What Van der Wal does

Van der Wal is a privately held, family-owned Dutch logistics company founded in 1924 (legal entity Van der Wal B.V.), headquartered at Nijverheidsweg 33, Utrecht, Netherlands, with operations in the United Kingdom (Brighton since 2013), Poland (Gniezno), Romania (Brasov), and historical presence in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. The company operates three service lines — physical road transport (2PL, including exceptional/out-of-gauge and volume transport), flexible storage using mobile swap bodies that double as on-site temporary warehousing, and complete logistics outsourcing through the SmartWay Logistics 4PL control tower (founded 2008), which coordinates over 635,000 shipments per year. Its fleet includes megatrailers, supermegas, LZV combinations (delivering 35% less CO2 per pallet), SEC self-loading combinations, semi-low loaders for exceptional cargo, and electric Moffett truck-mounted forklifts with a custom on-the-go charger.

The business model is B2B direct enterprise sales with quote-based pricing — no public rate card — earning transaction fees on transport and storage and managed services fees on 4PL contracts. Customers include enterprise shippers in industrial/manufacturing, retail/consumer goods, and exceptional/out-of-gauge cargo (named clients: Rockwool, Kimberly-Clark, CHEP, DHL Supply Chain). Go-to-market is account management, dedicated transport planning, and a website quote-request funnel, supplemented by PR in trade media (Transport & Logistiek) and content marketing on LinkedIn and the company blog. Certification stack: ISO 9001 (to 30.06.2028), ISO 14001 (to 12.07.2026), ISO 27001 (to 08.04.2027), ISO 45001 (to 21.04.2027), and four Lean & Green Stars (4th Star awarded February 2024 for 55% CO2 reduction per loading meter/kilometer since 2008, targeting 65% by 2030).

The underlying technology stack centres on TMWSuite as the TMS, Fleetboard telematics and driver coaching, a custom electric Moffett charger developed with Quickstra and Hiab, and proprietary data-cleaning and load-optimization algorithms that feed the SmartWay Logistics control tower. The company also holds an ILT Enforcement Covenant (signed 2010) granting self-audit rights on transport law compliance. Ownership remains entirely within the Van der Wal family; Henk van der Wal has been owner-CEO since 1985, with Gertjan Boom as Managing Director (since 2015) and Frank Korsmit as Financial Director.

Name

Van der Wal

Legal name

Van der Wal B.V.

Website

https://vanderwal.company

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Van der Wal is a family-owned Dutch logistics company founded in 1924, providing domestic and international road transport, flexible swap-body storage, and 4PL control-tower services (via SmartWay Logistics) to enterprise clients across Europe, operating from Utrecht with offices in four countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road Freight Transport and Contract Logistics

NAICS

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412), General Freight Trucking (4841), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Dry Van (General Freight) TL Carriers (TLADADAA)

Keywords

• Road freight transport
• Contract logistics services
• Fourth-party logistics
• Sustainable transport solutions
• Flexible storage rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transport Services (2PL): Physical road transport services including exceptional transport, express transport, volume transport, and international transport across Europe and beyond. Revenue is earned per shipment or contract, based on distance, cargo type, and frequency.
2. Freight Forwarding (3PL): Freight forwarding and logistics coordination services for clients requiring third-party logistics management.
3. 4PL / Logistics Optimization (SmartWay Logistics): Complete management and optimization of client logistics activities through the SmartWay Logistics control tower brand, handling over 635,000 shipments annually. Revenue model combines management fees and performance-based components.
4. Flexible Storage (Swap Body Rental): Temporary and flexible storage solutions using swap bodies (afzetbakken/wissellaadbakken) parked at customer sites, depots, or Van der Wal premises. Revenue generated per unit rental period or as part of integrated transport contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Van der Wal provides sustainable road transport, flexible storage via swap bodies, and 4PL logistics optimization services primarily for European enterprise clients. Offerings span 2PL physical transport (including exceptional/out-of-gauge, express, volume, and international corridors), 3PL freight forwarding, and 4PL control-tower management under the SmartWay Logistics sub-brand. The company operates a modern Euro 6-compliant fleet with Long Heavy Vehicles (LZVs), electric Moffett forklifts, and swap body equipment across offices in the Netherlands, UK, Poland, and Romania.

