Gustke Logistics

What Gustke Logistics does

Gustke Logistics (legal entity: Spedition Heinrich Gustke GmbH) is a privately held, family-owned German forwarding and logistics company headquartered in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, founded in 1933 by Heinrich Gustke and now led in its third generation by Managing Director and Owner Stephan Gustke alongside co-Managing Director Niko Treptow. The company provides integrated transport, warehousing, and contract logistics services to B2B customers across Germany and Europe, operating five logistics terminals within Rostock's Freight Village (GVZ) with more than 100,000 square meters of logistics and open-storage space, plus a Güstrow logistics center and a Brück parking location.

The service portfolio spans four transport modalities — distribution and area transport with 24-48 hour guaranteed delivery, partial and full load transport, line and shuttle services, and express transport — and nine specialized logistics lines covering warehouse, contract, disposal, food (HACCP-certified), procurement, hazardous materials (SQAS-certified), building materials, and retail logistics. Container transport and logistics form a separate cluster leveraging direct access to Rostock's overseas port. The fleet comprises approximately 85 semi-trailer tractors, 50 trucks, 148 semi-trailers, 14 trailers, 45 forklifts, 65 industrial trucks, and 18 swap bodies, with sustainability investments including 30 LNG-powered trucks, electric forklifts, and a 400 kWp rooftop photovoltaic system saving an estimated 145,000 kg of CO2 annually. Internal technology consists of proprietary transport-management software, an e-learning system (implemented 2021), and an in-house employee app (launched 2024).

Gustke generates revenue primarily through quote-based, individually negotiated contracts for transport and managed logistics services, with no public pricing tiers or rate cards disclosed. Distribution is handled through a dedicated Service & Sales department and via membership in two general cargo networks enabling nationwide and worldwide shipping. The customer base spans multiple verticals — food, hazardous materials, construction materials, retail, manufacturing, and industrial — with named enterprise references including Liebherr and Nordex. Competitive differentiators include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, HACCP, SQAS, EMAS, and Entsorgungsfachbetrieb certifications, an in-house Logistics Academy for driver licensing and vocational training, and 90+ years of continuous family ownership.

Name

Gustke Logistics

Legal name

Spedition Heinrich Gustke GmbH

Website

https://gustke-logistik.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gustke Logistics is a privately held, third-generation German forwarding and logistics company headquartered in Rostock that provides integrated transport, warehousing, and specialized logistics — including food, hazardous materials, and disposal — to B2B customers across Germany and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

General Freight Trucking (4841), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Machinery & Oversized Equipment (Cranes, Excavators, Presses) (TLACAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dry Bulk Trucking (End-Dump/Walking-Floor/Hopper) (TLADAKAC)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Transport logistics solutions
• Warehouse storage services
• Hazardous materials logistics
• Food logistics transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Rostock

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transport Services: Core revenue stream from transportation services including distribution and area transport, partial and full load transport, express transport, and line/shuttle services. Regional, national, and international coverage.
2. Logistics Services: Warehouse logistics, contract logistics, and specialized logistics including food logistics, hazardous goods logistics, disposal logistics, procurement logistics, building materials logistics, and retail logistics. Services provided across 100,000+ sqm of logistics and storage areas.
3. Container Services: Container transport and container logistics services, handling standard containers, special containers, and sea containers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gustke Logistics is a family-owned forwarding and logistics company that provides road transport services (distribution and area transport, partial and full load, line/shuttle, and express transport) and a broad set of warehouse and value-added logistics services including contract, disposal, food, procurement, hazardous materials, building materials, and retail logistics, plus container transport and container logistics. Operations run across five terminals in Rostock and a Güstrow logistics center, totalling over 100,000 m², with a fleet of more than 80 semi-trailer tractors supported by refrigerated, LNG-powered, and long-truck assets.

Product overview

Gustke Logistics operates as a logistics and forwarding company offering a comprehensive, integrated portfolio of transport and logistics services. Its core offering spans four transport service lines — Distribution & Area Transport, Partial & Full Load Transport, Line & Shuttle Services, and Express Transport — and nine logistics service lines: Warehouse Logistics, Contract Logistics, Disposal Logistics, Food Logistics, Procurement Logistics, Hazardous Materials Logistics, Building Materials Logistics, and Retail Logistics. Container transport and logistics form a dedicated service cluster. A proprietary Logistics Academy provides internal training and driver licensing. The company operates five warehouse terminals and a vehicle fleet of 85 semi-trailer tractors, 50 trucks, and 148 semi-trailers across its Rostock hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Logistik Academy: In-house training and further education academy opened in 2014 for employee development and vocational training.

