Royan Logistic is a Tehran-based freight forwarder offering groupage (LTL) for shippers whose cargo does not fill a whole truck: we consolidate your pallets with other loads heading the same way and deliver them door to door. We plan LTL freight from Iran to Turkey and Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Iraq and Russia, so a few pallets can travel without paying for an entire trailer. The same model works for small import lots coming into Iran.
What we do on an LTL shipment
With groupage, most of the work happens before the truck leaves. Other shippers' cargo shares the trailer, so accurate dimensions, sound packaging and complete documents affect everyone's schedule. On each shipment we:
- Measure the space you need: from pallet or carton count, dimensions, gross weight and stackability we calculate the loading metres, volume or weight share your cargo will use.
- Choose a compatible consolidation: your cargo is combined with loads going to the same country or region and with compatible goods. We do not put products that could damage each other through odour, moisture or temperature, such as dried fruit and strong-smelling chemicals, in the same trailer.
- Set the loading order: the first drop is loaded last; heavy, sturdy pallets such as ceramic tiles go low and balance the axle loads, while light or fragile items go on top or in a separate section. With several drop points, the order follows the delivery route.
- Organise pickup and delivery: collection from your warehouse or factory in Iran or delivery to an agreed loading point, then distribution to the consignee at destination.
- Check documents before departure: one shipper's missing paperwork can hold the whole truck at the border, so invoice, packing list, HS codes and customs declaration data are matched before loading.
- Share progress: loading, export clearance in Iran, border crossing, transhipment and delivery stages appear on your tracking link.
For how groupage works in general, loading-metre calculation and the role of cross-dock warehouses, see our article what is LTL freight (in Turkish); this page focuses on how we run the service.
Where we run groupage from Iran
Departure frequency varies by lane. Busy trade lanes usually offer more frequent groupage, while long lanes with several border crossings consolidate less often. At quotation stage we agree a target loading date and an approximate delivery window.
- Turkey and Europe: via the Bazargan–Gürbulak and Kapıköy–Razi crossings into Turkey, and in transit through Turkey under TIR carnet and CMR on to Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, Italy and other European countries. See Iran–Turkey freight and Europe freight.
- Central Asia: via Sarakhs and Lotfabad to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. See Central Asia freight.
- Caucasus and Russia: via Astara and Jolfa to Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, via Norduz–Agarak to Armenia and Georgia; Russia via Azerbaijan on the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). See Caucasus freight and Russia freight.
- Iraq: via Haji Omaran, Bashmaq and Parviz Khan to northern Iraq, and via Mehran and Shalamcheh to Baghdad and southern Iraq. See Iraq freight.
Collecting from several suppliers
Many buyers in Iraq, Central Asia and the Caucasus order from several manufacturers in different Iranian cities; one buyer may purchase ceramic tiles, polymer granules and packed dried fruit in the same month. Instead of sending each supplier's goods separately, we can collect the lots, check product compatibility and combine them into one shipment, which can simplify customs and delivery at destination. We track each supplier's ready date, packaging and invoice in one list and time the departure around the last lot. If the combined volume fills most of a trailer, we switch the plan to a full truck. We use the same approach in reverse for import orders into Iran, such as spare parts and machine components from several suppliers.
When to move from LTL to a full truck
Groupage is not always the cheapest option. As your cargo grows, the space it occupies costs more, and at some point a dedicated trailer becomes better value per pallet and faster. That break-even point is not a fixed pallet count: weight, stackability, the groupage rate on the lane and how critical the delivery date is all play a role. As a rough guide, cargo using less than a third of the trailer suits LTL, and more than half usually suits a full truck; in between we price both.
| Your situation | Usually suitable | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| A few pallets or cartons, flexible date | Groupage | Consolidation schedule, sturdy palletising |
| Between a third and half of a trailer | Both options priced | Stackability and delivery date decide |
| More than half of a trailer | Full truck | Cost per pallet is often lower |
| Heavy but compact cargo (tiles, stone) | Depends on the calculation | Weight share matters more than floor space |
| Fixed date, fragile or high-value goods (saffron, handmade carpets) | Full truck or specially planned groupage | Avoids transhipment and extra handling |
| Regular small orders | Groupage or combined full truck | Combining orders may cross the threshold |
For when a dedicated trailer makes sense, see our full truckload page.
Packaging and labelling
- Goods on a sound pallet, stretch-wrapped and strapped where needed, with no overhang.
- Clear labels on every package with consignee, order number and piece number (1/5, 2/5).
- Moisture- and odour-protected packaging for dried fruit, pistachios and saffron; handmade carpets rolled and wrapped in moisture-proof film.
- Bagged polymers secured to the pallet and protected against tearing.
- Non-stackable goods marked and declared at quotation stage.
- Dimensions and weights on the packing list matching the actual cargo.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Export declaration lodged with Iranian customs (separate for each shipper) with correct HS codes
- CMR consignment note
- TIR carnet or transit declaration, depending on the route
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary, health or conformity certificates where the product requires them
For how CMR and the TIR carnet work, see our guide CMR and TIR carnet (in Turkish). Requirements are confirmed against current regulations and destination rules before each shipment, and payment and documentation requirements are reviewed per shipment. Dangerous goods can only join a groupage load under an ADR-compliant plan (see ADR transport), so please mention them at the first contact.
Who it suits
Groupage suits Iranian manufacturers sending samples or trial orders to a new market, exporters shipping regular small lots, importers in Iraq, Central Asia and the Caucasus buying from several Iranian suppliers, and Iranian companies importing spare parts in small lots. Polymers and petrochemical products, ceramic tiles, dried fruit and pistachios, saffron, handmade carpets, packaged food and spare parts often move this way.
Why Royan Logistic
- Planning first: near the threshold, we compare LTL and FTL for you.
- Multimodal view: if road groupage does not fit, we look at sea LCL from Bandar Abbas or rail.
- A tracking link with shipment stages and shared documents; CMR, invoice, packing list and photos kept in one folder.
- Communication in Persian, English, Russian, Turkish and Chinese, including Russian with consignees in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
What we need for a groupage quote
Pickup and delivery addresses, cargo type and HS code if known, packaging, number of pieces or pallets, dimensions of each item, total gross weight, whether the cargo is stackable, target shipping date and any special handling needs. If we are collecting from several suppliers, list each loading address. You receive a tracking code when you submit the form, and our team follows up to confirm the consolidation and departure date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum shipment for groupage?
We can usually plan from a single pallet. For very small shipments, fixed costs such as collection, documents and handling raise the price per pallet, so combining several pallets is often better value.
When will my LTL cargo leave?
Departure depends on the consolidation schedule for your lane, which varies by destination. We agree a target loading date and approximate delivery window at quotation stage. If the date is critical, we also price a dedicated truck.
How do I decide between LTL and FTL?
The space your cargo uses, its weight, stackability and the importance of the delivery date decide. Roughly, under a third of a trailer suits LTL and over half suits FTL; in between we price both and compare.
Can you combine goods from several Iranian suppliers into one truck?
Yes. We can plan collection from several loading addresses in Iran, check product compatibility and consolidate the lots into one shipment, tracking each supplier's ready date, packaging, invoice and export declaration. If the total volume is large enough, we switch to a full truck.
Do you offer groupage for small import lots into Iran?
Yes. For small import lots such as spare parts, machine components and consumer goods we assess road groupage, rail and sea LCL via Bandar Abbas together, depending on the cargo and the delivery expectation, and check the documents needed for the Iranian customs declaration before loading.
