Freight Ferry Booking: Fast and Secure Crossings for Your Road Transport

You can make a freight ferry booking online or through our agents. Simply register, select your route and enter the dimensions and details of your truck, then view the quote and pay by credit/debit card. After payment, you’ll immediately receive a confirmation e-mail with a booking reference. Keep this reference handy at the port, as it will serve as your ticket. On the day of your trip, go to the ferry terminal and present your booking reference for check-in.

During booking you’ll be asked for basic details about the shipment. At minimum, you must give your vehicle’s dimensions (length, height, width) and the number of people travelling (maximum 3 per HGV). You must also declare any special cargo: for example, whether you are carrying dangerous/hazardous goods or live animals.

Providing this information up front ensures the ferry operator can make proper arrangements (for example, reserving space for a refrigerated trailer or a livestock van).

For international freight crossings you need the usual trucking documents. In particular, post-Brexit UK hauliers must obtain a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) from HMRC’s Goods Vehicle Movement Service. The GMR links all your customs declarations for that shipment (including any TIR or ATA Carnet) into one barcode that you present at the border. In practice, for a UK–EU ferry crossing you must pre-lodge the export declarations via GVMS and get a GMR; without it you cannot board in the UK. In addition, you will need your CMR consignment note and any required licenses or permits for your cargo type. Our agents can help ensure you have all required paperwork.

We recommend booking at least 48 hours before your planned departure to secure the schedule you want. Freight ferries fill up especially on busy routes, so earlier is better. During peak seasons or for special loads you may need even more lead time. If you’re travelling on very short notice, call us!

If you need to change or cancel your booking, please contact our customer service department as soon as possible. Ferry tickets cannot usually be changed online by the customer. Our staff will do their best to modify details or issue a refund (subject to each ferry company’s policy). Late changes may incur charges. It is therefore advisable to inform us promptly of any program changes.

Drivers should check in well before the ferry’s departure time. Arrival requirements vary by route, but a good rule of thumb is 1–2 hours before sailing for most services. For example, on UK–Ireland or Dover–Calais routes, 1 hour early is usually sufficient, whereas for longer routes (e.g. Spain or the Mediterranean) ferries often ask for 2–3 hours before departure. Unaccompanied trailers generally require a bit more time (often 30–60 minutes extra). Your booking confirmation will state the required check-in window for that port and route.

If you know you’re running late, call us immediately. Some freight crossings allow a window (often up to one hour) for late arrivals. If the ship is still in port, the ferry operator may hold it for you. If you completely miss the booked sailing, our team will try to rebook you on the next available ferry or arrange an alternative.

In practice, we notify the carrier on your behalf and coordinate the next steps. Because freight sailings are limited, it’s crucial to communicate any delays as soon as possible.

The key difference is that commercial vehicles must use freight tickets. Any truck or van used for haulage (i.e. paying commercial road tax or carrying goods for hire) must travel on a freight booking.

Ferry operators enforce this strictly: freight vehicles on a passenger ticket can be fined and required to rebook. Freight tickets have tailored benefits: they use fixed pricing (year-round rates instead of seasonal), allow more flexible changes/cancellations, and often include driver amenities like lounges and free meals or berths.

In short, if you’re in a goods vehicle, always select a freight/commercial booking.

Yes, but oversized loads (out-of-gauge) require special arrangements. You cannot complete an online booking for an out-of-gauge shipment. Instead you must contact our freight office well in advance (usually 24+ hours before) to submit an abnormal-load form.

The ferry operator will need details and paperwork ahead of time. Once approved, they will reserve space and handle the special loading. In summary, oversize trucks can travel by ferry, but only with manual coordination: call us and we’ll arrange the booking and documentation.

Yes, hazardous materials are allowed on many freight ferries, but they are strictly regulated. You must declare any dangerous goods in advance. We cannot book DG cargo via a normal online form, instead we’ll guide you through the correct procedure.

Each class of dangerous good (e.g. flammables, aerosols, batteries) may have specific requirements, so we ask you to contact our freight specialists for guidance.

In practice, provide us with the UN number or item details, and we’ll ensure the operator’s hazardous-goods department approves the shipment. Note that even with approval, DG cargo might be limited to certain routes or have extra charges.

Yes, ferries accommodate refrigerated trucks. All our vessels (except a few exceptions) offer electrical “plug-in” facilities on deck so your reefer unit can run off shore power. When booking, specify that you have a refrigerated trailer so we can reserve a plug-in slot.

Be aware: for safety regulations you cannot run a vehicle’s engine on board to power the fridge. Your reefer system must be independent (e.g. diesel gen-set or battery) or use the shore power plug-in.

In short, bring your reefer-truck and they will plug it in; the ship will not run your engine while onboard.

Livestock shipments are possible but require advance notice. You must declare any live animals so that animal welfare rules can be met. Typically you’ll need to contact us for special instructions (stables, ventilation, etc.). A freight ferry can carry livestock only under prescribed conditions.

As for companion animals (dogs, cats), policies vary by ferry operator. Some freight-only vessels do not allow pets on board the truck deck, while others permit them in kennels.

Unfortunately there is no single rule, so please ask us beforehand. We will liaise with the carrier to confirm whether and how your animals can travel.

Yes. Ferry crossings prioritize driver needs. On almost all freight services, drivers are served hot meals (dinner and/or breakfast). In fact, some routes include these meals free of charge, while others are offered at a modest additional cost.

For overnight crossings (e.g. Hull–Zeebrugge, Tilbury–Europoort), private two-berth cabins are provided to freight drivers. On shorter sailings drivers usually sleep in lounges.

In short: expect full meals on longer crossings, and complimentary cabins on overnight routes. It will depend on the ferry company, so we advise you to check this when booking or contact our agents to clarify.