Frequently Asked Questions

If you need to change a LeShuttle Freight booking before you travel, you can do so online or by contacting the LeShuttle Freight sales team, provided the amendment is made at least 24 hours before your scheduled crossing.

You can amend key details such as your date of travel or vehicle registration, subject to availability. Changes to the direction of travel are not permitted.

For step-by-step instructions and full terms, please see our page on how to amend your booking.

When you book a LeShuttle Freight crossing, your ticket is valid for your planned date of travel, as well as one day before or one day after that date. This gives you a three-day window, offering you flexibility should your plans change.

Travel is subject to availability, and you may be required to amend your booking if you choose to travel on a different day within this window. For more information on making changes to your booking, please see our page on how to amend your booking.

Yes, you can purchase a LeShuttle Freight ticket on arrival at the Terminal via the Freight Drivers' Centres, provided capacity protection is not in place.

You can find the Freight Drivers' Centres at both terminals:

• Folkestone: Located in the Freight Park after check-in.
• Calais: Located just before check-in

Please note that purchasing a ticket on arrival is subject to availability, and advance booking is recommended wherever possible to guarantee travel.

You cannot make a booking with LeShuttle Freight without a valid vehicle registration number. Both the Folkestone and Calais terminals make use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to identify your vehicle at check-in.

If you do not yet have a vehicle registration, you still have two options:

• Book up to one hour before arrival, once your vehicle registration is known
• Purchase your ticket on arrival at the Terminal, subject to availability

These options ensure you can still travel even if your vehicle details are not confirmed in advance.

LeShuttle Freight tickets are non-refundable under the Conditions of Carriage, except in limited circumstances where LeShuttle Freight cancels or significantly disrupts services.

If your travel plans change, you can amend your booking instead, subject to availability. Travel must be undertaken within six months of the initial booking date, after which the booking will be permanently lost and no refund or credit is due. Should you wish to reschedule your booking, you can do so online.

For full details, please see the Conditions of Carriage.

When making a booking with LeShuttle Freight, the personal details requested are for the individual making the booking, and are used for invoicing and administrative purposes. The driver’s personal details are not required at the time of booking.

LeShuttle Freight bookings are made for the day of travel rather than a specific departure. Upon arrival at the terminal, you will be allocated to the next available departure, depending on availability and the time of arrival.

Capacity protection is a measure used by LeShuttle Freight that ensures regular freight customers can continue to travel during periods of disruption or exceptionally high demand.

When capacity protection is active:

• Non-account holder sales are suspended
• Turn-up-and-go travel is not accepted
• New bookings cannot be made

Any bookings already confirmed remain valid and will be honoured during capacity protection.

No - a trailer number is not required when making a booking with LeShuttle Freight.

You can complete your booking without this information, even if your trailer details are not yet confirmed.

The term ‘tractor registration’ refers to your vehicle registration number. This information is required at the time of booking.

LeShuttle Freight does not operate on a fixed timetable. Instead, shuttles run frequently throughout the day, with up to six departures per hour at peak times. 

The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. When you arrive at the terminal, you will be allocated to the next available departure, subject to availability at the time.

If your VAT number is not being accepted when you book online, please ensure that you include the correct country code at the start of the number (for example, GB, FR, DE).

If your VAT number is entered correctly, includes the correct country code, and you are still experiencing issues, please contact the LeShuttle Freight team for assistance.

To open an account with LeShuttle Freight, please visit our Account benefits section and contact the LeShuttle Freight sales team.

The sales team will guide you through the process and take your company details to set up your account.

No - LeShuttle Freight charges per vehicle unit, not per passenger.

However, for safety reasons, all passengers must be declared at check-in, and a maximum 3 passengers per vehicle is permitted.

No – Road Tax cannot be purchased at the LeShuttle Freight terminal. In the limited cases where a Eurovignette is required, it should be purchased online in advance. To do this, visit the Eurovignette  website. Drivers may also purchase a Eurovignette from nearby truck parks located a short distance from the Folkestone terminal, such as Stop 24 or Ashford Truckstop.

Please note that many European countries do not use the Eurovignette and instead operate distance-based or toll systems. It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure that any applicable road charges are paid before travel.

There is no fixed arrival time for LeShuttle Freight. You should arrive on your booked day of travel and allow sufficient time to check in and clear all the controls.

You can view real-time service information, including current waiting times before checking in to help plan your arrival. Once checked in and all controls are complete, your vehicle will be allocated to the next available departure.

LeShuttle Freight runs frequently throughout the day, with up to six departures per hour at peak times.

It’s easy to check in with LeShuttle Freight — follow the directions to the Channel Tunnel from the M20 motorway or “Tunnel sous la Manche” from the A16 in France.

When you arrive at check-in, your vehicle registration number will be detected automatically. Our self-check-in screens are available in 12 languages - simply follow the instructions displayed on the screens to complete the check-in process.

The crossing takes 35 minutes from platform to platform.

Shuttles travel through the tunnel at speeds of up to 87 mph (140 km/h), making LeShuttle Freight the fastest and most efficient way to travel the Channel with a truck. The process is designed to minimise stoppage and fuel use. Find out more about our truck shuttles.

No. During the crossing, you will leave your vehicle and a bus will take you to a Club Car (amenity wagon).

On arrival, you will be taken back to your vehicle to continue your journey.

LeShuttle Freight operates frequent departures throughout the day, but waiting times can vary depending on demand and operational conditions.

Drivers can check real-time service information using the LeShuttle Driver Companion app, which shows average transit times and the number of departures per hour. Please note that live departure times are not provided.

You can also visit our service status page for the latest traffic updates at the terminals.

