Emons

What Emons does

Emons is a privately held, family-owned German multi-modal logistics provider headquartered in Cologne, founded in 1928 and operating across 16 countries through more than 120 own branch locations. As of FY2024 the company reported revenue of €662 million and a workforce of approximately 3,750 people worldwide. The legal operating entity is Emons Spedition GmbH & Co. KG, with Emons Services GmbH acting as the services and data-processing arm.

The company's core offering spans road freight (a fleet of over 1,000 trucks averaging two years old, running LTL, FTL, charter, and dangerous goods transport across Europe and Asia), own-asset rail freight under the ProLok brand (locomotives, wagons, terminals in Dresden, Chemnitz, and Leipzig), full-service air and sea freight (FCL, LCL, door-to-door, crosstrading) via Emons Air & Sea, and 370,000 m² of warehousing with DE-ÖKO-070 bio-certification and 24-hour KANBAN service. Customs clearance is operated digitally via the ATLAS system under AEO-F authorization, and the business holds ADR dangerous goods, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security, and ISO 13485 certifications. Specialized sub-brands cover demanding verticals: BEWARE for dangerous goods and oversized cargo, Emons|Battery for lithium-ion and lead-acid battery transport, storage, recycling, and second-life examination, and Munz-LDB as a jointly controlled hazardous-goods logistics vehicle in southern Germany.

Emons monetizes primarily through transaction-priced freight services (per shipment, per pallet, per container), supplemented by recurring digital access via the MyEmons portal, Connect cloud shipping software that integrates customer shop systems, and EDIFACT-based DFÜ electronic data exchange. Distribution is hybrid: direct sales and quote-based freight inquiry forms serve enterprise shippers through a 120-location branch network, while Cargo International operates a self-service online platform targeting private and occasional shippers. The go-to-market mix combines sales-led enterprise engagement, self-service PLG through MyEmons and Connect, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via Cargo International, with revenue mechanics anchored in transport-mode and shipment-type take rates rather than disclosed subscription pricing.

Name

Emons

Legal name

Emons Spedition GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://emons.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Emons is a family-owned German multi-modal logistics provider founded in 1928, operating 120+ locations across 16 countries with road, rail, air, and sea freight plus warehousing, customs, and specialized dangerous goods and battery logistics for enterprise and private shippers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services / Freight Forwarding

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

ACMI / Dry-Lease Cargo Operators (TLADAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Expedited Ocean (Premium/Guaranteed / Fast-Transit Sea Freight) (TLADANAI)

Keywords

• Multimodal freight forwarding
• Road rail air sea transport
• Contract logistics warehousing
• Customs brokerage services
• Dangerous goods logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Road Freight (LTL/FTL): National and international truck transport services including LTL (Less Than Truckload) and FTL (Full Truckload), charter traffic, dangerous goods transport with over 1,000 vehicles in operation
2. Rail Freight (ProLok): Rail cargo services with own locomotives and wagons, daily departures, terminals in Dresden, Chemnitz, Leipzig, handling large projects and special transports
3. Air & Sea Freight: Full service air and sea freight with FCL/LCL options, door-to-door service, crosstrading, connections to major ports worldwide
4. Logistics & Warehousing: Logistics facilities with 370,000 m2 warehouse space, certified bio-storage (DE-ÖKO-070), KANBAN 24H service, production outsourcing, and contract packaging
5. Customs Services: Customs clearance through ATLAS digital system, own customs warehouses, AEO-F certified, training and customs consulting
6. Special Services: Fair/exhibition logistics, battery logistics (Emons|Battery), dangerous goods handling, trade fair customs processing, ATA carnet handling
7. Digital Services (MyEmons/Connect): Online order entry portal and cloud-based shipping software for frequent shippers with automated processes

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Emons is a multi-modal freight forwarder offering road, rail (ProLok), air, and sea transport, complemented by 370,000 m² of warehousing, customs clearance, and specialized hazardous-goods and battery logistics under the BEWARE and Emons | Battery sub-brands. It serves enterprise shippers through quote-based freight inquiries and EDI integration, and private customers through the Cargo International online shipping platform. Own digital tools (MyEmons portal, Connect shipping software, DFÜ EDIFACT exchange) integrate shipper systems with Emons' transport network.

