment and machinery: 20 m

  • A semi-trailer truck with two trailer units: 22 m

• Maximum weight of road vehicles (combined weight of sets of vehicles): 48 t

Any load over the set maximum needs a special permit. We can help you get it — contact our Freight Forwarding Department.

Legal requirements for transport insurance differ for different types of load. All our transports are insured according to the standards of the CMR Convention which defines the rules for paying damages. When transporting more expensive goods, we always recommend to arrange additional insurance. We’re happy to provide that for you.

If you wish to learn more about damage responsibility or if you’re looking for guidelines on how to claim damages, go to the Reclaims page, or contact us directly at reklamace@multitrans.cz.reklamace@multitrans.cz

Find the full version of the CMR convention here.

Our warehouses are located in Škudly, Czechia, near Přelouč (Pardubice Region). Their floor surface is 4,400 m2.

We store everything from spare parts and automotive components to goods for e-commerce. We take good care of goods of any type in our standard or air-conditioned warehouses. The only types of goods we do not store are food and medical supplies.

As long as you desire. We provide short-term and long-term warehousing services. Long-term pricing is always a better deal.

The gate to our warehouse is 4 × 4 metres in size. If we can fit your stock through the gate, we’re good — the highest ceiling in our warehouse is 12 m. We use a bridge crane for oversize load.

Temperature in regular warehouses is not regulated — stored goods shouldn’t be susceptible to temperature changes.

Temperature in air-conditioned warehouses is kept stable (5 oC in winter, maximum 20 oC in summer) and we make sure the humidity is low. An air-conditioned warehouse is the best choice for goods prone to damage due to temperature changes and humidity, e.g. paper.

Absolutely. Our modern security systems ensure 24-hour surveillance. Our warehouses are insured against theft and natural disasters.

The more standard the packaging, the lower our price is. Transport and storage of pallets is much easier than handling floor-loaded goods. We always recommend to pay special attention to packaging — it pays off.

Sure we can. We take care of individual deliveries to your end customers or manage distribution into a distribution network. The only thing we need is labeling of individual items in a way that we can identify them easily. The most common type of such labels are bar codes.

If you want to keep the identity of your supplier a secret, we will anonymise the packaging and all documentation.

To most clients, we send monthly invoices (for the preceding month). The invoice lists all provided services, such as warehousing and handling fees — according to the number of stock movements (loading, unloading, delivery to the distribution network or end customers, etc.).

At Multitrans, we have had our processes approved and verified by the prestigious ISO 9001 certification. This means that our processes are set in writing as internal company rules and were reviewed and approved by a certified advisor from the Czech Accreditation Institute. The ISO 9001 Certificate means that our internal processes are functional and of high quality. 

As our customer, you benefit especially from these processes:

• incoming orders,

• our approach to crisis management — in case of an accident, damaged goods, etc.,

• pricing — counting in all the eventualities,

• transport advisory.

1. General Statement

1.1. Multitrans CZ s.r.o. (hereinafter referred to as the Company) complies with its obligations regarding the processing of personal data provided to Multitrans for the purpose of fulfilling contractual and legal obligations.

1.2. The right to the protection of personal data results in particular from the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2016/679/EU.

1.3 The Company acts as a data controller in the event that it determines the purpose and means of processing the personal data in accordance with Article 4(7) GDPR.

1.4. The Company acts as a processor of personal data when it processes personal data for the controller in accordance with Article 4(8) of the GDPR.

2. Principles of Personal Data Processing

2.1. When processing personal data, the Company complies with the highest standards of data protection and in particular the following principles:

The Company always processes personal data for a clearly and comprehensively stated purpose, by the stated means, in the stated manner, and only for the period of time that is necessary in relation to the purposes of the processing. The Company processes only accurate personal data. Data processing is consistent with the stated purposes and is essential for fulfilling those purposes.

Personal data are protected in a manner that is appropriate to the current state of the art; the highest possible level of security is ensured to prevent any unauthorised or accidental access to personal data, their alteration, destruction, loss, unauthorised transmission, other unauthorised processing or misuse of personal data.

The subjects of data protection are informed of their personal data processing and of their rights to demand accurate and complete information about the circumstances of such processing, as well as of other related rights.

The Company maintains appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure the sufficient level of security to avoid all possible risks; all persons who come into contact with personal data are obliged to maintain the confidentiality of information obtained in connection with the processing of such data.

3. Information on the Processing of Personal Data

3.1. General info about the Company:
Multitrans CZ s.r.o., ID: 25934660, with registered office at Jana Palacha 1590, 530 02 Pardubice.

3.2. The Company processes personal data for the following purposes:

fulfilling statutory obligations, where it acts as a personal data controller,

performance of contractual obligations, where personal data have been provided by the subject of data protection,

performance of contractual obligations where personal data have been transferred to the Company by a data controller,

protecting the rights and legitimate interests of the Company.

