InsightsContact LVTFreight to Sweden and Finland from across the Nordics
Transport to Sweden and Finland is routine for many Nordic businesses. Here is what decides the right service – and when customs paperwork is still needed.
For many Danish businesses, transport to Sweden is as routine as a delivery across Jutland. The crossing over the Øresund is short, and both Sweden and Finland are EU members. Even so, sending a pallet to Malmö is not the same as running a load to Oulu – and if the goods come from Norway, very different rules apply. These are the points we look at when we plan freight to Sweden and Finland.
Transport to Sweden: short distance, many options
From Denmark, most goods to Sweden go by road over the Øresund or by ferry. To southern Sweden a shipment can often be planned as a short, direct run, while goods for central Sweden and Norrland are usually consolidated and moved over longer distances.
The choice is usually between:
- Pallets and groupage, when there are only a few pieces and the cost needs to stay low
- Part loads, when you have several pallets and want less handling
- Full loads, when the volume fills a trailer or the schedule is tight
Whatever the service, the price is based on the space on the truck and the weight. Read our explanation of loading metres and chargeable weight if you want to see how the numbers fit together.
Freight to Finland
Finland is further away, and the route crosses water. Goods from Denmark usually run through Sweden and on by ferry across the Baltic Sea or the Gulf of Bothnia. For northern Finland, the road around the gulf can also be an option.
The ferry is part of the transport, and that affects planning:
- Departure times decide when the truck needs to be at the port
- Ferry costs are included in the freight rate
- Dangerous goods (ADR) must be declared in advance, because special rules apply on board
For the Helsinki area and the southern cities, much can be planned as a regular lane. Further north and east the distances grow, and winter conditions can affect planning.
From across the Nordics – not just from Denmark
We do not only collect in Denmark. Many shipments to Sweden and Finland start in Norway, or go the other way, from Finland to Sweden. It is important to keep track of who is in the EU:
- Denmark, Sweden and Finland are all EU member states. Goods in free circulation need no customs clearance between them.
- Norway is outside the EU customs union. Goods from Norway to Sweden or Finland therefore need customs clearance – both export from Norway and import into the EU.
- Åland belongs to Finland but is outside the EU VAT area. That means extra paperwork for shipments there.
If your goods cross a customs border, read more on our page about customs clearance. Rules change, so we always check the specific shipment.
What we need to plan
- Collection and delivery address with postcode
- Number of pallets, dimensions, weight and stackability
- Delivery conditions: dock, tail lift, time slot or booking
- Whether the goods are dangerous or temperature-sensitive
- Whether the shipper or consignee is in Norway, so we can plan the customs side
Transit times and lanes
Transit time depends on the postcode, the service and ferry departures. We always give an indicative transit time with the rate. See more about the lanes on our pages for transport to Sweden and transport to Finland.
One contact across the Nordics
LVT plans transport from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland to 35 markets and back. That means you can bring your Nordic shipments together with one dedicated contact – whether the goods run from Copenhagen to Gothenburg, from Oslo to Stockholm or from Tampere to Aarhus. Every shipment can be tracked online.
Tell us where the goods are collected and delivered, and we will find the lane and service that fit.
