A2B -Online

What A2B -Online does

A2B-online B.V. is a Netherlands-headquartered, privately held shortsea logistics provider that moves containerised and trailer freight between Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. The company operates a vertically integrated, asset-heavy platform consisting of 2,400+ owned 45ft containers, 500+ curtain-sided trailers, 200+ trucks with employed drivers, and a fleet of 7 owned container ships managed by its in-house Ship Management subsidiary, with two additional methanol dual-fuel newbuilds (A2B Vision and A2B Progress) entering service in 2026. Its service portfolio covers container transport (Door/Door, Quay/Quay, intermodal, reefer), trailer transport (full and part loads), customs services, and forwarding, supplemented by a rail service (A2B-online Express, Moerdijk-Melzo, operated with LTE Netherlands) and a barge corridor (MDC, Moerdijk-Duisburg, with WEC Lines/Tailwind/Danser).

The company runs 40+ weekly shortsea sailings across UK ports (London Thamesport, Felixstowe, Immingham, Teesport, with Tilbury launching 2026) and Netherlands ports (Moerdijk, Rotterdam, Vlaardingen), supported by a proprietary customer portal (a2b-center.com) for 24/7 booking, ePOD/CMR document handling, and invoicing. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining dedicated field sales managers per geography and division (Container, Trailer, Forwarding) with inside sales and self-service portal access; pricing is quote-based and transaction-fee structured per shipment. The company is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22000:2018 certified, holds Authorised Economic Operator status for customs, and achieved its first Lean & Green Star in January 2026 for CO2 reduction.

A2B-online serves B2B shippers and freight forwarders across manufacturing, retail, food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, with wholly-owned operating subsidiaries in the Netherlands, UK, and Poland and a workforce of 400+. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is founder-controlled with no external PE/VC funding recorded, and is currently in a multi-year fleet renewal and intermodal network expansion phase.

Name

A2B -Online

Legal name

A2B-online B.V.

Website

https://a2b-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

A2B-online B.V. is a Netherlands-headquartered, privately held shortsea logistics provider that moves containerised and trailer freight between Continental Europe and the United Kingdom using an owned fleet of 7 ships, 2,400+ containers, 500+ trailers, and 200+ trucks, serving B2B shippers in manufacturing, retail, food & beverage, pharma, and chemicals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shortsea Container and Trailer Transport Services

NAICS

Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

FCL (Full Container Load) Ocean Forwarding (TLACABAA)

Keywords

• Shortsea container shipping
• Trailer transport services
• Intermodal freight forwarding
• UK-EU logistics
• Customs clearance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hazerswoude-dorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Container Transport Services: Door-to-door and quay-to-quay container transport between the European Continent and the UK using own fleet of 2,400+ 45ft containers and 7 own container ships. Services include standard containers, reefers, and intermodal combinations.
2. Trailer Transport Services: Full-load (FTL) and part-load (LTL) trailer transport with own fleet of 500+ curtain-sided trailers and 200+ trucks with own drivers. Door-to-door delivery across the continent-UK corridor.
3. Forwarding Services: Arrangement of transport via rail, road, sea, and air freight carriers with dedicated service partners for routes outside A2B-online's own service network.
4. Customs Services: Handling of export declarations, import declarations, and other customs procedures necessary for smooth cargo transport, including Brexit-related formalities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

A2B-online is a shortsea logistics provider that transports cargo by container and trailer between the European Continent and the United Kingdom. Services include door-to-door and quay-to-quay container transport, full-load and part-load trailer transport, intermodal combinations (sea, road, rail, barge), temperature-controlled reefer transport, customs clearance, and freight forwarding for routes outside its own service network. The company operates its own fleet of 2,400+ containers, 500+ trailers, 200+ trucks, and 7 container ships.