3.3. The scope of the personal data processed:

The Company processes personal data to the extent necessary to fulfil the above purposes. In particular, the following personal data are processed:

name and surname,

address,

e-mail address,

telephone number,

date of birth,

and other personal data which the Company is obliged to manage by law or by the performance of a contract, and which it has obtained from subjects of data protection or on the basis of its own activities.

3.4. Method of personal data processing: 

The manner in which the Company processes personal data includes manual and automated processing in the Company's information systems. Personal data are processed primarily by the Company's employees and, to the necessary extent, by third parties. Before any personal data can be transferred to a third party, a contract has to be concluded with that party, containing the same personal data processing guidelines as those followed by the Company in accordance with its legal obligations.

3.5. Recipients of personal data:

Personal data are disclosed to the Company's employees in order for them to perform their work duties that require handling of personal data; but only to the extent necessary in each case and in compliance with all security measures.

Personal data may be disclosed to third parties involved in the processing of personal data, or may be disclosed to them for other reasons in accordance with the law.

Prior to any transfer of personal data to a third party, a written contract shall always be concluded with that party in order to regulate the processing of personal data in such a way as to contain the same guidelines for personal data processing as the Company itself follows in accordance with its legal obligations.

In accordance with applicable law, the Company is entitled or directly obliged to transfer personal data:

to relevant government authorities, courts, and law enforcement authorities for the purpose of these carrying out their duties and for the purpose of enforcing decisions;

to payment service providers where necessary for prevention, investigation or detection of payment fraud;

to other persons to the extent provided for by law; for example, to third parties for the purpose of debt collection;

to entities providing services to the Company on an outsourcing basis.

3.6. Transfer of personal data abroad

The personal data are processed in the Czech Republic and other European Union countries that share the same standards of personal data protection as the Czech Republic. Entities involved in the processing of clients' personal data do not transfer clients' personal data to countries outside the European Union.

3.7. Duration of personal data processing

The Company processes personal data only for the period of time necessary for the purposes of their processing. The period for which personal data is kept is based on individual legal regulations under which the Company processes personal data. In the event that personal data is processed in order to perform a contractual obligation, it is necessary for the purpose of protecting the Company's rights and legitimate interests to process personal data for a period of 5 years from the date of contract termination.

3.8. Rights of data subjects

Subjects of data protection have the following rights within the scope of the individual articles of the GDPR:

the right to obtain information about the data controller, data processor and data protection officer,

to be informed of the purpose of the processing of personal data,

to access personal data,

to be informed whether personal data are processed or not, 

to file a complaint;

to correct and review personal data;

to demand erasing of personal data (the right to be forgotten);

to withdraw consent to the processing of personal data;

to restrict the processing of personal data;

to transfer personal data;

to raise objections;

and any other right granted by the Regulation.

4. Final Declaration

The Company takes a responsible approach to the protection of personal data that it processes in the course of its business. In case of questions or suggestions from subjects of data protection, the management of the Company can be contacted.

CMR, JiT, BAF. Lost in logistics acronyms and terms? Let’s explain the most frequently used ones. 

Logistics Terms and Acronyms

FTL

Full Truck Load — load fills up a vehicle entirely.

LTL

Less than Truck Load — load fills up a vehicle partially.

Just in Time

On-time delivery, often used for express transport.

Frigo

Transport of frozen goods.

ADR

Conditions for transport of dangerous goods.

UN Code

A four-digit code that identifies hazardous materials/articles (more than 3,000 items).

CMR Convention

The international convention on the contract of the international carriage of goods by road.

CMR Sheet

A document with information about a load — an official document according to the CMR Convention.

INCOTERMS 2000

International rules for facilitation in international trade.

JSD

A Czech acronym for Unique Administrative Sheet.

TIR Carnet

An internationally accepted document permitting sealed road transport shipments to traverse the member states of the TIR Convention.

ATA Carnet

An international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year. It contains pre-prepared unified customs declaration forms to be used at each customs border office, and serves as a customs duties and taxes guarantee.

TCP

A Czech acronym for Transit Customs Declaration.

Marine Freight Acronyms

L/C (Letter of Credit)

A financial institution guarantees that it shall pay the seller on the condition that the seller fulfils their obligations according to a purchase agreement.

AWB (Air-Waybill)

Air-Waybill is a written contract of carriage in sea freight transport. It’s also necessary for customs declaration and invoicing. Each Air-Waybill includes instructions on delivery.

BAF, B.A.F. (Bunker Adjustment Factor) 

A variable in the price of sea freight shipping, reflecting the changes in fuel prices. 

B/L (Bill of Lading)

B/L (also Conosament) is an essential document in sea freight transport, confirming shipping from one location to another. It confirms the acceptance of goods for transport and specifies the conditions of such transport. Handover in the final harbour is possible only when presenting an original of a Bill of Lading. Under certain circumstances, an Express B/L is issued — then it is sufficient for the recipient to present only a fax copy of a B/L. A conosament is a transferable security.

Break Bulk, BB

Floor-loaded cargo. The opposite of palletised cargo or shipping containers.

Cargo 

Cargo means the shipped goods. 

Charter

This term is used to specify rented space on a freight ship or a rented aircraft.

