General procedure for slot booking at the Unikai terminal.
To ensure that your deliveries at the Unikai terminal proceed smoothly and efficiently, prior slot booking is required. On this page, you will find all the essential information on the standardized process – from booking a time slot and arrival to handling on the terminal premises. The structured procedure helps reduce waiting times, coordinate operations, and ensure predictable logistics. Please familiarize yourself with the individual steps in advance.
New slot booking procedure
The slot system helps prevent bottlenecks by making traffic flow and resources more efficiently manageable for all parties involved. It enables better coordination between transport operations and terminal capacity. With the introduction of this system, having a valid slot has become a prerequisite for processing at the terminal.
Access to the holding area is only permitted with a valid slot registration within the booked time window.
How does slot booking work?
A slot must be booked at the terminal for each delivery or pickup. A valid slot is required to open the gate to the holding area and to proceed with processing.
Slots can be booked between three and ten days in advance, depending on the processing area.
Slots can be managed, modified, or canceled up to 2 hours before the slot start time using the registration number.
Additional bookings to an existing slot are possible if current capacity allows. If necessary, please cancel your slot in a timely manner to give other shippers the opportunity to book a slot.
General Summary
Never approach the Unikai terminal without a valid slot, even if you have missed your scheduled slot. Early arrivals are also not permitted. Please aim to reach Unikai within your booked time window; if this is not possible, cancel your slot in a timely manner.
Only book a slot if the transport is actually planned. Book only the number of slots you truly need. Make use of all booked slots and avoid cancellations. If you must cancel a slot, please do so early to make it available for other participants.
For processing, vehicles must have a valid slot before arriving at the terminal.
Questions and Answers about Slot Booking
07.07.2025
A slot must be booked for all shipments.
All types of general cargo, containers, and vehicles (new & used) are subject to the slot requirement.
Yes, Unikai does not charge a fee for slot booking.
For shipments with individual pieces weighing over 45.00 tons, we request 72 hours’ prior notice including booking details and shipment information.
A valid slot is a prerequisite for processing. Processing without a tour plan (TR02)* or registration number (Unikai slot) is not possible, as it is already required to access the holding area.
As a rule, all shipments must be pre-notified.
Pre-notification must, in any case, be made before arrival at the terminal. Depending on the type of cargo, this can be done 3–10 days in advance.
• Containers
• General cargo
• Vehicles
The time window usually starts and ends on the hour. The duration of a booked slot is 60 minutes ± 30 minutes. Deviating slot times, such as break periods, are highlighted in color in the slot booking.
Container shipments can, as already familiar from other HHLA container terminals in Hamburg, be pre-notified and slots booked via the TR02 (Truckgate).* Additionally, the Unikai booking system also provides the option to book slots for containers.
Slots for the delivery or pickup of vehicles can only be booked via the Unikai slot system. See the slot booking instructions for guidance.
Slots for the delivery or pickup of general cargo can only be booked via the Unikai slot system. Please refer to the slot booking instructions.
Yes, see mixed bookings.
To book a slot at https://slot.unikai.de, you only need an internet-enabled device. A detailed guide can be found in the manual.
To book a slot at https://slot.unikai.de, you only need an internet-enabled device. A detailed guide can be found in the manual.
A valid slot is required to open the gate to the holding area. Please have your TP-/* registration number ready.
Without a valid TP-/* registration number, access to the holding area will not be granted. The driver must immediately exit the lane via the bypass.
For driver identification and the issuance of the entry document, the driver must go to the MVP. Additionally, certain transports require further steps during the manual pre-check (MVP).
Yes, a valid official photo ID (ID card / passport) must be carried at all times.
No, waiting in the terminal’s holding area or in front of the terminal is not permitted. The holding area parking spaces may only be used by drivers who have registered their transport and reached their designated time window.
The system automatically suggests the next available time slots.
Off-peak times are particularly suitable for transport, as terminal utilization is usually significantly lower during these periods.
Please check whether it is possible to reschedule the slot.
Fair booking practices also include canceling a booked slot in a timely manner to make it available for other participants in the slot system.
“No-shows” or frequent and last-minute cancellations of slots are recorded and may be subject to penalties.
Check your booking details and, if necessary, contact your client.
Indicate during the slot booking process that you are delivering cargo under the transit procedure (T1). A detailed description can be found in the manual.
When delivering, always carry the required documents, as they will be processed at the MVP.
No. The Unikai slot system provides the option to book a single combined slot when transporting different types of cargo simultaneously. This applies to both deliveries and pickups.
A detailed description can be found in the manual.
In the UNIKAI slot system, select the type of loading assistance you require. You can choose between forklift assistance and loading/unloading by Unikai staff. When booking the slot, please confirm that you are aware that additional charges apply. If necessary, clarify this with your client beforehand.
If loading/unloading is to be carried out by Unikai personnel, please bring the signed liability waiver. Assistance can be selected individually for each vehicle within a slot. Loading/unloading assistance is only available Monday to Friday between 06:50 and 14:00. Please take this into account when booking your slot.
No, you only need one slot for your planned transport (delivery or pickup).
In the slot booking, each vehicle to be delivered or picked up must be listed separately.
No, please only provide the base vehicle.
No. Escort vehicles are assigned to a designated parking area at the gate.
No. If forklift assistance is required by Unikai during unloading, the “Forklift Assistance” option must be selected when registering the vehicle.
Please note that additional charges apply for this!
No, this is not possible.
Yes, this is intended for the following cases:
• Depot delivery / pickup
• Delivery of full / empty containers with the corresponding booking number
• Non-numeric deliveries
TR02:
Yes, this is possible. The tour plan will initially have the status “not executable.” It will automatically change to “executable” once the container is ready for delivery. At that point, the tour plan number is also transmitted.*
UNIKAI Slot System:
No, this is currently not supported.
As a general rule, slot booking is also mandatory for OOG containers. When booking a slot for delivery, set the “OOG” flag. Processing will be carried out by the MVP.
the slot booking procedure (SBP) can be suspended by the terminals if necessary. In exceptional situations, for example, when access to the terminal is not possible for an extended period, trucks may be processed outside of their booked slot. The applicable period is indicated for TR02 slots via the public capacity display. All trucks that have booked a slot within this period will still be processed if they arrive at the terminal later.*
Detailed user manuals for the UNIKAI slot system are available on the slot system help pages.
Connection to TR02 is in progress. We will inform you separately as soon as the integration is completed.
Additional areas for truckers
Here you will find all the important information for your delivery – from FAQs and slot booking to scheduling, pre-notification requirements, and useful downloads.