Product overview

A2B-online is a shortsea logistics provider offering a unified suite of transport services between the European Continent and the United Kingdom. The portfolio is built around two core product lines: Container Services (Door/Door, Quay/Quay, Intermodal, and Reefer transport using 2,400 owned 45ft containers) and Trailer Services (FTL and LTL using 500+ owned curtain-sided trailers and 200 trucks with company drivers). These are supported by ancillary services including Forwarding (multimodal forwarding beyond direct routes), Customs Services (export/import declarations for Brexit-era cross-border trade), Ship Management (in-house fleet of 7 container ships), Trucking Services, and Digital Services. The A2B-online Express rail service between Moerdijk (NL) and Melzo (IT) provides intermodal capacity, and the Customer Portal offers online booking management and document workflows. The company operates from headquarters in Hazerswoude-Dorp, NL, with facilities in Moerdijk, UK (Ipswich), and Poland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Services Shortsea container transport between the European Continent and the UK using a fleet of 2,400+ owned 45ft containers. Variants include Door/Door, Quay/Quay, Intermodal (road, barge, shortsea), and Reefer (temperature-controlled) transport for B2B shippers and freight forwarders.
• Trailer Services Trailer transport using 500+ owned curtain-sided (code XL) trailers and 200+ trucks with own drivers, providing Full-Load (FTL) and Part-Load (LTL) door-to-door transport across the Continent-UK corridor for industrial and manufacturing companies.
• Forwarding Services Arrangement of transport via rail, road, sea, and air freight carriers with dedicated service partners for routes outside A2B-online's own service network. For B2B customers requiring transport beyond the Continent-UK corridor.
• Customs Services Handling of export declarations, import declarations, and related customs procedures to ensure smooth cross-border cargo transport, particularly for UK-EU trade post-Brexit. AEO-certified (since 2020).
• A2B-online Express Rail Service Intermodal rail service between Moerdijk (NL) and Melzo (IT), operating 4 times per week. Provides a low-carbon intermodal alternative for cargo moving between the Netherlands and Italy, with direct connectivity to UK shortsea links. Operated in partnership with LTE Netherlands B.V.
• Moerdijk-Duisburg Barge Service (MDC) Inland waterway barge service connecting Moerdijk (NL) to Duisburg (DE), complementing A2B-online's shortsea services. Partners with WEC Lines, Tailwind Shipping Lines, and Danser Group. Avoids the Dutch truck toll and offers a sustainable alternative for hinterland connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduction of up to 95% with new methanol-powered newbuild vessels (A2B Vision, A2B Progress) compared to current fleet
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Port of Tilbury (London)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026New liner service between Moerdijk and Tilbury replacing the long-standing Thamesport connection (12 years). Inaugural sailing scheduled 31 August 2026 from Moerdijk, arriving Tilbury 1 September 2026. Tilbury offers strategic location, modern facilities, and advanced logistics solutions supporting A2B-online's network optimization strategy.
• RST (Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Partnership established October 2025 for service between Rotterdam and Teesport (UK), operating 3 weekly sailings. RST's excellent hinterland connections via barge and rail support volume growth. Official partnership signed by Michael van Keulen (A2B-online) and Arno Storm (RST CEO).
• WEC LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2025Dutch shipping line operating 14 ships connecting Southern and Northwest Europe, North and East Africa, and the Red Sea. WEC Lines is a key partner in the Moerdijk-Duisburg barge corridor (MDC service) and other intermodal connections. With 17 local offices and agents worldwide.
• Tailwind Shipping LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2025German shipping line and subsidiary of Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG, founded July 2022. Partner in the Moerdijk-Duisburg barge corridor. Originally served non-food sector of Lidl exclusively, now offers services to other customers.
• Danser GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2025Leading intermodal operator with over 40 years of experience, operating a fleet of own and chartered inland vessels in Northwest Europe. Operator of the barge service MS Tranquilo on the Moerdijk-Duisburg Corridor (MDC). Partnership enables sustainable inland waterway transport complementing A2B-online's shortsea services.
• LTE Netherlands B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2025Partnership for the A2B-online Express rail service between Moerdijk (Netherlands) and Melzo (Italy). LTE provides rail traction services operating 4 times weekly, with seamless connection to A2B-online's shortsea UK services. Partnership extended for 2026. LTE is experienced in European rail freight operating under own licence in 13 countries.
