In logistics, every shipment is a story of balance between speed and cost, between flexibility and reliability, between what’s needed today and what’s sustainable tomorrow. For years, full truckload (FTL) trailer transport has been the go-to solution for European freight. But as markets evolve, regulations tighten, and pressure mounts on both cost and carbon, more companies are discovering that the smartest road forward might not always be on wheels alone.

At Samskip, we see this shift happening across industries from automotive and chemicals to retail and manufacturing. Businesses are rethinking how their goods move across Europe, asking one simple but powerful question: Is there a better way?

As time passes, the road is changing for the transport and logistics industry. The European road transport market is facing growing challenges. Driver shortages continue to strain capacity. Fuel and toll costs are rising. And new environmental legislation, such as the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime, are changing the economics of freight altogether.

At the same time, customers expect shorter lead times, full visibility, and more sustainable supply chains. Meeting these expectations through traditional road-only solutions is becoming increasingly complex and costly.

From Trailers to Containers: A Smarter Alternative

That’s where multimodal container transport comes in. Unlike a traditional trailer that stays hitched to one truck, a container is built to move seamlessly across different modes by sea, rail, and road in one continuous journey.

The benefits are immediate:

• Reliability: Containers operate on fixed departures and scheduled arrivals, reducing uncertainty from road congestion and driver shortages.
• Efficiency: With fewer border crossings and optimized routing, transit times remain competitive, and often with greater predictability.
• Sustainability: CO₂ emissions can be reduced by up to 60–80% compared to full road transport, depending on the route and commodity.
• Scalability: Whether it’s automotive parts, chemical goods, industrial equipment, or retail products, containers offer flexibility across cargo types dry, reefer, bulk, or specialized.
• 45ft High Cube Pallet-Wide container Specialists. Fully equipped to transport pallet-wide loads efficiently, offering seamless solutions for oversized or high-volume shipments without special arrangements.

At Samskip, we’re helping customers make this shift with confidence. Through our extensive shortsea and rail network which is the largest in Europe, we combine the reliability of scheduled sailings with the flexibility of door-to-door trucking. This means customers can enjoy the benefits of multimodal transport without compromising on control, transparency, or delivery precision.

For many, the change starts small with one route, or one shipment, and grows as they experience the benefits firsthand. The result is not just a different way of moving goods, but a better one: one that saves costs, cuts emissions, and builds long-term resilience into their supply chain.

Because at the end of the day, logistics isn’t just about moving cargo. It’s about moving forward smarter, greener, and together.