The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of transport duration on some welfare and meat quality parameters. One hundred and forty four pigs were used. Half of the animals were subjected to 15 min and the others to 3 h transport time. Blood from all animals was analyzed in order to detect stress-susceptible pigs and assess pre-slaughter stress. Meat quality parameters, such as pH, water holding capacity, grade, were measured or assessed. It was concluded that under normal Spanish commercial conditions, pigs subjected to short transport showed a more intense stress response and poor meat quality than pigs subjected moderately long transport when they were immediately slaughtered on arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport of 3 h might have allowed the animals to adapt to transport conditions and then could act as a resting period like a lairage time. The effect of transport time on welfare and meat quality parameters was more important than genotype and sex. Nevertheless, from the point of view of blood enzyme activities, genetically stress susceptible females transported for 3 h were more sensitive to muscles damage.