CAF, C.A.F. (Currency Adjustment Factor) 

A variable in the price of transport, reflecting changes in exchange rates.

C.F.S. (Container Freight Station) 

A warehouse or a terminal for loading and unloading of consolidation containers.

C.O.D. (Cash on Delivery) 

Payment on delivery.

Container 20‘ (20 feet container)

Average outer dimensions: length = 6.058 m, width = 2.438 m, height = 2.591 m. 

Average inner dimensions: length = 5.930 m, width = 2.330 m, height = 2.380 m. 

Volume: 33 CBM, load bearing capacity: up to 29 tons. 

Dimensions and load bearing capacity might differ slightly. 

Container 40‘ (40 feet container)

Average outer dimensions: length = 12.192 m, width = 2.438 m, height = 2.591 m. 

Average inner dimensions: length = 12.070 m, width = 2.330 m, height = 2.380 m. 

Volume: 67 CBM. Dimensions might differ slightly. 

Consignee

The entitled recipient according to a Bill of Lading.

Consolidated Seafright, Airfreight

Cargo from multiple senders, delivered to multiple recipients.

C.Y. (Container Yard) 

The location where loaded shipping containers are delivered for embarkation or for subsequent transport. 

C/S (Congestion Surcharge) 

A charge for a ship waiting in the harbour. 

C.S.C. (Container Service Charge) 

Similar to THC (see below). The cost of transferring containers from ship to quay (and vice versa) in European ports.

DAKOSY (abbreviation of DAten-KOmmunikations-SYstem) 

The communication system used in Hamburg among freight forwarders, shippers, transhipment companies, etc.

Detention 

A charge for not returning a rented container on time (after unloading) to the shipper at the agreed depot.

Demurrage

You pay a demurrage fee if you exceed the time limit set by the shipper for removal of the import container from the port. This fee increases progressively with the number of days the container is not collected. Both detention and demurrage fees are sometimes charged by the shipper with a delay (up to 12 months) — often causing problems between the sender and the freight forwarder.

DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations), in Czechia also ADR

Rules for shipping of dangerous goods.

E.T.A. = Estimated Time of Arrival

E.T.D. = Estimated Time of Departure

FCL (Full Container Load)

A fully loaded container (20 feet, 40 feet, Flat Rack or any type of container).

FCL/FCL

A fully loaded container delivered from one sender to one recipient.

LCL (Less than Container Load)

A shipping container loaded with multiple shipments from more senders.

FCR (Forwarding Agents Certificate of Receipt)

The freight forwarder confirms in writing (on demand) that a shipment has been accepted as an irrevocable delivery to a specified recipient.

FEU (Forty feet Equivalent Unit) 

Less frequently used term for a 40-feet container.

FIO (Free In and Out)

The loading of the sea consignment onto the ship is the responsibility of the customer, and the unloading of the goods at the place of destination is the responsibility of the recipient.

HAWB (House Air-Waybill)

For air collection shipments, the freight forwarder issues a HAWB for each individual shipment.

IMO (International Maritime Organization)

An international maritime transport organisation to improve safety and prevent pollution of the world's seas.

Incoterms 

Unified conditions for international transport and delivery.

L/C

Letter of Credit (see above)

LCL/LCL 

Partial (collection) shipments that are packed into a single container at the station of dispatch and unloaded again at the port of destination and split for delivery to individual recipients.

LCL/FCL

A container shipment from multiple shippers to a single recipient.

Liner Terms

Liner Terms are the terms and conditions on the basis of which liner shippers transport goods (shown on the reverse of a Bill of Lading).

MAWB (Master Air-Waybill)

It is an Air-Waybill issued for collecting shipments by one freight forwarder from another (e.g. for consolidation).

Multimodal Transport

At least two modes of transport are used (e.g. road freight and rail transport).

Notify 

The exact address (+ a telephone and fax number) noted on a Sea-Waybill. It indicates the person to be notified of the arrival of the consignment.

NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) 

A freight forwarder which acts as a consolidator while owning no shipping space.

P.O.L. = Port of Loading 

P.O.D. = Port of Discharge 

RORO (RoRo) = Roll On, Roll Off

A ramp system for loading and unloading goods on/off the board of a ship.

TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) 

Less frequently used term for a 20-feet container.

THC, T.H.C. (Terminal Handling Charge) 

Container-handling costs at the port. Usually charged the same for 20' and 40' containers.

Transhipment 

If the port of destination is not directly reached by the shipowner, the transshipment takes place at the agreed port and the goods are shipped on another vessel.

T/T (Transit Time) 

Estimated transport time (port to port).

UN Number

A 4-digit number describing the dangerous goods component as defined by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

W/M (Weight or Measurement) or German M/G (Mass oder Gewicht)

Shipping charges are billed by volume or weight — whichever is greater (tons/m3). Note the rate/weight conversion for air freight, which is 1 CBM = 167 kg. Estimate the weight that the air carrier will charge for as follows: Length × width × height of the shipment in centimetres / divided by 6000.