DB Schenker
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1872
- HeadquartersEssen, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
DB Schenker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DB Schenker
- Legal name
- Schenker AG
- Website
- https://dbschenker.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1872
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DB Schenker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Warehousing and Storage (493)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Air Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAE), Cross-Border Freight Brokerage (USMCA/EU, etc.) (TLADAMAN), Digital Customs Connectivity & Single Window Integration Hubs (TLAEAOAK), International Fulfillment, Forwarding & Consolidation Services (CRAFAJAE)
Keywords
Where DB Schenker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
DB Schenker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Air Freight Forwarding: International and domestic air freight services including standard, express, and charter options. Revenue generated through space procurement from airlines and markup to customers, with additional revenue from ancillary services such as customs clearance and door-to-door delivery.
- Ocean Freight Forwarding: Full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) ocean freight services across 40,000+ global LCL routes. Revenue based on container space procurement and volume-based pricing with customers.
- Land Transport: Road and rail freight services including system/groupage freight, full truckload, and intermodal solutions across Europe and beyond.
- Contract Logistics: Warehousing, fulfillment, and value-added logistics services including omnichannel e-commerce fulfillment, aftermarket logistics, production logistics, and network design services.
- 4PL/Lead Logistics: Fourth-party logistics services providing single-point-of-contact supply chain management, control tower operations, and end-to-end logistics orchestration.
- Customs Services: Customs brokerage and trade compliance services for large enterprises and SMB customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Enterprise contracts with negotiated pricing based on volume commitments and service requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
DB Schenker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DB Schenker provides integrated global logistics services encompassing air freight, ocean freight, land transport, intermodal solutions, contract logistics (warehousing, fulfillment, e-commerce), 4PL supply chain orchestration, customs brokerage, and industry-specific logistics solutions across 2,100+ locations in approximately 130 countries. The company serves enterprise customers with multimodal transport, digital visibility platforms, and specialized industry solutions for automotive, healthcare, e-commerce, aerospace, and humanitarian aid logistics.
Product overview
DB Schenker is a global logistics provider offering a comprehensive suite of transport and logistics services across air freight, ocean freight, land transport, and contract logistics. The company operates a platform-plus-services architecture consisting of core freight forwarding services (Air Freight, Ocean Freight, Land Transport, Intermodal Solutions, Project Logistics), supplemented by contract logistics offerings (Fulfillment Plus, Omnichannel/E-Commerce, Circular Economy Logistics, Aftermarket, Production and Manufacturing), and digital services including Connect2Track for real-time visibility, DSV connect e-services portal, e-Shipping for electronic transactions, and the 4PL Control Tower for end-to-end supply chain management. Specialized industry solutions cover Healthcare (life+), Aid and Relief, Automobility+, Battery, Electronics, Fashion and Retail, and more. The portfolio is supported by technology partnerships including Softeon WMS Cloud, Infor systems, and the proprietary Tango transport management system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Land Transport Road and rail freight services covering an extensive European network with modern fleet and international expert teams for shipments ranging from single parcels to full truck loads.
- Air Freight
Quantifiable outcome
- Intermodal sea/air shipments reduce costs by more than 30% versus pure air freight while maintaining faster transit than ocean-only
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use DB Schenker
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DB Schenker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
DB Schenker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered pilot, core and major.
- Gideon BrotherspilotPilot project at Leipzig logistics center testing autonomous pallet-carrying robots equipped with advanced visual perception technology. Robots successfully handle localization and obstacle avoidance. Pilot expanded with additional points of operation to improve efficiency, ergonomics, and workforce supply.
- DSVcoreDSV acquired DB Schenker from Deutsche Bahn for approximately EUR 14.3 billion, creating one of the world's largest logistics networks. Integration ongoing with full completion expected by end of 2026. Combined entity operates across 90+ countries with 150,000+ employees.
- Trailer DynamicsmajorPartnership for eTrailer technology - electrified trailer systems adding batteries and motors to trailers rather than replacing entire tractors. Trailer Dynamics has secured pre-orders for 4,500 eTrailers from DB Schenker and DSV through partnership with trailer manufacturer KRONE, offering fuel savings of 40-70%.
- cargo.onemajorAPI connection enabling DB Schenker to access real-time airline capacity and rate data from cargo.one platform. Connection enhances ad-hoc shipment planning by enabling better identification of suitable capacities and fitting rates. Direct connections established with nine carriers in Europe, North and South America, Middle East, and Asia.
- Inforcore15-year partnership implementing Infor WMS, CloudSuite Industrial, and Nexus platform solutions. Technology deployment has yielded measurable improvements including up to 100% increase in warehouse productivity and 40% reduction in customer lead times at facilities such as the Red Lion warehouse in Singapore. DB Schenker was first major logistics provider to invest in Infor Nexus Control Center for predictive ETA notifications.
- BitergomajorAcquisition of Bitergo, a logistics software provider based in Dortmund, Germany, to enhance digital and cloud-based logistics solutions. Integration aims to expand DB Schenker's offerings and create synergies by combining Bitergo's software with the global network. Bitergo maintained as independent entity.
