Thermotraffic

What Thermotraffic does

Thermotraffic GmbH is a German temperature-controlled logistics specialist headquartered in Versmold, founded in 1983 and operating since February 1984. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan's Nichirei Corporation (acquired 1989) and operates 19 locations across Europe with a 750-vehicle fleet, serving 46 European countries and parts of Asia. Its service portfolio spans five transport modes - multi-temperature land transport (LTL/FTL), Sprinter express delivery, reefer container trucking at major European ports, global ocean freight, and air freight based at Frankfurt Airport - supplemented by a European cold storage network and import/export customs services.

The technology backbone relies on a multi-temperature fleet with Bi-Temp vehicles, GPS tracking across all vehicles, Thermomapping to validate temperature uniformity, 24-hour EDT monitoring for pharmaceutical shipments, and integrated telematics for route and temperature management. Specialized infrastructure includes a Pharma Competence Center in Gelsenkirchen (GDP-certified, TAPA security, +2 C to +8 C and +15 C to +25 C ranges), Genset-equipped reefers for -60 C to +25 C, and cold storage with shock-freezing, cross-docking, and Bio/Halal certifications.

Thermotraffic runs a direct B2B enterprise sales model, targeting food producers and retailers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, plant growers, and specialty cargo shippers through a dedicated sales team. Revenue is transaction-based (per-shipment fees for transport and managed-services fees for cold storage and customs) with quote-based pricing tailored to cargo type, temperature range, distance, and volume. Certifications across GDP, IFS Logistics, BRCGS, AEO, ISO 9001/27001/50001, QS, BIO, EcoVadis Bronze, and Lean and Green form a key procurement qualification layer, especially for pharma and major food customers.

Name

Thermotraffic

Legal name

Thermotraffic GmbH

Website

https://thermotraffic.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Thermotraffic is a German temperature-controlled logistics provider (Versmold, founded 1983) operating 750 vehicles across 19 European locations and 46 countries, serving food, pharmaceutical, plant, and specialty cargo customers via road, sea, and air freight as a Nichirei subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cold Chain Logistics

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Transportation and Warehousing (48-49)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Temperature-Controlled (Reefer) Road Forwarding (TLACACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharma & Life Sciences Cold Chain Transport (GDP) (TLADAHAI), Fresh Produce & Perishables Cold Chain Forwarding (TLACAMAE), Pharmaceutical Cold-Chain Delivery (2–8°C / CRT) (TLAAAJAC), Expedited Cold Chain / Temperature-Controlled Expediting (TLADANAJ)

Keywords

• Temperature-controlled logistics
• Cold chain transport
• Pharmaceutical cold chain
• Reefer container trucking
• Perishable goods freight forwarding

Headquarters

HQ city

Versmold

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Land Transport Services: European LTL (Less than Truckload) and FTL (Full Truckload) transport services with multi-temperature capabilities across 46 European countries and parts of Asia
2. Sprinter/Express Transport: Temperature-controlled express transport services using 3.5-tonne Sprinter vehicles for time-critical deliveries within 48 hours across Europe
3. Container Trucking: Port-to-inland container transport services for reefers using proprietary tractor units and chassis at European ports
4. Sea Freight: Global ocean freight services with allocated container space at major shipping lines, providing door-to-door temperature-controlled solutions
5. Air Freight: Air cargo transport services based at Frankfurt Airport, handling perishable goods, ADR/DGR cargo, and dry cargo
6. Cold Storage Logistics: European network of cold storage facilities for temperature-controlled warehousing, cross-docking, and value-added services
7. Import/Export Services: Customs clearance, phytosanitary/veterinary processing, and trade compliance services at major European ports

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Thermotraffic is a specialized freight forwarder (Fachspedition) providing temperature-controlled transport and storage of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods across Europe and globally. Its core offering is multi-modal cold chain logistics: Europe-wide LTL/FTL road transport with a multi-temperature fleet, Sprinter express service, container trucking of reefer containers from European ports, global sea and air freight, customs clearance and a European cold storage network. Specialized industry solutions cover food (IFS/BRCGS/QS/BIO certified), pharmaceuticals (GDP-certified Pharma Competence Center at Gelsenkirchen with 24-hour EDT monitoring), plants and flowers, and special cargo.

