When road beats rail
Rail moves volume economically, but trucking is the flexible layer: it collects directly from the factory, crosses the border without terminal handling, and delivers to any address — including cities and industrial parks far from a rail terminal. On the China–Russia lane we use road freight both as a standalone door-to-door service and as the first and last mile around our block trains.
Border crossings and coverage
| Border crossing | Best for |
|---|---|
| Khorgos | Cargo from western and southern China; combined rail–road schemes via Kazakhstan |
| Alashankou (Dostyk) | Western corridor trucking parallel to the rail trunk line |
| Manzhouli (Zabaikalsk) | Cargo from northern and eastern China; shortest road distance to Siberia |
Destinations cover European Russia including Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Transit is quoted per route, commodity and season — ask us for the current border situation on your lane before booking.
What we move
- FTL (full truck load) — dedicated tilt and box trailers, standard and high-capacity configurations.
- Groupage (LTL) — consolidated loads from a few pallets, cross-docked at our partner warehouses.
- Project and oversized cargo — machinery and equipment moved with permits and escort arrangements.
- E-commerce and consumer goods — regular departures with DDP delivery options.
Documentation and compliance
Cross-border trucking to Russia runs under TIR carnet or conventional CMR procedures: one document, sealed loads, no re-examination of the goods at intermediate borders. Our in-house brokers handle the Chinese export declaration, and destination clearance is managed by licensed partners before last-mile delivery. Sanctioned and dual-use goods are pre-checked before we accept the booking.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer TIR trucking from China to Russia?
Yes. We run TIR and non-TIR trucking through the Khorgos, Alashankou and Manzhouli crossings, with full trucks and groupage, door-to-door from any Chinese factory to Russian cities.
Is road freight faster than rail to Russia?
Door-to-door it can be, because there is no terminal handling at either end and fewer transshipments — but it depends on border congestion and season. Tell us your route and commodity and we will compare the current road and rail options honestly.
Do you combine road and rail?
Yes — many shipments move by rail on the trunk leg and by truck for factory pickup and final delivery. We quote the combination that fits your transit and budget.