BRT shipping: the guide on how to ship with Bartolini

BRT shipping: the complete guide to shipping with Italy's most famous courier

If you run an ecommerce business, you've probably considered shipping your products with BRT's red vans (or Bartolini, for those still attached to the old brand name).

BRT has two major strengths: very competitive prices and extensive distribution network coverage. Is that enough to make it your ideal partner? This article will help you find out.

Before we start, though, it should be said that Bartolini doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to how carefully packages are handled. But you also have to remember that Bartolini has thrived for 92 years in an extremely competitive industry. If it didn't know how to create value for its customers, it would have closed up shop long ago.

One last thing: if Bartolini still doesn't convince you despite all this, take a look at our article on Italian couriers. We've put together a complete overview of all the couriers operating across the country, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

Table of contents

With the necessary introduction out of the way, let's see what BRT has to offer and how you can make the most of its services.

❓ FAQ about shipping with BRT

BRT Domestic Shipping

BRT's entire fleet operates in Italy and relies on 180 branches spread across the country. This extensive coverage makes domestic shipping Bartolini's main strength and the primary reason (along with price) that drives many Italian companies to ship with BRT.

Let's take a look at the services they offer.

BRT Bartolini Express

Express is BRT's basic offering. With Express, delivery takes place the day after pickup. The only weight and size limits are those imposed by the truck, and there are no limits on the number of parcels that can be included in a single shipment.

BRT Bartolini Priority

Priority is an upgrade to the basic service, guaranteeing delivery by 12:00 the day after pickup. To use the service, you first need to check its availability at the delivery location. Priority deliveries cover 70% of Italian territory (for a total of 3,000 locations).

Keep in mind that for Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia, Priority delivery is only guaranteed by 12:00 on the second day after pickup.

Like Express, Priority has no limits on weight, volume or number of parcels per shipment, other than the truck's physical limits.

BRT 10:30 Service

Is noon too late? Let's make it half past ten.

The 10:30 service guarantees a further upgrade on delivery times. However, due to time constraints, it's only available in 1,500 Italian commercial locations. There are also weight and size limits, set at a maximum of 100 kg for 0.5 cubic meters of volume.

Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia are included in the service, but require an extra day (just like with Priority).

Shipping with Bartolini: Envelopes and Documents

The envelopes and documents service has a misleading name because it can also be used for bulky items, as long as they're not fragile.

Messaggeria Service

The Messaggeria service is specifically designed to handle heavy and/or bulky shipments. It's typically used by large retail chains to keep their supply flow running.

BRT International Shipping

Bartolini's fleet only operates within Italy, but BRT still manages to guarantee deliveries to its customers all over the world.

How does it manage that? It's actually quite simple.

To avoid having to expand its fleet of trucks indefinitely, Bartolini has established agreements with other highly specialized couriers and relies on their transport networks. This solution allows it to offer an efficient service and maintain competitive prices by leveraging the large traffic volumes it's able to guarantee its partners.

Let's take a look at who these partners are and what they do.

BRT Shipping: European Road Service

To guarantee the road transport of goods across Europe, BRT relies on two courier networks: DPDgroup and EuroExpress.

DPDgroup

DPDgroup is a European leader in single-parcel shipping. The company has its operational base in France and reaches a daily volume of 5.3 million delivered parcels. Its network includes DPD, Chronopost, Seur and BRT itself.

EuroExpress

EuroExpress is a European distribution network made up of the best local road couriers from each country. Thanks to their internal organization, they're able to handle any type of heavy or multi-parcel shipment, including cash on delivery or freight collect.

If you need to transport something beyond DPDgroup's reach, EuroExpress is the solution for you.

Countries Covered in Europe

By relying on these two networks, BRT is able to cover the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Principality of Monaco, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary.

International Air Service

For international air shipments, BRT has entered into a partnership with FedEx, which owns the largest air fleet in the world. We're talking about 660 aircraft capable of reaching over 220 countries with a door-to-door service of 48-72 hours. For a quick comparison, Alitalia owns "only" 116 aircraft.

In short: if goods can be flown, FedEx is the go-to company to do it. Their Freight services cover any weight range between 68 and 1,000 kg, but it's worth checking the location, since the service isn't available for every destination.