The London Congestion Charge is a road-user charge applied to vehicles driving within central London during certain hours.

LeShuttle Freight does not charge or collect the London Congestion Charge. If your journey continues into central London after crossing with LeShuttle Freight, it is your responsibility to check whether the charge applies to your vehicle and to pay it separately.

For more information, please visit the TfL website.

The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) is a London road safety requirement that applies to certain heavy goods vehicles operating in Greater London.

LeShuttle Freight does not assess, enforce, or manage DVS compliance. If your journey continues into London, it is your responsibility to ensure that your vehicle meets DVS requirements and that any necessary permits are in place.

ZFE-m (Zones à Faibles Émissions mobilité) are low-emission zones in France that restrict access for certain vehicles based on their emissions standard and Crit’Air classification, including in cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille and more.

Precise ZFE-m rules vary by city, so operators should check local requirements before travelling. LeShuttle Freight does not manage or enforce ZFE-m rules. If your journey continues into a ZFE-m area, it is the operator’s responsibility to ensure compliance.

Crit’Air is a vehicle emissions classification system used in France. Vehicles are assigned a Crit’Air sticker based on their emissions level, which is used to determine whether they are permitted to enter low-emission zones (ZFE-m).

LeShuttle Freight does not issue, manage or enforce Crit’Air classifications. If your journey continues into a ZFE-m area, it is the operator’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle holds the correct Crit’Air certification and complies with local rules.

LeShuttle’s terminals are situated in Folkestone in Kent, England and Coquelles in Pas-du-Calais, France. If you require further information or directions to either of the LeShuttle Freight terminals, visit our where to find us page.

The LeShuttle Folkestone terminal is easily accessed just off of Junction 11A of the M20, heading towards Dover.

When leaving the motorway, follow signs for the Channel Tunnel and keep right at the fork to continue to Freight Departures. The route is clearly signposted throughout, so won’t need to rely solely on your Sat Nav.

If required, Stop 24 Folkestone services, located just off Junction 11 of the M20, is nearby and provides facilities for freight drivers before arrival at the terminal.

The LeShuttle Freight terminal at Coquelles, near Calais, is accessed via the A16 motorway.

As you approach the area, follow signs for “Tunnel sous la Manche” and Freight / Fret. The terminal is clearly signposted, and directions on site will guide you to the correct Freight check-in lanes

Yes – secure parking is available at the LeShuttle Freight Village within the Calais (Coquelles) terminal, providing a safe environment for drivers to take a rest break on arrival in France. 

There is no secure parking within the LeShuttle Folkestone terminal itself. However, the Ashford Truckstop and Stop 24 are just a short distance away should you need a rest break before or after travelling. Stop 24 is the closest option, just minutes up the road, and the Ashford Truckstop is only a 20-minute drive from the Folkestone terminal.

No - pets are not permitted on LeShuttle Freight services.

A maximum of three people, including the driver, are permitted to travel on LeShuttle Freight services per vehicle.

Only children aged 12 years and older are permitted to travel on the LeShuttle Freight shuttles.

No - for safety reasons, campervans are not permitted to travel on LeShuttle Freight shuttles.

Yes - you may transport up to 60 litres of permitted fuel per transport unit, provided it is carried in suitable portable fuel containers.

LeShuttle Freight accepts vehicles that meet defined size and weight limits for safety and operational reasons:

• Maximum weight: 44 tonnes (44,000 kg)
• Maximum vehicle height: 4.20 m
• Maximum vehicle width: 2.60 m (excluding mirrors)
• Maximum vehicle length: 19.40 m (total length)

Vehicles that exceed these limits may not be permitted to travel on the Freight shuttles. LeShuttle Freight also reserves the right to refuse any vehicle it considers unsuitable for travel.

For full details including fuel type restrictions and other vehicle eligibility requirements, please see our vehicle restrictions page.

LeShuttle Freight permits the carriage of dangerous goods in line with ADR regulations, subject to conditions.

All dangerous goods must be declared in advance and comply with ADR requirements. Restrictions apply depending on factors such as ADR classification, quantity, packaging and documentation, and not all goods are authorised to travel.

For more information about LeShuttle Freight’s policy on the transport of dangerous goods, please visit our Dangerous Goods section.

Yes, you can bring food with you for personal consumption when travelling between Folkestone & Calais on LeShuttle Freight, and for your onward journey.

However, some food products are restricted when entering the EU, particularly items of animal origin (such as meat and dairy) and certain plant products. These rules are set by EU and national authorities and apply regardless of your method of travel.

To avoid issues at the border, please refer to the official guidance on what food and plant products can be brought into the EU.

If you believe that you have lost an item while using the LeShuttle Freight service, please contact the LeShuttle Freight sales team as soon as possible.

When getting in touch, provide as much information as you can, including details of the item and when and where it may have been lost to help us investigate.

For  the latest guidance regarding Brexit border requirements, including border formalities and identity documentation, please visit our border formalities section.

Eurotunnel announced its rebrand to LeShuttle in May 2023.

The new branding, developed by Landor & Fitch, reflects a refreshed visual identity and contributes just one aspect of a broader strategy to enhance the the Channel Tunnel experience for both passengers and freight customers.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle is now branded as LeShuttle. Our freight service is referred to as LeShuttle Freight, while the passenger service is known simply as LeShuttle. This change helps us further distinguish between the two services.There’s nothing you need to do, and the rebrand does not affect your travel.

Getlink changed its corporate name from Groupe Eurotunnel to Getlink on 20 November 2017.

This was a rebranding of the existing group, not an acquisition. Ownership and operations remain the same, with the group continuing to operate LeShuttle and LeShuttle Freight services under the new corporate name.