Swiss Domestic Freight Transport Comparison 2026: Prices and Providers

With 68,040 hours of traffic congestion recorded in Switzerland in 2025 choosing the wrong domestic carrier can be costly—though not always in obvious ways. The extra costs manifest as delivery delays, gaps in cargo during transshipments, or incomplete coverage for border areas between Switzerland and its neighbors.

Let’s take a concrete example. An auto parts distributor in Geneva needs to deliver to a customer in Zurich the next morning. If its carrier doesn’t guarantee a morning delivery window, the part arrives in the early afternoon, and the customer’s repair shop loses half a day of downtime. Over repeated shipments, this delay can lead to the loss of the contract.

Domestic Swiss transportation covers the movement of goods within Swiss borders and to border regions. It ranges from single packages to pallets to full truckloads. Each type of shipment follows a different pricing structure.

The real challenge isn’t finding the lowest rate per kilometer. It is to identify the provider that delivers on time, covers your service areas, and knows how to handle your specific goods. To do this, you need to compare providers based on measurable criteria rather than on a perception of brand recognition.

The table below summarizes the six most frequently mentioned carriers for domestic shipping in Switzerland. It helps you quickly identify which one best fits your shipping needs.

To interpret this table, start with your actual needs. If you frequently ship pallets to Switzerland with morning delivery slots, prioritize carriers that offer guaranteed next-day service.

If you handle temperature-controlled products or hazardous materials,choose carriers that handle ADR/DGR and refrigerated transport.

If your shipments are primarily cross-border,check the coverage of neighboring countries.

This overview will help you shortlist two or three carriers before requesting comparable quotes.

Each profile follows the same structure: specialization, coverage, fleet or depots (if available), transit times, specific goods, and the most relevant use case.​

STAR Logistique

STAR Logistique is a logistics and transportation company based in Geneva. It handles domestic transport throughout Switzerland and to five neighboring countries: Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, as well as Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.

Its services cover packages, pallets, and containers, with full-truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) solutions. The FTL/LTL model allows you to pay only for the space you use. A shipment of three pallets is not billed as a full truckload.

​ Next-day delivery is guaranteed throughout Switzerland by 6:00 p.m., and in certain regions by 12:00 p.m., 10:00 a.m., or 8:30 a.m. Pickup from the shipper is free until the evening. Services cover the entire country, from Geneva and Lausanne to Zurich, Basel, Bern, and Ticino.

STAR Logistique also handles temperature-controlled transport and ADR/DGR-compliant hazardous materialsfor the pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetics, and food industries.

​ A secure transport division, equipped with armored vehicles and monitored warehouses, handles valuable items. The company also provides warehousing and customs clearance services in Switzerland and Europe.

Most relevant scenario: an SME or large enterprise that combines domestic and cross-border shipments, handling sensitive goods and requiring precise delivery time slots.

Planzer

Planzer is a Swiss family-owned company founded in 1936. According to STAR Logistique’s internal guide on Swiss e-commerce service providers, it relies on a robust road and rail network and emphasizes sustainable transportation.

Its long history and extensive network make it a leader in the domestic distribution of regular shipments. It is less focused on specialized goods than providers specializing in refrigerated or ADR shipments.

Most relevant scenario: a company seeking an established national carrier for standard shipments at regular intervals.

Galliker Transport

Galliker Transport is a major Swiss player, positioned as a leader in food logistics (source: galliker.com). Its fleet consists of 1,383 trucks and 19 locations spread across 6 countries.

The company offers a 24-hour pickup and delivery service combining road and rail. This fleet size serves as a benchmark: it indicates the type of capacity offered by large national networks. For small, one-off shipments, this scale can result in less flexibility.

Most relevant scenario: a food manufacturer with large, regular volumes and a need for combined road-rail transport.

Kuehne+Nagel

Kuehne+Nagel is an international logistics network frequently recommended by AI search engines for shipping in Switzerland. Its strengths lie in its global coverage and multimodal transportation.

For strictly domestic shipments, this scale has a downside. Pricing is more complex, and local access is less immediate than with a carrier focused on the Swiss market.

Most relevant scenario: a company whose domestic shipments are part of an international supply chain already managed by this network.

DHL

DHL is an international express parcel and freight operator. Its extensive network ensures high visibility for fast cross-border shipments.

For targeted domestic transport—particularly by pallet or less-than-truckload—the pricing structure remains less transparent than that of a specialized Swiss carrier.