On top of this, there are also limits on the maximum declarable value for customs purposes. These limits are 100 dollars for documents, up to 50,000 for the express parcel service, and up to 100,000 for the Messaggeria service (which also corresponds to the maximum insurable amount with BRT — see the "Insurance" chapter below).

Is it worth shipping with BRT abroad?

At this point you might be wondering why you should use BRT for your international shipments, given that they're not the ones actually delivering the parcels. Wouldn't it be better to go directly to DPDgroup, EuroExpress or FedEx?

If most of your shipments are headed to Europe and the rest of the world, you probably should!

As mentioned earlier, all of BRT's direct traffic takes place within Italy. The international options exist to cover the needs of customers who generate a lot of domestic traffic and don't want to deal with occasional foreign shipments through a different provider.

If your business is mainly export-based, you should probably take a look at our article on DHL shipping, DHL Global Mail or on how to ship with Poste Italiane.

How much does it cost to ship with BRT?

Here we are at the big question: how much does it cost to ship with BRT?

The first thing to keep in mind is that Bartolini calculates shipping prices based on the volumetric weight of the parcel. Beyond that, the other main variables that determine the final cost are the shipping service chosen and the parcel's destination. To find out the exact price of your shipment, you'll need to request a quote on the courier's website, entering all the parameters related to weight, volume and destination.

But there's good news!

If you run an ecommerce business and want to ship your products with BRT at affordable prices, you can take advantage of Sendcloud's discounted rates.

We're serious: shipping with BRT through Sendcloud pays off. By signing up for one of our plans, you can take advantage of our discounted courier rates (or you can choose to use your own rates by uploading your contract to the platform).

Additional Services for BRT Shipments

Recipient Notification Services

Delivery of the parcel is a crucial part of any e-commerce business. It's only once the customer receives the parcel that they decide whether they're satisfied with their purchase experience and, therefore, whether they'll buy again.

For this reason, recipient notification services are essential. The more flexibility and delivery assurance a service provides, the more relaxed and satisfied your customers will be.

BRT seems to be quite familiar with this concept, because their recipient notification services are designed to give your customers full autonomy. If you send shipment data electronically, all you need to do is enter the recipient's email or mobile number in the relevant field to activate the shipment confirmation notification service and/or the failed delivery attempt notification service.

Through these services, BRT will inform the recipient of the expected shipping date, the approximate delivery time and, most importantly, the BRTcode. This identification code allows your customer to access live tracking of the shipment directly on BRT's website and manage the delivery.

For example, if the first delivery attempt fails, thanks to the BRTcode the recipient can schedule a new delivery according to their needs.

The new delivery can be requested at the same address by choosing the most convenient day and time, or it can take place at a different address (if allowed by the sender). Your customer could even decide to arrange pickup directly at a branch. All of this happens with complete autonomy and without the need for constant supervision from your customer support team.

BRT Shipping: Home Delivery to Individuals

Having the parcel delivered straight to your door is always a great plus. To use this option, you'll need to provide very specific details, such as the local postal code, the name or number shown on the intercom, and the recipient's phone number.

A further advantage of this option is that in the event of a failed delivery, before opening a hold, the courier will try to contact the recipient directly by phone.

Bartolini Shipping: Delivery by Appointment

This is also a very convenient option for guaranteeing the best possible receiving experience. The customer is contacted within 24 hours of the parcel's arrival at the BRT branch, and specific arrangements are made regarding the delivery time.

Shipping with BRT: Delivery to a Neighbor

Some people only talk to their neighbor through lawyers, and some trust their neighbor enough to leave them a spare set of house keys. This service is designed specifically for the second type of neighbor.

If your customer isn't home, but their friendly neighbor is, the delivery can still be completed.

The only obvious condition is that the trusted neighbor must live at the same address. If the only human being within 50 meters that your customer gets along with lives in the building across the street, this service isn't for them.

Shipping with Bartolini: Pincode

If you want to increase the level of security around the recipient's identity, this is the service for you.

By activating Pincode, your customer will be given a code that must be entered into the driver's terminal at the time of delivery.

If the correct code isn't provided, the delivery cannot be completed.

