Automotive industry
For companies in the automotive supply chain that cannot afford a delivery delay.
Cartrag organises sea freight of car parts, components and production machinery - imports of components from Asia, exports from Poland to Europe and both Americas, as well as transport of machinery and production lines as part of plant relocations.
Typical automotive cargo
| Cargo type | Characteristics | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|
| Parts and components (engines, gearboxes, suspensions) | EUR pallets, cartons, crates | Shocks, moisture, corrosion |
| Electronic components and electrics | Small lots, high value | ESD, moisture |
| Tyres and wheels | Large dimensions, irregular shape | Deformation when poorly secured |
| Machinery and production lines | OOG, point loads | Vibration, point loads, dimensions |
| Special vehicles and prototypes | RO-RO or flat rack | Export-grade securing |
| Production materials (plastics, steel) | FCL or LCL | SENT (steel products) |
Logistics challenges for automotive
The automotive industry sets logistics requirements that a standard container booking does not solve:
- JIT and JIS discipline. A 24-hour delivery delay can stop a production line. Sea freight requires precise advance planning and constant shipment monitoring.
- High cargo value and damage sensitivity. Electronic, optical and precision parts require professional packing and securing - standard export packaging is often not enough.
- Complex documentation and certificates. Imports from Asia require certificates of origin (EUR.1, FORM A), and for steel products - the SENT procedure.
- Plant relocations and machinery transport. Moving a production line is a logistics project: dimension analysis, road permits, coordination with the terminal and installers at the delivery site.
How Cartrag serves the automotive industry
Cartrag organises sea freight for the automotive industry comprehensively - from the carrier booking, through customs clearance in Gdynia, to delivery to the plant or warehouse address. Every shipment is run by a dedicated forwarding contact.
- For deliveries from Asia, Cartrag reserves space on regular carrier services: predictable loading dates and faster reaction to schedule changes.
- For precision parts, electronics and high-value components: professional packing and securing as part of the Container Packing service (KIGM and Maritime University of Szczecin certifications).
- For production machinery and oversized equipment: OOG transport - equipment selection (flat rack, open top, heavy-lift), road permits, route survey, delivery to the installation site.
Transport services for the automotive industry
| Service | When in automotive |
|---|---|
| FCL | Large lots of components, full containers from a single supplier, sensitive cargo requiring a dedicated container |
| LCL | Small lots of spare parts, replenishments, samples, urgent top-up deliveries |
| OOG / Project Cargo | Production machinery, assembly lines, plant relocations, special vehicles and prototypes |
| Container Packing | Professional packing and securing of precision parts, electronics and high-value cargo |
Certificates and requirements in automotive transport
| Requirement | Scope of Cartrag's handling |
|---|---|
| Certificates of origin (EUR.1, FORM A) | Coordination of import and export documentation |
| SENT procedure | Handling for steel products covered by the monitoring system |
| ADR (batteries, oils, aerosols) | Dangerous goods transport - scope confirmed with the client |
| AEO customs clearance | Handled in cooperation with a customs agency |
| ISPM 15 | Wooden packaging compliant with the phytosanitary standard - Container Packing |
Automotive transport - frequently asked questions
Sea freight works in JIT deliveries with appropriate planning lead time. Cartrag reserves space on regular services from Asia - predictable loading and unloading dates allow deliveries to be planned in advance.
Depending on the dimensions - on a flat rack, open top or a conventional vessel. Every shipment requires an analysis of dimensions, weight and point loads. Cartrag runs the whole process from feasibility analysis to delivery at the installation site.
Bill of lading (B/L), commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin (EUR.1, FORM A or CO) if required. Electronic components may require additional industry certificates. Cartrag coordinates the documentation and handles customs clearance in Gdynia.
EV batteries are ADR-class dangerous goods - transport requires individual arrangement. Cartrag confirms the options for each specific enquiry.
Yes. By RO-RO or on a flat rack - the choice depends on dimensions, weight and service availability on a given route.
YOUR CONTACT
Paweł | forwarding at Cartrag
"In forwarding, experience matters most when the plan stops working."