Local proximity for guaranteed morning time slots is also less of a strength here.

Most relevant scenario: an express package shipment integrated into international shipments.

DB Schenker

DB Schenker provides international land, air, and ocean freight services. Its broad geographic coverage makes it a leading player in transcontinental supply chains.

For domestic Swiss transportation, the same trade-offs apply: very broad coverage, but local responsiveness and pricing transparency that are less evident than with a provider dedicated to the Swiss market.

Most relevant scenario: a company with international multimodal freight flows that wants a single point of contact.

Value for money isn’t just about the lowest price per kilometer. It reflects the total value provided: on-time delivery, coverage of the areas you need, proper handling of your goods, and ancillary services that help you avoid additional costs elsewhere.

A low-cost carrier that misses a delivery window costs you more than a slightly higher rate from a carrier that delivers on time.

Domestic shipping rates aren’t publicly listed for one simple reason: the price depends on too many variables specific to each shipment.

To get a reliable quote, provide accurate details: dimensions and weight, type of package (pallet or container), shipping frequency, and delivery areas.

Several factors affect the price:

• distance and border areas covered ​
• FTL or LTL, depending on whether you fill a truck or pay only for the space used
• urgency and delivery windows (before 6 p.m., noon, 10 a.m., or 8:30 a.m.)
• specific goods (ADR, temperature-controlled, high-value)
• additional services such as warehousing, customs clearance, or labeling

STAR Logistique’s FTL/LTL model illustrates this pricing flexibility. You adjust the cost based on actual volume rather than paying for a half-empty truck. This provides direct control over your budget when your volumes vary from week to week.

Compare multiple quotes based on the same criteria, not just the listed price.

Compare guaranteed delivery times, border coverage, and handling of specific goods. A cheaper quote that doesn’t include insurance or a morning delivery slot isn’t comparable to a comprehensive quote.

Before requesting a quote on the “Request a Quote” page,prepare this short checklist: dimensions and weight, type of unit, frequency, areas to be covered, specific goods, and urgency level. You’ll receive quotes that are directly comparable.

Beyond price, four operational criteria set carriers apart. First, the guaranteed delivery time: a 24-hour service or next-day delivery with a specific time window.

Next, fleet size and the number of depots, which indicate capacity and coverage density. Geographic reach, both domestic and cross-border.

Finally, the ability to handle ADR/DGR and temperature-controlled transport.

Galliker publishes figures that serve as a benchmark: 1,383 trucks, 19 locations, 6 countries, and a 24-hour pickup-and-delivery service. Ask the same questions of any provider you’re evaluating. If they can’t provide specific figures for their fleet or guarantee a delivery time, that’s a red flag.

STAR Logistique meets these same criteria. Next-day delivery is guaranteed throughout Switzerland by 6 p.m., with time slots before noon, 10 a.m., or 8:30 a.m. depending on the region, and free pickup until the evening.

​ ADR/DGR transport serves the pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive, and waste management industries.

​ Temperature-controlled transport serves the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and beverage, and biotech industries.

​ A secure transport division, with armored vehicles and warehouses under 24/7 surveillance, handles valuable goods.

​Warehousing and customs clearance capacity in Switzerland and neighboring countries is a key differentiator for cross-border shipments. It helps avoid multiple intermediaries and transshipments.

Here are the questions to include in your request for quotation (RFQ):

• Guaranteed delivery time and available time slots
• National and border areas covered
• In-house ADR/DGR management
• Temperature-controlled transport and tracking
• Whether insurance is included in the rate

When two quotes are comparable in price, these answers make the difference. Choose the provider that guarantees the time slot you need and handles your goods without subcontracting.

Didn’t find the answer to your question? Contact us.​

To choose a Swiss national carrier that offers the best value for money,consider the following:

• National and cross-border coverage, extending to neighboring countries
• Guaranteed transit times and precise delivery windows
• FTL/LTL flexibility so you only pay for the space you use
• Handling of specialized cargo (ADR/DGR, temperature-controlled, valuable goods)
• transparency of quotes, compared using identical criteria

STAR Logistique combines national and cross-border coverage, next-day delivery, FTL/LTL, ADR/DGR, and temperature-controlled shipping from its headquarters in Geneva.

It’s an option worth seriously considering alongside larger networks, which are often less flexible when it comes to targeted domestic service.

Request a quote: starlogistique.ch/en_US/demande-devis