This is the question companies shipping regularly to Europe ask us most often. The answer is rarely simply “whichever is cheaper” — the real question is what drives total cost.
1. Volume: are you past half a trailer?
The commonly accepted threshold is around 13–15 pallets or roughly 40 cubic metres. Below that level groupage is almost always more economical. Above it, the per-unit groupage rate climbs quickly and a dedicated vehicle becomes cheaper per cubic metre. If you are near the threshold, price both; the gap is usually smaller than people expect.
2. Time: how much is a saved day worth?
A full load travels without transhipment and is therefore typically 2–4 days faster. Groupage cargo waits to be consolidated first. If your delivery date is flexible that wait costs nothing; if a production line or a seasonal deadline is involved, put a number on the days you gain.
3. Handling: how many times is the cargo moved?
In groupage your pallets are handled at least three times: at origin, at consolidation and at destination. For fragile, irregularly shaped or non-stackable goods each of those is a damage risk. On a full load, the cargo stays where it was loaded.
4. Packaging: is your pallet stackable?
Groupage pricing distinguishes sharply between stackable and non-stackable pallets. A pallet nothing can be placed on is charged as if it occupied twice its footprint. Strengthening the packaging slightly often costs less than the freight difference.
5. Frequency: is the shipment recurring?
If you ship the same lane several times a month, combining consignments into a full load or committing to a fixed departure schedule lowers total cost noticeably. Regular volume also strengthens your position on rates.
If you cannot decide
Ask for both options when you request a quote. Once we have the dimensions and the ready date we calculate both scenarios side by side and show the difference in time and cost. The decision is much easier with the numbers in front of you.