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Logistics in Ostrava: from coal and steel to modern industry

With around 285,000 inhabitants, Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. For generations, its name was synonymous with coal mining and steel production. The former ironworks in Vítkovice, now partly an industrial heritage site, are still a reminder of this history, and metalworking and heavy engineering remain important employers in the area today.

Over the past decades, the local economy has diversified considerably. Automotive suppliers, electrical engineering, IT services and shared service centres have settled in the region, and a large car plant operates at Nošovice near Frýdek-Místek. Industrial zones such as Hrabová on the south side of the city and the strategic zone at Mošnov, next to Leoš Janáček Airport, host manufacturers and logistics companies.

The location in the triangle between the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia makes Ostrava a natural distribution point for all three markets. Steelworks in nearby Třinec, the industrial towns of the Karviná area and the Polish Silesian conurbation just across the border generate additional traffic. For British firms exporting machinery, tooling or raw materials, a direct transport with one freight company avoids repeated handling on this long journey across the Continent.

The route from the UK to Ostrava

The first leg of the journey is the Channel crossing on the Dover–Calais ferry or on Le Shuttle between Folkestone and Coquelles. From there, the vehicle drives through Belgium and Germany. One common route enters the Czech Republic at Rozvadov and follows the D5 to Prague and the D1 via Brno to Ostrava. The alternative runs via Dresden into Poland, along the A4 past Wrocław towards Gliwice and then south on the A1 to the Czech border near Bohumín, where the D1 continues directly into Ostrava.

Which way is quicker depends on the collection point in the United Kingdom and the current traffic, and we take both into account when planning. Czech motorways charge an electronic toll for heavier vehicles, as do Polish expressways and motorways, and these costs form part of the transport calculation.

Customs for shipments to the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic belongs to the European Union. Freight from Great Britain therefore needs an export declaration on the UK side and an import declaration in the EU, together with EORI numbers for the sender and the importer. When the vehicle leaves via Dover or the Channel Tunnel, GVMS matches the declarations to it through a Goods Movement Reference. Please have your customs agent complete these steps before collection, as DAGO Express does not prepare customs declarations.

Choosing a freight forwarder in Ostrava for your route to and from the UK

More than 50,000 vehicles in 38 countries are available through the DAGO Express network, and over 15,000 companies organise their haulage with it. If a vehicle breaks down, a replacement vehicle takes over immediately so that your goods keep moving. Verified partners holding a valid EU licence and, where required, an ADR licence handle the international runs, and every shipment is monitored 24/7, weekends and public holidays included.

The Schunck Group provides insurance up to 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight; for goods with a higher value, extra cover can be booked at short notice. After placing an order, you receive a tracking link, and emails confirm collection and delivery. Regular shippers use the DAGO ShipperHub to manage orders, follow ETAs and KPIs and export reports as PDF or Excel files.

Getting a price for your road freight is quick: the online price calculator needs only postcodes, dimensions and weight and shows the result within seconds. You can also book in the DAGO app or send a quote request by email. From Ostrava, the network extends into Poland, Slovakia and further east. Return loads from Moravia-Silesia to Britain can be booked in the same way.