Product overview

Van der Wal is an international logistics service provider founded in 1924, offering three core services: transport (domestic and international road freight, including exceptional/excess-dimension transport), flexible storage space (using swap bodies as mobile storage units), and logistics optimisation (control tower / 4PL services). The company operates the SmartWay Logistics sub-brand as its 4PL offering. Its fleet includes a range of specialised trailers — megatrailers, supermegas, LZVs (long heavy vehicles), SEC combinations, and volume combis — plus exceptional transport equipment (open mega, semi-low loaders, Euro low loaders) and swap bodies. Van der Wal also operates electric Moffett truck-mounted forklifts for zero-emission loading and unloading. The Kill Empty Running programme underpins its sustainability strategy, supporting CO2 reduction targets that have earned four Lean & Green Stars. The company is Euro 6 certified and holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and ISO 45001 certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartWay Logistics: Neutral 'non-asset' 4PL (fourth-party logistics) service provider with practical knowledge of a 100-year-old transport company. Provides control tower services managing over 635,000 shipments annually across Europe.

Products and services

• Transport Services Domestic and international road transport services including exceptional transport (out-of-gauge/overweight), express transport, volume transport, and international corridors to France, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and broader Eastern Europe. Covers B2B freight movement for industrial shippers, retailers, and freight forwarders using a Euro 6-compliant fleet including LZVs, megatrailers, and electric trucks.
• Flexible Storage Space (Swap Body Rental) Mobile storage solution using swap bodies (afzetbakken/wissellaadbakken) that can be parked at customer sites, depots, or unusual locations. Loading a swap body is on average four times faster than live loading. Revenue is generated per unit rental period or as part of integrated transport contracts.
• Logistics Optimization (4PL Control Tower) Supply chain management and logistics process optimization services, including control tower operations that handle over 635,000 annual shipments across Europe, delivered under the SmartWay Logistics 4PL brand. Combines management fees and performance-based components for clients seeking complete logistics outsourcing, neutral carrier coordination, and CO2 transparency.
• SmartWay Logistics (4PL Brand) Neutral non-asset fourth-party logistics (4PL) sub-brand founded by Van der Wal in 2008, offering complete management and optimization of logistics activities for customers. Operates a control tower coordinating over 635,000 shipments per year across Europe using data algorithms and planning expertise.
• Exceptional Transport (Out-of-gauge and Overweight Cargo) Specialized transport service for out-of-gauge, overweight, or irregular cargo not complying with standard road transport regulations. Deploys specialized trailers (open mega, semi-dieplader, eurodieplader) and handles permits, route planning, and regulatory compliance. Over 35 years of experience in this niche serving construction, energy, and industrial machinery clients.
• International Transport (Cross-border European Corridors) International road transport on corridors including France, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and broader Eastern Europe. Revenue earned per shipment or contract based on distance, cargo type, and frequency. Includes specialized international exceptional transport for France.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55% CO2 reduction per loading meter/kilometer since 2008, with a target of 65% by 2030
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Van der Wal is a founding member of the European Clean Trucking Alliance, a coalition of key road freight players advocating for accelerated EU transition to zero-emission trucks. Van der Wal co-signed a letter urging the EU Parliament to raise CO2 emission reduction targets for trucks from 45% to 65% by 2030.
• CHEPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019CHEP, a pallet pooling company, partnered with Van der Wal's SmartWay Logistics and Kimberly-Clark in a three-party collaboration on the Czech Republic–UK route. Trucks carrying Kimberly-Clark products return with CHEP's reusable pallets, reducing empty running by at least 10% and saving 70,000 kg CO2 annually. SmartWay Logistics acts as trustee and operations partner, coordinating the two transport flows.
• Kimberly-ClarkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Kimberly-Clark partnered with CHEP and Van der Wal's SmartWay Logistics to share truck capacity on the Czech Republic–UK route, reducing empty running and CO2 emissions while advancing toward its global sustainability goals for energy and climate.
