Emergency & Last-Minute Transport – What to Expect

Sometimes transport can’t wait. Missed collections, production breakdowns, last-minute event changes or urgent stock shortages all require immediate action. At London Lorry Courier, we provide responsive emergency and last-minute transport services across London, the UK and Europe — but there are a few important things to understand before booking.

This guide explains what emergency transport involves, how it differs from planned haulage, and how to get the fastest possible response when time is critical.

What Counts as Emergency Transport?

Emergency or last-minute transport typically means a job that needs collecting within hours rather than days. Common scenarios include:

  • Missed or failed deliveries
  • Urgent production parts or machinery
  • Last-minute event or exhibition equipment
  • Retail or hospitality stock shortages
  • Breakdowns in existing logistics chains

These jobs are often handled using our Same day HGV delivery or urgent van services through London Van Courier.

Availability: What’s Realistic?

We operate 24/7, and many emergency jobs can be covered the same day. However, availability depends on several factors:

  • Vehicle size required
  • Driver hours and legal limits
  • Traffic and road conditions
  • Collection and delivery access

Smaller or flexible loads may be suitable for vans, while larger consignments often require 7.5 Tonne Lorry Transport (Up to 10 Pallets) or 18 Tonne Lorry Transport. Larger vehicles naturally have more limited short-notice availability.

Emergency Transport Costs

Last-minute transport is typically more expensive than pre-booked work. This is because it may involve:

  • Immediate driver redeployment
  • Out-of-hours or overnight work
  • Direct, dedicated vehicle use
  • Route changes or priority scheduling

Most emergency jobs are carried out as dedicated loads under our Direct Delivery Service, ensuring your goods go straight from collection to delivery without delay.

How to Speed Up an Emergency Booking

When time is tight, accurate information makes all the difference. To get the fastest possible response, please provide:

  • Exact collection and delivery postcodes
  • Required collection time and deadline
  • Clear description of the goods
  • Total weight and dimensions
  • Access details at both locations

Incomplete information can delay vehicle allocation or result in the wrong vehicle being dispatched.

Emergency Transport in London

London presents additional challenges for last-minute jobs, including congestion, access restrictions and compliance requirements. All emergency lorry movements within Greater London must meet the London DVS Compliant Lorry Transport standards.

Our local knowledge and proximity to key Transport Network routes allow us to respond quickly while remaining fully compliant.

Emergency European Transport

We also provide urgent international movements, including Same Day Urgent European Van Transport. While these services are possible at short notice, international emergency transport requires additional consideration for:

  • Customs documentation
  • Ferry or tunnel availability
  • Driver hours and rest periods

For this reason, European emergency jobs are almost always booked as dedicated services.

When Emergency Transport Isn’t the Best Option

While we’ll always do our best to help, emergency transport isn’t always the most sensible solution. If a delivery can wait even 24 hours, booking in advance often results in:

  • Lower costs
  • Greater vehicle choice
  • More reliable delivery windows

Our guide on booking lead times explains this in more detail.

Our Advice

If your job is genuinely urgent, contact us immediately and we’ll assess the fastest and safest option. If it’s avoidable, planning ahead will always provide better value and flexibility.

Need Emergency Transport Now?

Call London Lorry Courier on 0203 417 4450 or contact us via Contact. If possible, submit full details through our Get A Quote page to help us respond as quickly as possible.