Tile transport from Spain and other building materials
Ceramic wall and floor tiles from Spain come mainly from the province of Castellón and travel to the Czech Republic in a curtainsider that is loaded by weight rather than by pallet count. A full truck usually carries around 24 t, so with tiles the deck is only partly filled. We arrange the vehicle, collect from several manufacturers if needed and bring a full load from Castellón in roughly 3–4 days.
Why tiles come from Castellón
The province of Castellón on Spain’s east coast is the centre of European ceramic tile production. Dozens of manufacturers, distributors and glaze suppliers are based around Vila-real, Onda and l’Alcora. For buyers this means goods from several manufacturers can be collected within a day in a small area and brought home in one truck. Prague is about 2,000 km away.
How many tiles fit in a truck?
With tiles, weight is the limit. A pallet of ceramics typically weighs about 1–1.5 t, so a full truck with a payload of around 24 t carries fewer pallets than its deck could hold. That is why we need the weight of every pallet, not just the number.
| Consignment | Usual solution | Points to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 pallets | groupage | give the weight and size of each pallet |
| 7–18 pallets, up to ~6.5 t | part load or rigid truck | pallets are not stacked |
| from ~7 t | full 13.6 m trailer | load up to about 24 t, spread along the length |
| large-format slabs | side or crane loading, A-frames | A-frame firmly lashed to the vehicle |
What to watch when loading
- Weight distribution – heavy pallets must not sit only at the front or rear, or an axle can be overloaded even when the total weight is within limits.
- No stacking – tile pallets are never loaded on top of each other.
- Sound pallets – ceramics are often shipped on pallets that differ from the Euro size; tell us the dimensions in advance.
- Edge protection – corner boards and strapping, with no gaps between pallets or with void fill.
- Load securing – straps over every row and anti-slip mats under the pallets.
Chipped edges and breakages often only show up when the goods are unpacked. On delivery, check the wrapping and the condition of the pallets, note any damage on the CMR consignment note and take photos.
When to book the truck
Manufacturers in Castellón load in time slots and release goods only once the order has been cleared, often after payment. Book the vehicle once your supplier has confirmed the day the goods will be ready for dispatch. If the truck arrives and the goods have not been released, it has to wait, and waiting time may be charged. Tile adhesive and grout in sacks, which often travel with the same order, must be stretch-wrapped on pallets because damp ruins them.
Natural stone and other building materials
Besides ceramics we move natural stone and other building materials – from Spain, for example, marble from the Macael area in Andalusia; from Portugal, marble from the Alentejo; from Italy, stone from the Carrara area. Stone slabs travel on frames or in wooden crates and need crane loading or a forklift from the side. Sanitary ware and roof tiles are lighter but fragile and must be carefully secured against shifting.
What documents do I need?
Spain, Portugal and Italy are EU members, so an invoice and a CMR consignment note are enough. There is no customs procedure or duty. For building materials bought for business use, VAT is handled as for any intra-EU acquisition of goods.
We often combine building materials from Italy with other goods – see machinery transport from Italy. Get an indicative price for a full truck or single pallets in the calculator.