Product overview

Emons is a logistics and freight forwarding company offering a comprehensive multimodal transport network covering road, rail, air, and sea freight. The portfolio includes core transport services (road with 1,000+ trucks, ProLok rail with own locomotives, worldwide air freight, and sea freight with FCL/LCL), complemented by warehousing (370,000 m²), customs clearance (AEO-F certified), and specialized services. Key sub-brands include BEWARE (dangerous goods/batteries/special transports), Emons | Battery (battery logistics), Munz-LDB (hazardous goods in southern Germany), and Cargo International (private customers). Digital offerings comprise MyEmons (order entry portal), Connect (e-commerce shipping integration), and DFÜ (EDIFACT data exchange). The Emons | DIGITAL division drives innovation through venture clienting and building. Recent expansions include acquisitions of Wolf Spedition and Pall-Ex Iberia, and new branches in Vietnam.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Road Transport (Straße) LTL/FTL road freight transport services with a fleet of over 1,000 trucks averaging 2 years old, operating daily across Europe and Asia, including charter services and hazardous goods transport. Target customers are enterprise shippers and private customers needing national and international road transport.
• Rail Transport (ProLok) Rail freight services under the ProLok sub-brand with owned locomotives and wagons, daily departures, terminals in Dresden, Chemnitz, and Leipzig, plus handling of major projects and special transports via Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Rotterdam. For enterprise shippers seeking sustainable long-haul rail transport.
• Air Freight (Luft) Worldwide air freight services with full-service support from pickup to delivery, including weekly automobile transports combined with road, sea, and rail modes. For time-sensitive shipments to destinations such as Hong Kong or Los Angeles.
• Sea Freight (See) Sea freight forwarding for FCL and LCL shipments from and to overseas ports, including crosstrading, door-to-door service, dangerous goods handling, project cargo, and combination with road, air, and rail transport. AEO-F certified. For enterprise and mid-market shippers with overseas volume.
• Warehousing & Logistics Logistics facilities across Europe totaling 370,000 m² of warehouse space, with bio-certification (DE-ÖKO-070), 24-hour KANBAN service, production outsourcing, and 20+ forwarding facilities across Germany. Includes 100% green electricity procurement and modern special vehicles with lift gates.
• Customs Services (Zoll) Customs clearance with AEO-F certification, digital processing via the ATLAS system, own customs warehouses, customs training and consulting services. For shippers moving goods across borders.
• Emons BEWARE (Special Logistics) Specialized logistics for demanding goods including dangerous goods, batteries, oversized cargo, and special transports with compliant and customized logistics solutions. For customers needing certified handling beyond standard freight.
• Emons | Battery Safe and sustainable battery logistics including transport of new and used lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries, certified storage with fire protection, second-life examination, recycling, and black mass transport. For battery manufacturers, OEMs, recycling companies, and e-mobility customers.
• Munz-LDB Hazardous Goods Logistics Strategic partnership with LDB Gruppe for hazardous goods logistics in Southern Germany, offering certified dangerous goods warehouses, contract packaging, specialized fleet, and 30,000 pallet storage spaces. Emons-sponsored e.punkt disposal network provides professional lithium-ion battery disposal.
• Fair Logistics (Messe / Event Logistics) Trade fair and event logistics including worldwide multimodal transport, customs clearance via ATA carnet, on-site handling, storage, and personalized assistance through dedicated contacts. For exhibitors, organizers, and event service providers.
• MyEmons Customer Portal Online customer portal for order entry, shipment tracking, label printing, packing lists and templates, dangerous goods database, and address management. Provides free self-service access for registered business shippers, supporting Emons' integrated order processing.
• Connect Cloud Shipping Software Cloud-based shipping software that connects shop systems directly to Emons for automated order import and label printing. Designed for e-commerce shippers that need to integrate order processing with Emons' transport network.
• DFÜ (Electronic Data Exchange via EDIFACT) Electronic data exchange via dial-up supporting the EDIFACT format for order data, data transfer, individual configuration, and invoicing. For enterprise customers with established IT systems requiring high-volume automated integration.