• Kuijpers Group (Rotterdam)minorOthers · 1 January 2025Equipment supplier providing 45ft-only container chassis to A2B-online. Founded 1998, operating from 3 locations (Rotterdam, Heerhugowaard, Tilburg) with three divisions: Kuijpers Trading, Kuijpers Rental, and Kuijpers Repair. Partnership characterized by proactive, flexible approach and long-term vision.
• LTE Netherlands B.V. (A2B-online Express extension)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership extended into 2026 for the A2B-online Express rail service. Extension confirmed January 2026 by Managing Directors Michael van Keulen (A2B-online) and Mark Timmermans (LTE), characterized by pragmatic approach and shared drive for quality.
• KRONE TrailerminorOthers · 1 June 2024Trailer manufacturer selected for the purchase of 75 new trailers in June 2024, chosen based on past experience and excellent relationship. Trailers built to latest specifications with improved floor quality.
• SEDEF Shipyard (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023A2B-online contracted SEDEF Shipyard in Tuzla, Turkey, for the construction of two 650 TEU methanol-powered container vessels (A2B Vision and A2B Progress). The ships feature multi-fuel methanol propulsion, shore power capability, and battery capacity for emission-free port operations. A2B Vision launched December 2025, expected delivery mid-2026.
• Technolog Services (Hamburg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Hamburg-based design and engineering firm responsible for the design, engineering, and consulting of the two newbuild 650 TEU container vessels. Technolog Services has been involved in the innovative project from its inception.
• CCT (Combined Cargo Terminals B.V., Moerdijk)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2013Terminal operator at Port of Moerdijk, partner since founding of A2B-online Container B.V. in June 2013. 20-year partnership celebrated May 2024. ABP (Associated British Ports) is also a founding partner for UK port operations at Immingham.
• Arledo B.V. (Waddinxveen)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2012Family-owned specialized workshop for commercial vehicles operating for over 30 years. Manages maintenance and repair of A2B-online's fleet of 510 trailers and 80 container chassis. Partnership of 12+ years characterized by direct communication, shared vision on maintenance and safety, and solution-oriented approach. Drivers swap trailers at Arledo with minimal detour from Vlaardingen terminal.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DFDS: Danish ferry and logistics operator running passenger and freight ferry services on the UK–Continent corridor plus pan-European road and logistics solutions. Closest direct competitor given similar route geography, freight (trailer/containers) focus and integrated ferry-plus-logistics model.
• Hoyer: German-headquartered multimodal logistics provider specialising in tank containers, road haulage and intermodal connections across Europe. Comparable on intermodal Europe-wide container/trailer logistics, though heavier on chemical/tank container segment.
• Stena Line: Swedish ferry operator with extensive North Sea and Irish Sea freight and passenger services connecting UK and Continental Europe. Comparable on UK–Continent ferry-based trailer and container freight with similar port footprint.
• Unifeeder: Denmark-based shortsea container feeder network (owned by DP World) operating Europe-wide feeder services with comparable shortsea ocean container capability. Directly comparable on FCL shortsea container transport between Continental Europe and UK.
• P&O Ferries: Major UK–Continent ferry operator with freight and passenger services on the North Sea routes overlapping A2B-online's core corridor. Directly competes for trailer and unaccompanied freight volumes on the same UK port set (Tilbury, Felixstowe, Immingham, Teesport).
• Danser Group: Dutch intermodal operator with over 40 years of experience running inland barge services in Northwest Europe. A current A2B-online partner on the Moerdijk–Duisburg corridor, but also an adjacent peer given overlapping shortsea-intermodal capabilities.
• Samskip: Iceland-headquartered multimodal logistics provider offering shortsea container, rail, barge and road services across Europe including the UK–Continent corridor. Closely comparable intermodal product set with own vessels and pan-European inland connections.
• Cobelfret: Belgian maritime and logistics group operating shortsea container and RoRo services in Northwest Europe including UK–Continent lanes. Closely comparable on asset-based shortsea container transport between Continental European and UK ports.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: Deutsche Post DHL's freight forwarding arm offering global ocean, road, air and customs services including UK–EU trade lanes. Competes with A2B-online's forwarding and customs services but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarder and logistics provider with significant UK–Continent road, sea and intermodal products. Overlaps with A2B-online's forwarding and door-to-door container services, though as a much larger, broader-portfolio incumbent rather than a niche specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/a2bonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a2b-online

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 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 A2B -Online