- SofteonmajorImplemented Softeon's WMS Cloud solution to accelerate time-to-market for warehouse management services across global network spanning 2,000+ locations in 130 countries. Solution deployed on DB Schenker's private cloud infrastructure, providing flexible template-driven configuration for rapid 3PL customer onboarding.
- Singapore Red Lion FacilitymajorUSD 148 million investment in Red Lion 2 hub facility, a major cold chain and logistics facility in Singapore supporting Asia-Pacific operations.
- EinridecoreWorld's first cab-less, autonomous, fully electric truck commercial operation on public road. Swedish Transport Agency approved vehicle operation in March 2019. Pilot operates between warehouse and terminal in Jönköping, Sweden. Technology potential to reduce CO2e emissions from road freight transport by up to 90%.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DB Schenker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DHL Global Forwarding: DHL Global Forwarding is Deutsche Post DHL's freight forwarding division, offering air, ocean, road freight and customs services globally. It is the largest direct competitor to DB Schenker in air and ocean freight forwarding, with comparable multimodal capabilities and enterprise customer base.
- Sinotrans: Sinotrans is China's largest freight forwarding and logistics company, providing international freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain services. It is a comparable peer to DB Schenker in cross-border freight forwarding, particularly on Asia-Europe and intra-Asia trade lanes.
- Kerry Logistics Network: Kerry Logistics is a Hong Kong-headquartered global logistics provider offering freight forwarding, warehousing, and integrated logistics. It is a direct competitor to DB Schenker in Asia-Pacific forwarding and contract logistics, with overlap in consumer, electronics, and pharmaceutical verticals.
- Nippon Express: Nippon Express is a Japanese global logistics provider offering air, ocean, and land forwarding along with warehousing and moving services. It is a direct peer of DB Schenker in multimodal freight forwarding and contract logistics, with significant overlap in automotive and electronics verticals.
- DSV A/S: DSV is a Danish global transport and logistics company and the parent of DB Schenker since April 2025. Pre-acquisition, DSV was a direct competitor in air, sea, and road freight forwarding with a similar focus on acquisition-led growth and IT-driven efficiency. Now the combined entity directly overlaps the legacy Schenker business.
- Expeditors International: Expeditors is a US-headquartered global logistics company offering airfreight, ocean freight, and customs brokerage services. It is a direct competitor to DB Schenker in international freight forwarding, particularly serving North American enterprise exporters and importers.
- CEVA Logistics: CEVA Logistics is a French-headquartered global third-party logistics provider owned by CMA CGM, offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain management. It competes directly with DB Schenker across contract logistics, air/ocean forwarding, and automotive vertical solutions.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is a Swiss-headquartered global freight forwarder offering air, ocean, road, and contract logistics services, directly comparable to DB Schenker across all major service lines and end markets. It is one of the three largest global forwarders alongside DSV/Schenker and DHL.
Emerging players
- Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Hellmann is a German family-owned global logistics provider offering air, sea, road freight, and contract logistics. It is a comparable peer to DB Schenker in European land transport and global air/ocean forwarding, though smaller in scale and more focused on mid-market customers.
Broad incumbents
- Maersk Logistics & Services: A.P. Moller-Maersk is a global integrator of container logistics, offering ocean shipping, landside logistics, and end-to-end supply chain management. While primarily an ocean carrier, its expanding logistics and customs services increasingly compete with DB Schenker's forwarding and contract logistics business.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DB Schenker social profiles
Digital presenceDB Schenker compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
DB Schenker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DB Schenker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
DB Schenker subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
DB Schenker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DB Schenker M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DB Schenker
What does DB Schenker do?
DB Schenker provides integrated global logistics services encompassing air freight, ocean freight, land transport, intermodal solutions, contract logistics (warehousing, fulfillment, e-commerce), 4PL supply chain orchestration, customs brokerage, and industry-specific logistics solutions across 2,100+ locations in approximately 130 countries. The company serves enterprise customers with multimodal transport, digital visibility platforms, and specialized industry solutions for automotive, healthcare, e-commerce, aerospace, and humanitarian aid logistics.
Is DB Schenker a public or private company?
DB Schenker is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DB Schenker founded?
DB Schenker was founded in 1872. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DB Schenker based?
DB Schenker is headquartered in Essen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DB Schenker make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Air Freight Forwarding is the primary driver. The others are ocean Freight Forwarding, land Transport, contract Logistics, 4PL/Lead Logistics and customs Services.
Who are DB Schenker's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DHL Global Forwarding, Sinotrans, Kerry Logistics Network, Nippon Express, DSV A/S, Expeditors International, CEVA Logistics and Kuehne+Nagel. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is listed as an emerging player. Maersk Logistics & Services is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does DB Schenker have an API?
Yes. DB Schenker offers API (Application Programming Interface) interfaces for placing transport orders and tracking shipments directly from a company's own systems. The company is digitally connected to over 50 airlines via API for air freight capacity and rates. API connections enable real-time data exchange between carriers and DB Schenker's systems. For high-volume shipments, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) connections provide direct system-to-system communication. Developer documentation is at www.dbschenker.com/global/business/services.
What industry is DB Schenker in?
DB Schenker's product category is Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACABAG, Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance), with a secondary code of TLADAMAE, Air Freight Brokerage. Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.