Product overview

Thermotraffic is a temperature-controlled logistics company operating as a unified platform with multiple transport modes (land, air, sea) and specialized services. The core offering consists of Landtransporte (multi-temperature fleet transport across Europe), Sprinter-Service (express delivery vehicles), Container Trucking (port-to-destination transport), Seefracht (global ocean freight), Luftfracht (air freight from Frankfurt), and Kühlhauslogistik (cold storage network). Specialized divisions include the Pharma Competence Center for pharmaceutical cold chain, and industry-focused services for food, plants, and specialty products. Supporting services include Import/Export customs clearance at major European ports. The company also offers a WebPortal for digital order processing. All services are unified under one operational umbrella with shared infrastructure, fleet, and network capabilities across 16 European locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land Transport (Landtransporte) Multi-temperature fleet transport services covering Europe-wide delivery of food, pharmaceuticals, plants, and specialty products with LTL (Less than Truckload) and FTL (Full Truckload) capabilities in 46 European countries and parts of Asia. Includes Bi-Temp vehicles, GPS tracking, Thermomapping, and qualified import/export clearance for third-country traffic.
• Sprinter Service Thermo/cold Sprinter vehicles (3.5 tonnes) for pan-European express transport, courier and special transport services with temperature range -20 °C to +25 °C, equipped with Bi-Temp capability (two separate temperature zones), GPS tracking and Thermomapping. Can carry up to seven Euro pallets or 950 kg gross and reach all European destinations within 48 hours.
• Container Trucking Transport of refrigerated containers (20', 40', 45') at European ports and inland locations with proprietary tractor units and chassis. Genset-equipped equipment enables continuous cold chain transport in -60 °C to +25 °C range. All equipment GPS-tracked. Service covers locations in Germany, UK and the Netherlands to all European ports.
• Import / Export Comprehensive customs clearance and logistics services at major European ports (Belgium, Germany, UK, Netherlands). Includes HRL, phytosanitary and veterinary clearance, AGRIM and quota management, bonded administration, licensing procedures, customs warehousing, VAT/Intrastat reporting, fiscal representation, 3PL supply chain solutions, and onward transport via road, inland waterway, and rail.
• Sea Freight (Seefracht) Global temperature-controlled ocean freight services with reefer specialists worldwide, door-to-door solutions, pick-up in country of origin, sea transport, customs clearance, storage, and distribution within Europe. Allocated container quotas with leading shipping lines enable flexible and short transit times with sustainable and innovative equipment.
• Cold Storage Logistics (Kühlhauslogistik) European network of cold storage facilities for temperature-controlled warehousing, cross-docking, and value-added services. Temperature range -60 °C to +25 °C; offers shock freezing, controlled thawing, cross-docking, quality checks, and labeling services, with Bio and Halal certifications.
• Air Freight (Luftfracht) Air freight services based at Frankfurt Airport for perishable goods, ADR (Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route), DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations), and Dry-Cargo shipments. Equipment includes roller bed systems with up to 3 meters interior height. FRC (Freight Routing and Classification) approval; GPS-equipped vehicles.
• Pharma Competence Center Specialized pharmaceutical cold transport at +2 °C to +8 °C and/or +15 °C to +25 °C for pharmaceutical, medical, and medical technology products including narcotics. GDP-certified, with 24-hour EDT monitoring, telematics, and TAPA-certified security facilities. Based at the dedicated Pharma Competence Center in Gelsenkirchen (established 2014).
• Food Logistics (Lebensmittellogistik) Specialized food logistics services for frozen, chilled, and non-temperature-controlled food products distributed through 16 dedicated European branches. Certified to IFS Logistics, ISO, AEO, BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards), QS, BIO, and GDP-Logistics standards.
• Plant Transport (Pflanzentransport) Temperature-controlled transport of flowers and plants from overseas ports, international airports, and European growing regions. Covers young plants, potted plants, bedding plants, balcony plants, and cut flowers; deliveries to garden centers and retail distribution platforms.
• Specials Transport Transport services for products requiring special handling, including chemicals, oils, animals (bees), pet food, dry goods, automotive accessories, and high-value goods.
• WebPortal Digital web portal for freight forwarders enabling online order processing, shipment tracking, and digital workflow management. Registration requires email and username with automatic deletion after six months of inactivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer satisfaction rating of 1.59 (on German school grading scale, 1=best) in 2025, improved from 1.65 in 2023
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FrigologisticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolish cold storage and logistics partner visible in group logos, indicating collaboration within the Nichirei/Thermotraffic network
• GodfroyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench logistics partner shown in group logos. Godfroy participated together with Thermotraffic at Anuga 2023
• HiwaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch logistics partner in the Thermotraffic network, shown in group logos section
• EurofrigominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the Nichirei/Thermotraffic group, participated together at Anuga 2023 trade fair
• Thermotraffic Holland B.V.coreOthersFounded in 1987 as a subsidiary in the Netherlands. Peter Kraan serves as second managing director. Provides Dutch market operations and container trucking services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eurofrigo: Sister company within the Nichirei/Thermotraffic group, providing temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics across Europe. Directly comparable as a Nichirei-owned reefer specialist with similar customer base in frozen and chilled foods.
• Lineage Logistics: World's largest temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company, operating cold storage plus transportation in Europe and globally. Directly comparable on cold storage and integrated reefer transport, though Lineage is significantly larger and primarily a warehousing-led platform.
• JF Hillebrand: Specialist freight forwarder focused on beverage, food, and other temperature-sensitive liquid and dry bulk logistics with strong European reefer capabilities. Comparable in niche specialization, multi-modal approach, and food/beverage customer base.
• Frigologistics: Polish cold storage and logistics partner within the Nichirei/Thermotraffic group network. Comparable as a reefer specialist with European cold storage and transport operations, though focused on Eastern European geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Kühne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with a significant KN PharmaChain and temperature-controlled logistics division. Competes with Thermotraffic on cross-border European reefer transport, though K+N operates as a much broader generalist 3PL.
• Dachser: German-headquartered logistics provider with a dedicated Food Logistics business line (Dachser Food Logistics) offering temperature-controlled European distribution. Comparable in customer overlap (European food producers/retailers) and Bi-Temp reefer capabilities, though Dachser is a much larger generalist.
• DSV: Global freight forwarder with a strong European road transport and cold chain offering following its Schenker integration. Competes directly for European reefer FTL/LTL contracts with a much larger global footprint.
• GEODIS: French global logistics provider with a dedicated Healthcare and cold chain division serving pharma and food customers across Europe. Comparable in pharma GDP-certified reefer capabilities and pan-European network, though much broader in scope.

Regional players

• Hankepall: Note: Excluded — not confident of verifiable current existence as a direct reefer peer.

Emerging players

• Royal FloraHolland Logistics: Dutch flower auction and logistics platform with significant temperature-controlled transport for plants and cut flowers. Comparable to Thermotraffic's plant/nursery vertical, though operating as a regional flower-specific specialist rather than full cold-chain operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThermotrGroup

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Thermotraffic