Top 20 logistics providers in DACH

If you run an eCommerce business for a while, you probably know how important it is to cooperate with trustworthy logistics providers. A customer experience is largely determined by your brand’s delivery  – its speed, providers’ range, costs, etc. When people buy items, they prefer to have them as soon as possible. Lately, more and more logistics companies switch to the 3PL model, which stands for third-party logistics. Such companies specialize in distribution, warehousing and fulfilment services.

In this article, you will find top 20 logistics providers from the DACH region, a big part of them are 3PL providers. 

Crème de la crème of DACH logistics industry

#1 DHL

This list could not be open otherwise, DHL is a global logistics operator which is located in Bonn but surprisingly it was founded in San Francisco. DHL is a division of German Deutsche Post. It operates globally and has its branches in over 220 countries including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is a 3PL provider.

DHL offers shipment of most of product’s categories, excluding large-sized like construction or home furnishing. This provider also does not transport food and beverages. 

#2 DB Schenker

DB Schenker is a part of the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG. In 2002, it was acquired by Deutsche Bahn as Schenker-Stinnes. The company works globally and offers air, land, and sea freight, as well as contract logistics. Its headquarter is in Duisburg. 

With DB Shenker you can transport all kinds of products except luggage. This company is also a 3PL provider.

#3 UPS

United Parcel Service is a global logistics company that serves more than 220 countries and territories, including the DACH region. This company has been on the market for over a century!

UPS’s headquarter is in Atlanta. It operates both in B2B and B2C and offers shipping and tracking, but not warehouse management.

#4 FedEx

FedEx was founded in the USA in 1971. Air freight is its main mode of transport. The company was the first to use jets. Until  today it has the largest cargo airlines in the world. 

FedEx operates globally, offers both domestics and international shipments. This company works in all three DACH countries, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. 

#5 Fiege Logistics

This company was founded in 1873 in Greven (Germany). As you may suppose, it is a company with a great history and experience. Fiege Logistisc has its branches all over Europe and Asia. It operates in a wide range of fields, from fashion to industry, but its services are limited to warehouse management, bulk shipping and return management. 

#6 Hellmann Worldwide Logistics

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is  a German 3PL company founded in 1871. It operates in many industries from fashion to automotive but excludes arts and craft, construction and luggage. 

A great thing about this company is that it offers reverse logistics, which is very helpful for eCommerce providers. 

#7 Havi 

This is another third-party logistics company with over 40 year of experience in this market. Havi operates in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. 

Its headquarter is located in Duisburg, Germany. It is OK to transport items like clothes, or even household items or furniture, but no to art and crafts, luggage, and large-scale constructions. 

#8 DACHSER

DACHSER, actually Dachser Group SE & Co. is based in Kempten, Germany. This logistic company was founded in 1930. 

There are over 300 branches all over the world. DACHSER operates in all three DACH countries, offering both B2B and B2C cooperation. You can transport your goods by air, sea, rail and land with this provider. 

#9 Kuehne + Nagel Inc.

Kuehne + Nagel Inc. is the first Swiss company in this comparison. Though it was founded in Germany in 1890, it transformed into a holding company located in Switzerland during the second half of the 20th century. 

It offers over 75 million square feet of warehouse space, including 14 million square feet in the US.

The company offers IT-based logistics solutions in over 60 countries. There is a  sea, air and road freight to choose from. 

#10 CEVA Logistics

Another Swiss logistic company, its headquarter is located in Baar. CEVA Logistics was formed by merger of TNT Logistics and EGL in 2007. It operates in many industries even in the event logistics which means large-sized packages to ship. 

CEVA Logistics offer air, marine and ground transport. There are also such positions as Customs brokerage, Contract logistics or Project Logistics in its offer.

#11 Helm

Helm is a German logistics provider, founded in 1900. This company offers domestic and international shipping, bulk shipping and freight shipping by all media transport. 

With Helm you can send your items to customers from around the globe. Helm offices are located in both Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa (Egypt only).

#12 Rhenus & Co

Rhenus & Co was formed in 1912. Nowadays it incorporates over 600 locations globally, mainly in Europe, Asia and South America,

This company employs 31,000 people. The Rhenus Group established the Rhenus Pharma Service in 2015 to consolidate logistics activities associated with pharmaceutical products from its existing sites in Germany. 

#13 Hermes

Hamburg-based Hermes is a member of the Otto Group and provides trade and logistics services globally. It was founded in 1972 and delivers packages to doorsteps to this day.

As an eCommerce, you can use it supply chain solutions, parcel shipment or Two-Man Handling by Hermes with is dedicated to big-size packages. 

#14 Panalpina/DSV.com

Lately, Panalpina has merged into DSV.com. This company operates in 80 countries, including Austria, Germany and Switzerland. 

DSV.com offers e.g., warehousing, fulfilment, 3rd party logistics, contract logistics. Your product can get to customers by sea, air, road and rail. They have a courier service, too. There is also a solution here for products of non-standard sizes and shapes, such as those from the industry. 

#15 Cargo-partner

The first Austrian provider here. Cargo-partner operates globally in 40 countries. Its headquarter is located in Vienna.

This company offers air and sea cargo, rail and road transport, warehousing and SCM which is Supply Chain Management. Cargo-partner works in industries like fashion, automotive, pharmaceuticals, retail, food and also high-tech.

#16 Gebrüder Weiss

Gebrüder Weiss headquartered in Lauterach, Austria. It offers services like air & sea freight, railway logistics, parcel service and also logistics solution e.g., supply chain management or warehousing & fulfilment.

Gebrüder Weiss operates in various market fields like consumer goods, fashion or even mechanical engineering.

#17 KÖNIG

König is an Austrian logistics provider headquartered in Wulkaprodersdorf, Austria. It is a family-owned company, founded in 1898 by Josef König.

This company operates in Western and Eastern Europe. It offers storage solutions like warehousing, commissioning and packing. What is important to say, König offers the road transport only. 

#18 DPD

DPD was founded in 1976 in Aschaffenburg, Germany but towards it is a french La Poste that owns the company. DPD is a courier service.

It offers global shipmen to 27 European countries. The company offers both B2B and B2C services. Together with Palletways, they offer pallet shipment. 

#19 Logwin 

Logwin was founded in 1877 and has roots deep in the logistics industry. It is headquartered in Vienna. Nowadays the company employs 5,900 people around the world at over 250 locations in 40 countries. 

It offers air, sea and land transportation. You can transport most of the product types with this company, from FMCG to automotive and large-size industry items. This company operates in Europe, Asia and Africa. 

Logwin offers eFulfilment which is modular service packages for online retail that helps with the efficiency and speed of the process. 

#20 Heppner

Last but least, Heppner, a German logistics company, located in Gronau.

It offers air, sea and land transportation and operates in health, automotive and volume transport. Heppner offers delivery services, too. Its branches are located around Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.  

To sum up

As you can see there are many logistics companies that operate in the DACH region. In this comparison, the majority of them are from Austria, Germany and Switzerland but there are two American and one French exception. 

We hope that you find your go-to logistic entrepreneur and cooperate with it long-term and successfully.