• QuickstracoreTechnology or IntegrationQuickstra is the official service organization and dealer for Moffett truck-mounted forklifts in the Netherlands. It collaborated with Van der Wal and Hiab to design a custom on-the-go charger for electric Moffett forklifts, enabling extended deployment without intermediate recharging stops. Van der Wal was the first Dutch company to order electric Moffett forklifts through Quickstra in 2021.
• HiabcoreTechnology or IntegrationHiab (importeur) manufactured and supplied eight Moffett electric forklift trucks to Van der Wal via Quickstra. Hiab's Irish factory developed the first-ever three-wheel drive electric forklift model specifically in response to Van der Wal's three-year demand for electric equipment.
• RockwoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan der Wal and Rockwool won the 2008 Lean & Green Award as the first cross-industry collaboration between a transport company and shipper in the Netherlands, achieved through the deployment of Long Heavy Vehicles (LZVs/LHVs).
• Utrecht Hydrogen CovenantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan der Wal signed the Utrecht Hydrogen Covenant, committing to invest in at least five hydrogen trucks by 2030 as part of the region's hydrogen infrastructure development plan.
• DHL Supply ChaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan der Wal and DHL Supply Chain jointly deployed the fully electric Mercedes-Benz eActros for sustainable transport operations, representing a strategic partnership between two major logistics operators to advance zero-emission road freight.
• BreytnerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVan der Wal CEO Henk van der Wal cited Breytner as an example of a company developing fully electric 50-ton trucks, indicating industry collaboration and shared learning toward zero-emission transport.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DB Schenker: European-headquartered land transport, air and ocean freight forwarder; directly comparable on European road freight, cross-border Eastern European corridors and integrated 3PL/4PL services, though with broader modal coverage.
• DSV: Global freight forwarder and road transport operator with a major European truckload presence; comparable to Van der Wal on international road freight, freight forwarding (3PL) and increasingly 4PL control-tower services, but operating at vastly greater scale across all modes.
• XPO Logistics: European and North American truckload and less-than-truckload operator (formerly Norbert Dentressangle); competes with Van der Wal on European full-truckload road freight and contract logistics, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global contract logistics and transport provider; both a documented Van der Wal partner (joint eActros deployment) and a broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise transport and 4PL orchestration work across Europe.
• CEVA Logistics: Global third-party logistics provider (CMA CGM group) with significant European road and contract logistics operations; overlaps with Van der Wal on 3PL/4PL managed services, European distribution and enterprise shipper contracts.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with strong European road and contract-logistics operations; overlaps with Van der Wal on international general freight, 3PL/4PL managed services and enterprise shipper relationships, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Koninklijke Rotra: Dutch road transport and logistics group with similar Benelux-anchored European footprint; closely comparable on general freight, value-added logistics services and Benelux distribution for industrial/retail customers.
• Ewals Cargo Care: Dutch-headquartered multimodal logistics provider with strong intermodal and European road operations; comparable to Van der Wal on general freight trucking, intermodal/container transport and sustainability leadership, operating at a larger scale.
• Girteka Logistics: One of Europe's largest asset-based road transport operators with deep Eastern European roots and ~8,000+ trucks; directly comparable on full-truckload international road freight and Western/Eastern European corridors, and a more direct competitor on volume transport than the large forwarders.
• Bleckmann: Belgian/Dutch logistics provider specializing in apparel, healthcare and e-commerce fulfilment with European-wide transport; comparable to Van der Wal on B2B enterprise transport, flexible storage and value-added logistics for brand-owner shippers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-der-wal-transport

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Van der Wal