During Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland has become a key transit partner for cargo entering Ukraine through Polish ports and airports. Let’s take a look at the specifics and costs of transporting goods to this neighboring country.

What’s Included in the “Freight Transport Ukraine — Poland” Service Package

The core service package includes:

• Specialized vehicles with secure fastenings and markings for oversized cargo.
• Preparation of accompanying transport documents: waybill, consignment note, transport permit, etc.
• Full cargo insurance against accidents, theft and damage.
• Safe packaging and monitoring of the cargo during transportation to/from Poland to the final destination.

Benefits of Working with ETS

ETS offers:

1. Multi-modal transport options: road, rail, sea and air delivery.
2. Integrated logistics solutions, including door-to-door transportation.
3. Flexible routing tailored to client needs, optimizing time and cost.
4. Specialized freight handling, including oversized cargo and refrigerated transport from Poland to Ukraine.
5. Extensive experience in Poland-Ukraine transportation. Operating since 2011, ETS has hundreds of contracts related to deliveries across Europe.

“One of the major projects we’ve managed in this direction was the transportation of large-scale equipment for repair from Azovstal to the Czech Republic. The challenge involved accommodating all road and bridge specifics in Ukraine, loading with a 120-ton crane at the Ukrainian-Polish border and then delivering to the repair site in the Czech Republic. We’ve also handled shipments between metal processing facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, fulfilling intra-European orders.

Another unique project involved transporting military cargo from Poland to Kazakhstan across multiple countries with varied customs regulations,” says Oleksandr Minyailo, the founder and head of ETS.

Specifics of Cargo Delivery from Poland to Ukraine

To arrange a cargo sale, the sender must provide all necessary documentation and certificates to both customs offices (departure and destination) to ensure compliance. ETS managers also account for entry restrictions on vehicles in Europe, including:

• The presence of an environmental certificate (Euro-3/4/5/6) based on the zone in various countries.
• CMR insurance for international travel.
• All required permits for Ukrainian carriers within the EU, as regulations may change during the ongoing invasion.

For shipments to Poland, ETS managers review the list of agricultural goods currently banned from import, which may only transit through the region.

Delivery Geography

There are no geographical restrictions for delivering goods from Poland to Ukraine — this could include a large industrial city or a small village with a warehouse or recipient.

Types of Freight Transport Between Poland and Ukraine

The most popular type of transport to Poland remains road transport, with destinations such as Warsaw, Tomaszów Lubelski, Pruszków, Chełm, Przemyśl and other cities. Other transport options we provide include:

• euro-trucks;
• affordable groupage shipping from Poland to Ukraine;
• oversized transport;
• container transport and Jumbo trailers;
• semi-trailers with varying capacities;
• refrigerated and insulated vehicles;
• grain trucks;
• tankers and more.

Groupage Cargo Transport

Groupage cargo transport between Poland and Ukraine or in the reverse direction is primarily done by land. The well-established road network in cities like Gdańsk, Kraków and Warsaw, combined with the short distance between the countries, makes road transport an efficient and cost-effective way to ship goods.

Container Shipping

Containers allow easy cargo movement by sea, rail and road. We use standardized containers and sea transport to Polish ports in Gdynia and Gdańsk can be arranged for cargo shipments from Poland to Ukraine.

Rail Transport

There are four rail border crossings between Ukraine and Poland. Agricultural goods are transported to Poland and the EU using large-capacity, GMP+ certified hopper cars for grain. For liquid goods, we use GMP+ certified tanker cars.

Oversized Cargo

Transporting oversized cargo to Poland requires compliance with specific regulations. This includes obtaining special permits and verifying routes to avoid road and bridge restrictions. In Poland, there are seven categories of permits for oversized cargo transport, with validity from one to six months or even up to two years. The cost of these permits depends on their category and duration.

Customs Clearance for Goods from Poland

Differences in customs legislation create challenges in customs clearance, which can lead to problems for importers. To avoid these issues, using ETS’s services is recommended. Calculating the value of goods is crucial for customs processing. 

Our brokers’ experience in shipping goods from Poland without customs clearance enables them to find optimal declaration solutions, ensuring that prices align with the customs database.

How much does shipping from Poland to Ukraine cost?

The cost of transportation depends on distance, cargo type, delivery time and route demand. Prices fluctuate weekly based on queue times, transport demand and external factors. Updated rates and the availability of drivers for international travel also impact the cost.

If you are looking for a reliable freight carrier, contact our managers using the phone numbers listed in the “Contacts” section.