P.O.D. image

This service makes signed waybill images available online, showing the day, time and name of the person who accepted the delivery.

Secure Box

This option is very interesting for anyone dealing in glass bottles.

It's packaging specifically designed for the safe transport of wine, oil and spirit bottles of any kind.

The packaging can be requested directly at a BRT branch and is available in several sizes, holding anywhere from 1 to a maximum of 12 bottles.

How special can bottle packaging really be? Judging by the numbers, the Secure Box is pretty special: it takes up 5 times less space than traditional polystyrene packaging, and the average breakage rate is only 0.0034%. You're almost more likely to win the lottery than to end up with broken glass and soggy cardboard.

BRT Shipping: Cash on Delivery Service

BRT allows goods to be delivered with cash-on-delivery payment and guarantees a fast transfer of the amounts collected.

You'll need to clearly specify the amount to be collected and the collection method. Payment can be made by cash or by check made out to the sender.

BRT fermopoint

Bartolini offers a very extensive network of pickup points. We're talking about more than 6,000 BRT-fermopoint locations across Italy and 70,000 DPDgroup pickup points across Europe.

Using this shipping method offers some significant advantages, including:

• Flexibility. Greater flexibility for customers in choosing the pickup day and time and managing returns, without needing to be home on the day their order is delivered. In fact, there are BRT-fermopoint locations open even on weekends, until late in the evening, or with continuous opening hours.

• Convenience. Customers can choose from a very wide range of delivery locations across Italy.

• Sustainability. Picking up at a fermopoint is the most sustainable delivery method, as it allows shipments to be concentrated in a single point, drastically reducing the kilometers driven by the courier.

Insurance for BRT Shipments

By law, the carrier is responsible for the loss or damage of the goods it transports. Unless the damage is due to the nature of the goods themselves or to poor packaging.

For transport within Italy, the liability cap is set out in legislative document No. 286/2005. This is fixed at a maximum of 1.00 euro for every gross kilo of lost or damaged goods.

For international road transport, the reference law comes from the Geneva International Convention of 19/05/1956. It provides for a maximum reimbursement of 8.33 SDR per gross kg transported.

SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) are a particular type of currency of the International Monetary Fund, created to replace gold in international transactions. Since it's a kind of common denominator across several currencies, its value fluctuates in line with the reference currencies. Right now (June 2020) the value of 1 SDR is 1.11690 euros.

International air transport, on the other hand, is regulated by the Warsaw Convention, which provides for a maximum reimbursement of 17 SDR per gross kg of lost or damaged goods.

Since these are very generic terms, BRT offers two additional insurance products designed to cover more specific needs:

• AC BASE: the standard insurance product. Simple, affordable and with a single premium. It provides a maximum compensation limit of €6.20/kg with All Risk coverage, with no deductible or excess. Goods can only be insured by weight.

• AC PLUS: a highly flexible product, customizable based on the customer's needs. It provides a differentiated maximum reimbursement limit, a variable premium, and goods that can be insured by parcel, by weight, or by shipment.

The maximum compensation limit is 100,000 euros for all shipments sent to a single recipient on the same day.

Preparing Your BRT Shipment

Goods That Can and Cannot Be Shipped

Just as the devil makes pots but not lids, Bartolini's fire-red trucks have their own limits too.

Let's find out what they are.

Dangerous Goods for BRT Shipments

BRT doesn't transport all types of goods.

Among the parcels that don't get the privilege of riding in its vans are any containing dangerous goods. BRT doesn't have the authorization or the appropriate equipment to transport such goods. It takes no responsibility for any damage caused by unauthorized shipments.

Shipping with BRT: Size Limits

The restrictions don't stop at what's flammable or explosive — even extremely bulky parcels can cause you problems.

When a parcel exceeds one tonne, for example, it's considered too bulky to be transported by BRT. The same applies if it's taller than 1.8 meters or longer than 4 meters.

The list of unaccepted configurations is fairly extensive, and it would take a while to list every variable. Just as an example: if the parcel weighs more than 50 kg, the maximum allowed length is only 140 cm.

If you handle goods of a certain weight, the best thing to do is contact your local BRT branch and get their approval regarding the parcel's weight and dimensions.

