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Shipment by sea typically involves numerous stages, such as moving goods from the production site to the port and from the port to the recipient. Pre-carriage and on-carriage transport using various modes of transportation creates integrated supply chains.
Rhenus operates numerous trimodal logistics centers at strategic locations along Europe’s coasts and waterways. We combine various modes of transport including trucks, trains, barges and seagoing vessels to ensure reliable transport chains. Our services encompass pre-carriage and on-carriage solutions, ensuring smooth connections between initial and final transport legs and main shipping routes. In developing customized logistics concepts, we focus on sustainable and cost-efficient implementation.


Because ports are often not located directly at production sites or final destinations, pre-carriage and on-carriage transport makes it possible to move goods to and from locations not directly linked to a port.
Depending on the urgency or type of freight, different modes of transportation such as truck, train or barge can be used for pre- and on-carriage. This flexibility helps to optimize transport routes and costs.
Pre- and on-carriage transport supports optimal use of port infrastructure by managing the movement of goods before and after arrival, reducing the risk of congestion or bottlenecks.


We get your shipments to their destination. Our range of port logistics and sea freight services enables us to offer you customized solutions.
In shipping, pre-carriage refers to the first part of the transport process, where goods are transported from the origin point, such as the manufacturer’s location, supplier’s warehouse or another storage site, to the main port or terminal where the main shipping leg begins.
The difference lies in the stage of transport. Pre-carriage is the first leg, moving goods from the origin to the main port, while on-carriage is the last leg, transporting goods from the arrival port to their destination. Pre-carriage connects inland points to shipping routes, and on-carriage delivers goods to their final destination.
Depending on the location of your shipment and its destination, we use different modes of transport, including road, sea and rail.