• Cargo International (B2C Online Shipping) Online shipping platform for private customers and occasional shippers offering parcel, pallet, and oversized goods transport with calculator, online booking, pickup service, and shipment tracking. Emons' B2C channel with pickup included in the shipping fee.
• Emons | DIGITAL (Digital Transformation Division) Digital transformation division focused on innovation, venture clienting, venture building, and venture investing to drive digital logistics solutions. Operates technology partnerships with ROQ, DeepSight Technology, Develogment, TradeLink, Neocargo, and SmartLane.
• Shipment Tracking Service Online shipment tracking system providing real-time monitoring for shipments across all transport modes, accessible via the customer tracking portal for shippers and recipients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24-48 hour standard delivery times for domestic shipments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wolf SpeditionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Emons has taken a stake in Wolf Spedition, expanding its logistics network and capabilities.
• Pall-Ex IberiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Emons acquired Pall-Ex Iberia, expanding network capacities and shorter transit times. This acquisition strengthens Emons' pallet network operations in the Iberian Peninsula.
• LDB Gruppe (Munz-LDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between Emons and LDB Gruppe for hazardous materials logistics in Southern Germany. Combines Emons' global transport strength with LDB's regional specialized logistics. Offers certified hazardous materials warehouses, contract packaging, specialized fleet, 30,000 pallet storage spaces, and end-to-end logistics solutions.
• e.punkt NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of e.punkt disposal network for professional lithium-ion battery disposal - offering complete solutions from packaging to transport and recycling.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Kuehne + Nagel: One of the world's largest multimodal freight forwarders with extensive road, sea, and air freight operations globally. Comparable to Emons in business model (freight forwarding across modes with contract logistics) but orders of magnitude larger and globally diversified.
• DHL Freight (Deutsche Post DHL): Global logistics leader operating one of Europe's largest road freight networks plus air, sea, and contract logistics. Directly comparable multimodal service offering with much greater scale and brand recognition than Emons.
• DSV A/S: Global transport and logistics company with strong European road, air, and sea freight forwarding plus growing contract logistics. Closely comparable multimodal forwarder with proven acquisition-led growth playbook that parallels Emons' Iberian expansion.
• DB Schenker: Major European-headquartered multimodal logistics provider offering land transport, air/ocean freight, and contract logistics. Closely comparable to Emons across all four transport modes with a particularly strong European road and rail network.
• DACHSER: German family-owned logistics company with strong European road freight (LTL/FTL) and air & sea freight forwarding plus warehousing. Closely comparable on ownership profile and multimodal European focus, with comparable warehousing scale.
• GEODIS: French global logistics provider offering road, air, sea, rail freight plus contract logistics and warehousing across Europe. Comparable multimodal forwarding model and customer base, larger in scale and globally diversified.

Direct peers

• Rhenus Logistics: German-headquartered multimodal logistics provider offering road, rail, air, sea freight plus contract logistics and warehousing. Closely comparable privately-held European peer of similar scale and multimodal scope to Emons.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German family-owned global logistics company offering road, air, sea, and rail freight forwarding plus contract logistics. Closely comparable on business model, ownership structure (family), German origins, and multimodal service portfolio.
• Streck Transport: German privately-held logistics and freight forwarding company offering road, sea, and air freight plus warehousing with a focus on European trade. Comparable mid-sized German forwarder with similar multimodal scope and family-owned profile.

Regional players

• Pall-Ex Group: European pallet distribution network with hub-and-spoke model for less-than-truckload palletized freight. Comparable on the palletized freight distribution model that Emons acquired via Pall-Ex Iberia; overlapping target customer (B2B shippers needing palletized LTL).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EmonsLogistics
• Facebookfacebook.com/emons.logistic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emons-logistics
• Instagraminstagram.com/emons_logistics

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Emons