Products and services

• Distribution & Area Transport (Verteiler- & Flächenverkehre) Road transport of all types of shipments for commercial customers and end consumers across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with guaranteed delivery within 24–48 hours, integrating line/shuttle services and two general cargo networks.
• Partial & Full Load Transport (Teil- & Komplettladung) Daily transport of commercial goods using over 80 semi-trailer tractors throughout Germany and beyond, with specialization in goods transshipped via the Rostock overseas port.
• Line & Shuttle Services (Linien- & Begegnungsverkehre) Fixed-line transport connecting customers' logistics warehouses with Gustke's own terminals, enabling flexible response to volume fluctuations through relay transport with swap bodies.
• Express Transport (Expressverkehr) Specialized express transport for urgent, time-critical shipments from A to B, using double-crew or shuttle services for long-distance routes.
• Warehouse Logistics (Lagerlogistik) Efficient storage and order-picking processes for palletized goods and commercial products across five warehouse locations in Rostock, supplemented by services such as weld seam inspections and CSC container inspections.
• Contract Logistics (Kontraktlogistik) Tailor-made logistics solutions that take over the entire logistical value chain—from warehousing, distribution, and transport management to order picking and packaging—for customers focusing on their core competencies.
• Disposal Logistics (Entsorgungslogistik) Transport, reverse logistics, return transport, and comprehensive disposal solutions for hazardous and non-hazardous waste as a certified waste management company (Entsorgungsfachbetrieb).
• Food Logistics (Lebensmittellogistik) HACCP-certified temperature-controlled transport with 15 specialized distribution vehicles and 6–10 scheduled vehicles, including frozen product storage and transport of both refrigerated and ambient food goods.
• Procurement Logistics (Beschaffungslogistik) Collection and direct or consolidated shipment of goods through membership in two general cargo networks, enabling worldwide shipping as well as pickup from small businesses across Europe.
• Hazardous Materials Logistics (Gefahrstofflogistik) SQAS-certified storage, handling, disposal, and transport of hazardous materials (excluding radioactive substances) in a fully basemented dangerous goods warehouse, including buffer warehousing and third-party dispatch.
• Building Materials Logistics (Baustofflogistik) Buffer warehousing, order picking, paint and varnish mixing, and delivery of building materials, including customer pickup options and truck-mounted forklift capabilities.
• Retail Logistics (Retail Logistik) Daily goods receipt, order picking, and timed delivery to retail markets in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, including reverse logistics and disposal for retail clients.
• Container Transport (Container-Transporte) Reliable, flexible container transport services—regional, national, and international—for standard, special, and sea containers, ensuring safe and cost-effective delivery.
• Container Logistics (Container-Logistik) End-to-end container logistics encompassing planning, storage, handling, distribution, and on-time delivery, providing efficient and transparent container solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 145,000 kg CO2 savings annually from use of long trucks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Two General Cargo NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe company is a member of two general cargo networks, enabling nationwide and worldwide shipping capabilities. These networks allow the company to transport goods throughout Germany and Europe and worldwide, and to collect small consignments for customers from various locations.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DACHSER: Family-owned German logistics provider offering road freight, contract logistics, and warehousing across a global network. Comparable to Gustke in family-led Mittelstand heritage and integrated transport+logistics model, but at substantially larger scale and broader European footprint.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Osnabrück-headquartered family-owned German logistics firm providing road, air, sea freight, and contract logistics. Overlaps with Gustke in general cargo networks, contract logistics, and German Mittelstand DNA, though at materially larger international scale.
• Rhenus Logistics: German family-owned logistics group offering road, rail, sea, air, warehousing, and contract logistics with strong Northern European port and multimodal capabilities. Comparable to Gustke's Rostock port-adjacent multimodal model, but at corporate-group scale.
• FIEGE Logistik: German family-owned contract logistics and freight specialist with warehousing, transport, and value-added services. Comparable in contract logistics focus, Mittelstand heritage, and integrated transport+warehousing offering; larger and more international than Gustke.
• DSV A/S: Global Danish transport and logistics company with major road, air, and sea freight operations including significant German presence. Comparable in general cargo network membership and contract logistics; far larger and more digitized, representing competitive pressure for regional players.
• DB Schenker: One of Europe's largest land transport and contract logistics providers with dense German road network and European land/contract logistics portfolio. Comparable in transport + contract logistics service mix and integrated certifications; represents a large-scale competitive benchmark.

Direct peers

• Spedition B+S GmbH: Mid-sized Northern German freight and logistics provider with overlapping service portfolio in general cargo, contract logistics, and food/hazmat transport. Closest comparable in regional size and integrated transport+warehousing model.
• Emil Weber GmbH & Co. KG: Mid-sized German freight forwarder and contract logistics provider focused on general cargo, food, and specialized transport. Directly comparable to Gustke in size, Mittelstand family ownership, and integrated service lines including temperature-controlled logistics.
• Streck Transportges. mbH: German mid-market logistics and freight provider with general cargo, contract logistics, and specialized transport offerings. Comparable to Gustke in size, German Mittelstand structure, and service-line breadth including food logistics.

Emerging players

• EURO-LOG AG: German logistics software and digital transport management provider serving mid-sized shippers and carriers. Comparable as an enabler / ecosystem participant in the German Mittelstand logistics space where Gustke also operates with in-house fleet management software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GustkeLogistik
• Instagraminstagram.com/gustke_logistik

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Gustke Logistics