Show phone

Knowledge base

Transport to Waterford and south-east Ireland

Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford make up Ireland's south east, with Rosslare Europort next door. We describe deliveries from Poland and explain when the direct continental ferry beats the land bridge.

We deliver loads from Poland to Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford and Clonmel: groupage from a single pallet, part loads and full trucks. As standard we run the land bridge through Britain and the ferry to Dublin, from where the M9 motorway leads to Waterford; delivery usually takes 3-4 working days. For full trucks the direct continental ferry to nearby Rosslare can be the alternative.

Rosslare Europort in County Wexford is Ireland's second ro-ro port and the main gateway for direct continental ferries: freight lines link it with Dunkirk, Cherbourg and Spanish ports. It lies about 80 kilometres from Waterford along the N25.

Land bridge or the direct ferry through Rosslare?

It depends on the load. The land bridge through Britain and the Holyhead ferry offers daily frequency and a consolidation rhythm, so groupage and part loads almost always travel that way. The direct continental ferry to Rosslare skips the British transit, but sails for over twelve hours and departs less often, so it pays mainly for full trucks without time pressure. For a receiver in Waterford or Wexford there is also the geographic argument: Rosslare is under an hour from the door. We compare both variants in direct transport versus the land bridge, and the UK transit mechanics in the land bridge to Ireland.

What do we carry to Ireland's south east?

The region has a surprisingly industrial profile. Waterford and its surroundings host pharma and medical device production, Clonmel pharmaceutical plants, and the Suir valley has food processing and dairy traditions. Kilkenny and Wexford add farming, construction and tourism. From Poland the flow includes production components, packaging, farm and construction machinery, fit-out and trade goods. The Port of Waterford at Belview handles sea cargo, but our road route is independent of it.

What does delivery look like step by step?

  1. Loading in Poland and the Channel crossing under the transit procedure.
  2. The run across England and Wales to Holyhead, the ferry to Dublin.
  3. From Dublin the M9 to Waterford or the N11/M11 to Wexford; local distribution around the region.
  4. For full trucks the alternative: a direct ferry to Rosslare and the short N25 leg.

Single pallets travel as groupage LTL through our Milton Keynes hub, full sets by FTL vehicle. The east coast with Dublin and Cork is covered in transport to Dublin and Cork; the southern route often joins Waterford and Cork in one run.

What to remember for deliveries in the region?

  • Pharmaceutical plants in Waterford and Clonmel receive goods against bookings, with the document discipline typical of Irish pharma.
  • Off the main routes the last mile runs on local roads; a tail lift vehicle solves ramp-free unloading.
  • Food and dairy goods travel by refrigerated transport with a temperature record.
  • Ireland is in the EU: Polish goods clear no customs, whichever route they take.

Regional distribution: Kilkenny, Wexford, Clonmel

We serve the south east on a single distribution run: unloading in Waterford, then Kilkenny with its food and brewing industry, Clonmel with its pharmaceutical plants, finally Wexford and the smaller coastal towns. The cities lie 30-60 minutes apart, so one vehicle closes the region in a day. The last mile can be rural: farms, processing plants and workshops without a ramp, so a tail lift vehicle with a pallet truck is standard at these addresses. For regular receivers we set a repeatable day of the week, which simplifies bookings on both sides.

Return loads from the south east

The region exports food, pharmaceutical products and industrial goods, and our trucks returning from distribution take these loads on the way to Poland: via Dublin and the land bridge or, with full trucks, by ferry from Rosslare to the continent. Through consolidation in Poland the goods continue to Czechia, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. Transit formalities and documents are our job in both directions. Import and export declared in one enquiry always work out better than two separate orders.

Sources

Need a delivery to Waterford, Kilkenny or Wexford? Use the quote form and we will match the route to the load. The whole direction is on the transport to Ireland page.

Frequently asked questions

When does the direct Rosslare ferry beat the land bridge?
Mainly for full trucks without time pressure: the continental ferry skips the British transit but sails for over twelve hours and departs less often. Groupage and part loads take the land bridge, which offers daily frequency and a consolidation rhythm.
How long does a delivery from Poland to Waterford take?
Usually 3-4 working days from loading: the Channel crossing, the run to Holyhead, the ferry to Dublin and the M9 south. For full trucks we also consider the direct Rosslare ferry, under an hour from Waterford.
Do you serve the pharmaceutical plants in Waterford and Clonmel?
Yes. Deliveries run against bookings, with the document discipline typical of Irish pharma; components and packaging travel on clean pallets with intact film, and temperature-sensitive products by refrigerated transport.

Need transport to the UK or customs clearance?

Tell us what you need: a person replies, not a bot. Operations team available 24/7.

Detailed quote ›