Why road and sea transport are combined

The fastest route is not always the most efficient. In international transport, it is often about reducing downtime, optimizing driving distances, and creating a stable flow throughout the entire transport chain.

That is why ferry solutions are used every day in modern logistics. Not as an alternative to road transport, but as a natural part of it.

For transport between Sweden and Poland, for example, ferry routes are often used to reduce both driving distances and lead times compared with driving around via Denmark and northern Germany. The same applies to transport between Sweden and the Baltic countries, where the ferry creates a faster and more direct transport flow for both industrial goods and trailer traffic.

Common for machinery and industrial goods

Ferry solutions are often used for the transport of:

• Construction machinery
• Agricultural machinery
• Industrial components
• Project cargo
• Temperature-sensitive goods
• Trailer traffic within international logistics

One example could be a combine harvester transported from Germany to Sweden, or industrial components delivered between factories in the Nordics and Central Europe. For larger and heavier transports, the ferry often becomes an important part of the overall logistics setup.

More efficient logistics through combined transport solutions

In modern logistics, road transport and sea transport are combined to create efficient transport flows. In some cases, only the trailer is transported by ferry, while a new tractor unit takes over on the other side.

This is used, among other things, for transport between Scandinavia and the continent, where goods need to move quickly through several countries without unnecessary stops or long detours.

For drivers, the ferry also provides an opportunity to rest during the crossing instead of spending long hours driving through Europe.

A more sustainable alternative

Combining road transport with sea transport can also help reduce environmental impact compared with driving the entire route by road.

By reducing long-distance road transport, fuel consumption, emissions, and pressure on the road network can all be reduced. That is why ferries are now a natural part of many international and intermodal transport solutions.