Bartolini Shipments: Perishable Goods, Animals and Valuables

If you regularly deal with perishable goods, you'll already know that many couriers won't transport them, and unfortunately BRT is one of them. The same rule applies to live animals and high-value items.

Check the BRT insurance limits to get a clearer picture.

Packaging for Shipping with Bartolini

Good packaging is essential for shipping without problems, and BRT is no exception. So let's talk a bit about packaging.

The first thing to consider is that goods that can't be packaged can't be shipped. A boat, for example, is considered unpackageable (it sounds funny, but it's Bartolini itself that uses this example, so someone has probably asked).

For goods that can be properly packaged and/or secured to a pallet, BRT offers the following guidelines:

• The packaging must be sturdy, suitable for protecting the goods, and must not be second-hand. The presence of old addresses or old barcodes is strictly forbidden.

• The recipient's address must be shown clearly and legibly, with the specific postal code included. If the parcel is headed to a city with multiple postal codes, a generic one isn't enough.

• It's important to use adhesive tape branded with the sender's company logo. Plain tape may be accepted with reservations, but BRT is not liable for the contents of parcels packaged with plain tape.

• Boxes must contain enough packing material to keep the goods secure. Pallets must be in good condition (ideally Eur or Epal type).

That said, BRT states that all types of packaging are accepted, as long as they're sturdy enough to protect the goods during transport.

Freight Prepaid and Freight Collect

Nothing new under the sun, but if your job is selling online and developing marketing strategies… it's easy to mix them up. Here's a handy trick to get around the problem:

Freight prepaid shipments are paid for by the sender (that's you, unfortunately). Imagine having to stick a nice 2,000-euro franking stamp on every shipment, and you'll see it sticks in your mind.

Freight collect shipments, on the other hand, are paid for by your customers, so you can hand them the "pleasure" of covering the costs (maybe with a nice check).

BRT Shipments: Customs Documents

When it comes to handling customs documents, you'll need to provide everything yourself. On its website, Bartolini has a fairly extensive list of the documentation required for certain categories of goods. Since the documentation can vary a lot depending on the goods being transported, it's always best to check with their customer support.

If you need help with customs documents, we at Sendcloud have thought of everything. Here you can find a free tool to generate a commercial invoice in two clicks, for free.

Your Partner for Shipping with BRT

If this article has answered all your questions and you've decided to give Bartolini a chance, but don't want to take time away from running your business, we can offer much more than just useful advice.

Sendcloud manages shipments all over the world for more than 15,000 successful e-commerce businesses, and we help new partners every day.

How does Sendcloud work? Find out in under 1 minute!

Want to learn more? Request a Sendcloud demo of our services and discuss your needs with one of our experts. We can help you too! Or you can go straight ahead and try Sendcloud — it's up to you!

Before we let you go, we also suggest taking a look at our articles on DHL shipping and on how to ship with Poste Italiane. We shared the links earlier. It's always best to weigh up all your options before making a decision, which is why here you can also check out GLS shipping or shipping with FedEx.

One last thing about your BRT shipments: with Sendcloud, you get to choose how you ship! If you already have your own contracts with BRT, you can integrate them with our platform and your online store, and manage waybill printing, tracking, returns and much more automatically. If you don't have contracts, don't worry! We have them — you can use ours and ship with BRT through Sendcloud in less than two clicks!

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping with BRT

How long do domestic shipments with BRT take?

With BRT, domestic shipments are typically delivered in 1-2 business days.

How long do international shipments with BRT take?

Bartolini's delivery times vary depending on the destination country:

• 2 days: Austria, Germany, Switzerland

• 3 days: Croatia, France, Principality of Monaco, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Spain, Hungary.

• 4 days: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Czech Rep., Slovakia

• 5 days: Sweden

How can I ship affordably with BRT?

BRT's strengths are its very competitive prices and its extensive distribution network. But at the same time, it's one of the express couriers most affected by local differences. The rates applied depend on each individual branch's decisions, which makes the service somewhat inconsistent.

Visit our article comparing Italian couriers to understand whether Bartolini is the right courier for your ecommerce business's needs.

How do I package a parcel for BRT?

In addition to general best practices for packaging a product, Bartolini provides specific guidelines. These can be summarized in four key points: