Delivery of Prosthetic Spare Parts from Turkey to Ukraine: Consolidated Cargo (LTL) Istanbul—Kyiv—Poltava with Cost Optimization

How to Organize Delivery from Turkey to Ukraine Without Overpaying for a Full Truckload

How can you ship cargo from Turkey to Ukraine without paying for a full truckload (FTL), while still maintaining control over transit times and cargo safety? This case addressed exactly that challenge — optimizing delivery costs while ensuring predictable transit and damage-free handling.

The optimal solution was consolidated cargo, also known as groupage transport, partial load, or LTL (Less Than Truckload). The concept is straightforward: instead of paying for an entire truck, the client ships only their portion of the capacity (pallets/weight), while the remaining space is filled with other cargo. This approach significantly reduces international transport costs, especially when a full truckload is not required.

In this project, we transported prosthetic spare parts — a cargo type that requires careful handling, precise logistics, and responsibility at every stage. The shipment consisted of 4 pallets with a total weight of 1,340 kg. The LTL format allowed us to achieve two objectives simultaneously: secure a cost-efficient international transport rate and organize domestic delivery within Ukraine without unnecessary expenses.

Shipment Overview

• Route: Istanbul (Turkey) → Kyiv (Ukraine) → Poltava (Ukraine)
• Transport type: Consolidated cargo / LTL / partial load
• Cargo: Prosthetic spare parts
• Volume: 4 pallets, 1,340 kg
• Transit time: 10 calendar days
• Operations: Consolidation in Istanbul, customs processing with partners, customs clearance in Kyiv, transshipment, delivery to Poltava
• Quality: No damage, no claims
• Objective: Reduce costs while maintaining delivery timelines

Why LTL Was the Right Choice

When a client has several pallets to ship, there are usually two main options:

• book a dedicated vehicle (FTL / exclusive truck), or
• use consolidated cargo (LTL).

In most cases, for shipments of 2–8 pallets, LTL is the more rational solution, as the cost of the international trip is shared among multiple shippers.

In this case, it was also important to optimize domestic delivery costs within Ukraine. Therefore, the logistics chain was designed so that after arrival in Kyiv, the final leg to Poltava would be handled by the most cost-effective local vehicle.

Solution: Consolidation in Istanbul and International LTL Transport

To make the shipment from Turkey to Ukraine economically efficient, we applied a standard LTL logistics model used in international transport.

1) Supplier Coordination and Delivery to the Istanbul Warehouse

We coordinated with the supplier and arranged delivery of the cargo to our warehouse in Istanbul. This step is critical for maintaining control over consolidation, documentation, and departure planning.

2) Consolidation: Formation of the Groupage Shipment

At the warehouse, the cargo was consolidated into a groupage shipment and then loaded into a 20-ton truck together with other consignments. This is the core principle of LTL transport: each client pays only for their share of pallets, weight, or volume — not for the entire truck.

3) Customs Processing with Partners

To avoid unnecessary delays, customs procedures were organized in cooperation with our partners at the appropriate stage. For the client, this ensured predictability: when consolidated cargo departs Turkey on schedule, delivery timelines become manageable and reliable.

Kyiv: Customs Clearance and Transshipment for Poltava

After arrival in Ukraine, the consolidated cargo was delivered to customs in Kyiv, where our partner brokers handled the clearance process.

Subsequently, a single transshipment was performed in Kyiv: the cargo was transferred to a smaller vehicle for delivery to Poltava. This step delivered two key benefits:

• Cost optimization within Ukraine: It is inefficient for a large international truck to handle last-mile regional delivery when local transport can do it more economically.
• Reduced overall transit time: Properly organized hub transshipment (Kyiv) enables faster regional delivery without waiting for additional routing cycles.

Importantly, the transshipment was fully controlled — resulting in zero damage and no client claims.

Result: Consolidated Cargo Delivered in 10 Days Without Damage

Key performance indicators of this case:

• Format: LTL (consolidated cargo / partial load)
• Volume: 4 pallets / 1,340 kg
• Transit time: 10 calendar days
• Operations: 1 transshipment in Kyiv
• Quality: No damage, no claims

This case clearly demonstrates that LTL transport from Turkey to Ukraine is not a compromise, but an optimal business solution when consolidation, customs processes, and domestic logistics are properly structured.

What to Consider When Shipping Consolidated Cargo from Turkey

• LTL works best when consolidation is organized at a hub — in this case, a warehouse in Istanbul.
• Plan domestic Ukrainian delivery separately: the Kyiv → regional city model using smaller vehicles often delivers significant savings.
• Transshipment is normal in LTL logistics — the key is ensuring it is controlled and aligned with packaging and labeling requirements.
• For shipments of 2–8 pallets, consolidated transport is usually more cost-effective than booking a dedicated truck.