Furniture transport from Portugal, Spain and Italy
Furniture takes up a lot of space but weighs little, so it travels in high-volume trailers or mega trailers, and the price is driven by loading metres and volume rather than weight. We most often collect in northern Portugal, Spain and northern Italy, frequently from several manufacturers in turn. We arrange the right vehicle, plan the collection sequence and make sure the goods are protected and properly secured.
Where we most often collect furniture
- Portugal – the furniture cluster around Paços de Ferreira and Paredes near Porto, with many smaller makers of solid-wood and upholstered furniture.
- Spain – furniture and home décor manufacturers and wholesalers in the Valencia region and elsewhere.
- Italy – Brianza in Lombardy, north of Milan, and the furniture districts of Veneto and Friuli.
How is space for furniture calculated?
Furniture usually cannot be stacked, so it takes up both floor area and height. Space is therefore measured in loading metres (LDM): one loading metre is one metre of deck length across the full width of the vehicle. For reference, a Euro pallet takes 0.4 LDM, which is why 33 fit on a 13.6 m deck. On large orders the internal height matters too.
| Vehicle | Deck length | Internal height (approx.) | Volume (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard curtainsider | 13.6 m | around 2.7 m | around 90 m³ |
| mega trailer | 13.6 m | around 3 m | around 100 m³ |
Send us the packing list with item dimensions and we will work out the loading metres and tell you whether a part load is enough or a whole truck works out cheaper.
How to protect furniture in transit
- Manufacturer’s packaging – film, cartons and corner protectors; wrap unpacked items in transit blankets.
- Labelling – “do not stack” and “fragile” where needed, so nothing is loaded on top.
- Heavy items low and forward – wardrobes and tables on the floor, light and delicate pieces on top or where nothing presses on them.
- Load securing – straps and load bars so nothing shifts under braking.
- A dry vehicle – an undamaged curtain; upholstered furniture is sensitive to damp.
Collecting from several manufacturers
If you buy from several makers, we collect from each in turn and deliver everything in one truck. To plan the sequence we need, for every address, the opening hours, order reference, contact and volume. Each extra collection adds time, so it is best if the suppliers are in one region. With many suppliers it pays to have them consolidate the goods at one of their warehouses.
Unloading without a dock and concealed damage
Furniture shops and smaller warehouses often have no loading dock. In that case you need a forklift on site or a truck with a hydraulic tail lift to lower pallets and items to the ground. Let us know when you request a quote, as a tail-lift truck has to be booked in advance.
Note visible damage on the CMR consignment note at delivery. If damage only appears once the goods are unpacked, the CMR Convention allows a written reservation to the carrier within 7 days of delivery (Sundays and public holidays excluded). We therefore recommend unpacking and checking cartons as soon as possible and photographing any damage straight away.
Home décor and accessories
Lamps, ceramics, glass and decorative items often travel with furniture. They are light but fragile and should be packed in sturdy cartons on pallets, not loose among the furniture. For textiles and footwear from Portugal there is a separate page on textile and footwear transport.
Get an indicative price for your volume in the calculator – add the loading metres or m³ in the notes.