ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC.

What ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC. does

ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC. (ZBS) is an international freight forwarding company founded in 1911 in Chiasso, Switzerland, and now headquartered at 1349 Charwood Road, Hanover, Maryland. The company was operated as the U.S. arm of the ZUST & BACHMEIER A.G. Swiss organization until a 1992 management buyout by Thomas Graefe and Robert M. Shoemaker converted it into a standalone, privately held entity. ZBS specializes in project freight forwarding for overseas construction projects, providing door-to-door or warehouse-to-door logistics coordination for energy industry construction, U.S. Embassy construction (Department of State, USAID, ExIm Bank), overseas infrastructure improvement projects, and shipments for Government and NOG Aid Agencies. The customer base spans construction, oil & gas, mining, and engineering companies, alongside U.S. Government agencies, served through a relationship-driven enterprise sales motion.

The company delivers its services through three core product lines: Ocean Freight (LCL, FCL, special equipment, break bulk, full or part vessel charters, and intermodal shipments), Air Freight (IATA-backed access to all IATA carriers, 24/7 airline schedule availability, and aircraft charters), and Warehousing (230,000+ square feet of warehouse space with 40 loading doors, 130,000 sq ft of secure storage, and 4 acres of outdoor laydown area located near BWI Airport and the Port of Baltimore). Supporting capabilities include export boxing with heat-treated lumber, flat rack loading inspected by the National Cargo Bureau, and Agent Support Services leveraging a global network of owned offices and agents. The underlying technology stack is conventional: a Warehouse Management System with bar-coding and scanner technology, in-house database applications for traffic management, and online customer inventory reporting. The company holds a U.S. Federal Maritime Commission NVOCC license (No. 003116NF) and IATA Freight Forwarder status with CNS program participation.

ZBS monetizes through transaction fees on freight forwarding services and warehousing/storage handling charges, with quote-based pricing determined by cargo size, destination, and project complexity. Distribution is delivered through direct enterprise sales targeting large construction, oil & gas, engineering, and government clients, complemented by a global agent/reseller channel. The company is privately held with 11–50 employees and operates from a single U.S. headquarters.

Name

ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC.

Legal name

ZUST BACHMEIER INC.

Website

https://zust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC. is a privately held international freight forwarder, founded 1911 and headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, specializing in project logistics for overseas construction, U.S. Government (Embassy/USAID/ExIm Bank), and oil & gas clients via ocean, air, and warehousing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Freight Forwarding

NAICS

Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Warehousing and Storage (493)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Air Courier Services (4513), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

NVOCC Operations & Ocean Consolidation (TLACABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Air Consolidation & Deconsolidation (Consols, Master/House AWB) (TLACAAAB), Air Waybill (AWB) Issuance/Management (Master/House) (TLACAHAB)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Project cargo logistics
• Ocean freight services
• Air freight forwarding
• Contract logistics warehousing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: International freight forwarding services including ocean freight, air freight, customs clearance, and door-to-door shipping solutions for project cargo. Revenue generated through service fees for logistics coordination, transportation, and handling of cargo.
2. Warehousing and Storage Services: Warehouse receiving, staging, export packing, and secure storage services. Revenue from storage fees and handling charges for cargo in their 230,000+ square foot facility.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ZUST BACHMEIER INC. (ZBS) is an international project freight forwarding company that provides door-to-door and warehouse-to-door shipping solutions for overseas construction projects. Its core offerings cover ocean freight (LCL, FCL, break bulk, vessel charters), air freight (IATA-backed, charters), and 230,000+ square feet of warehousing with export packing, crating, customs clearance, and project cargo coordination for construction, oil & gas, mining, engineering, and U.S. Government clients.

Product overview

Zust Bachmeier is a project freight forwarding company offering integrated logistics services. The core product portfolio comprises Ocean Freight Services (LCL, FCL, break bulk, vessel charters, intermodal), Air Freight Services (commercial and charter, IATA-backed), and Warehousing Services (230,000 sq ft with secure storage). Supporting sub-products include Export Boxing (heat-treated crating) and Flat Rack Loading. Agent Support Services provide global office/agent network coverage. All services are unified under Project Forwarding Services, which combines these capabilities to serve Construction, Oil and Gas, Mining, Engineering industries, and U.S. Government projects including Embassy construction. The company provides door-to-door or warehouse-to-door solutions including receiving, staging, export packing (Hazmat), freight transport, customs clearance, and final site delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Freight Services Full array of ocean freight forwarding services including Less-Than Container Load (LCL), Full Container Loads (FCL), special equipment, large break bulk (B/B) shipments, full or part vessel charters, and intermodal transport from/to origin and destination inland points. Handles oversize and heavy cargo with port selection, carrier negotiation, and competitive rate procurement for construction, oil & gas, mining and engineering clients.
• Air Freight Services International air freight forwarding services including access to I.A.T.A. contract rates with all air carriers, worldwide booking on any scheduled airline, in-house airway bill stock for all I.A.T.A. carriers, 24/7 airline schedule availability, and full or part charter of exclusive-use aircraft. Handles oversize and heavy cargo with airport selection and carrier negotiation for time-sensitive project cargo.
• Warehousing Services 230,000 square feet of warehouse space with 40 loading doors, a 25-foot high drive-through door for flatbed trailers, numbered bay system (20' x 8'), and 130,000 square feet of secure storage, plus 4 acres of outside lay-down area. Facility features security alarms, sprinkler fire control system, and nighttime guards, and is located minutes from BWI Airport and the Port of Baltimore with access to I-695, I-95, I-295, and Rt. 100.
• Export Boxing / Crating Export crating services using heat-treated lumber inspected monthly by Timber Products Inspection services. Builds custom crates ranging from delicate items (glass) to heavy machine parts, with skid and crate reinforcement for forklift or crane handling. Custom five-sided tarps available for weather protection during transport.
• Flat Rack Loading Loading and proper securing of in-gauge and out-of-gauge flat racks, with inspection by the National Cargo Bureau before departure from warehouse. Designed for oversize and heavy project cargo that does not fit in standard containers.
• Agent Support Services Global network of owned offices and agents providing professional handling of U.S.-origin cargo for overseas agents and competitive air and ocean freight proposals for international freight forwarding companies seeking North American origin support.
• Project Forwarding Services Integrated project logistics for overseas construction projects, including commercial activities (Construction, Oil & Gas, Mining, Engineering) and U.S. Government activities (ExIm Bank, USAID, Department of State projects including U.S. Embassy construction). Combines ocean, air, warehousing, export packing, customs clearance and final-site delivery into a single managed solution.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• I.A.T.A. (International Air Transport Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationZUST BACHMEIER, Inc. is an International Air Transport Agent (I.A.T.A.) Freight Forwarder and recognized Cargo Agent for all Domestic and International Air Carriers that are members of I.A.T.A. Provides access to I.A.T.A. Contract Rates with all air carriers and in-house Airway Bill stock for all I.A.T.A. carriers.
• Cargo Network Services (CNS)coreTechnology or IntegrationZBS is a participant in the Cargo Network Services (CNS) program, providing network benefits and connections within the air cargo industry.
• U.S. Federal Maritime CommissioncoreTechnology or IntegrationZBS is fully Bonded and Licensed by the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to operate as an Ocean Freight Forwarder and Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC). License No. 003116NF.
• Steamship Lines and Ship OwnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationRelationships with reputable Liner Carriers and Ship Owners enabling competitive rates and suitable port selection for ocean freight services.
• Air CarrierscoreTechnology or IntegrationRelationships with reputable and reliable air carriers worldwide, enabling proper aircraft selection, avoiding congested airports, and negotiating competitive rates.
• Trucking CompaniescoreTechnology or IntegrationRelationships with trucking industry partners for intermodal shipments to and from origin and destination inland points.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: One of the largest US-based freight forwarders and 3PLs with global project cargo capabilities. Directly comparable as a non-asset-based forwarder arranging multi-modal international transportation, though far larger and more diversified across truck, ocean, and air.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarder with a strong Project Logistics division handling heavy-lift, oil & gas, and government project cargo. Comparable in service mix (ocean, air, customs, project forwarding) and target verticals, though at vastly greater scale and global reach.
• Expeditors International: Large US-headquartered international freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and customs services. Comparable as a non-asset-based forwarder serving enterprise customers with complex international shipments, though not focused on niche heavy/oversize project cargo.
• DB Schenker: Global logistics provider with a dedicated Project Forwarding and Heavy Lift division serving construction, oil & gas, and mining. Directly comparable in target verticals and service scope (ocean, air, project charter, customs), though with broader geographic ownership.
• DSV (formerly Panalpina): Global freight forwarder with significant Project Logistics (formerly Panalpina) and Oil & Gas capabilities. Comparable in multi-modal international project forwarding for energy and government customers, though operating at much larger scale post-mergers.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Air and ocean freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL with dedicated Industrial Projects and Government sector capabilities. Comparable in arranging end-to-end international project logistics, customs clearance, and multi-modal transport for enterprise and public-sector clients.
• Geodis: Global logistics provider with Project Logistics capabilities serving oil & gas, mining, and industrial customers. Comparable in target verticals and door-to-door project forwarding scope, though operating at a much larger scale with broader service breadth.

Direct peers

• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Mid-to-large privately held German-headquartered freight forwarder with a strong Project Forwarding division serving oil & gas, construction, and government clients. Closely comparable in culture, ownership structure, project-cargo specialization, and reliance on global agent networks.
• Cargo-Partner: Mid-sized privately held Austrian-headquartered freight forwarder with project logistics, IATA membership, and global agent network. Closely comparable in size, ownership structure, and focus on complex international project forwarding for industrial and government customers.

Emerging players

• TransProject Logistics: Specialized US-based project cargo forwarder focused on heavy lift, oversized, and breakbulk shipments for construction, energy, and mining customers. Comparable as a niche competitor in project forwarding, though smaller and with a narrower service menu.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZUST BACHMEIER OF SWITZERLAND, INC.