What DSLV does

DSLV (Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik e.V.) is the federal umbrella trade association for Germany's freight forwarding and logistics industry, headquartered in Berlin and structured as a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein). It represents approximately 3,000 leading German forwarding and logistics companies through a federated network of 16 regional state associations (Landesverbände), collectively covering roughly 600,000 employees and an industry generating 135 billion euros in annual turnover — making logistics the third-largest industry in Germany. Its members span the full spectrum of the sector: globally operating 4PL/3PL providers, owner-managed mid-sized forwarders with proprietary truck fleets, shippers of inland vessels and rail, plus specialists in sea freight, air freight, customs, and warehousing.

DSLV's core functions are political advocacy, standards-setting, professional training, and industry research. It serves as the principal political interlocutor for the sector with the German Federal Government, Bundestag, Bundesrat, and federal ministries on legislation affecting freight transport — including truck tolls, the EU Mobility Package, CO2 pricing, sanctions compliance, combined transport master plans, and labor policy. It owns and publishes recognized industry standards, most notably the ADSp (Allgemeine Deutsche Spediteurbedingungen) general terms for forwarding, alongside Logistik-AGB and pallet clauses. DSLV promotes member adoption of digital freight processes including EDI (used by ~56% of forwarders), telematics-based tracking and tracing (used by ~75%), web-based order management (used by ~66%), and API-based application networking (used by ~25%), and co-authored with the UBA a guideline for applying ISO 14083 to greenhouse gas emissions calculation in transport.

DSLV's business model is membership-funded rather than commercial: there are no disclosed products, software platforms, or paid services. Revenue (not publicly disclosed) is derived from member dues, with services distributed indirectly through the 16 regional state associations and through nine partner educational institutions delivering vocational and continuing professional development — including credentialing programs for the FIATA-Diplom and IRU-Ehrendiplom. DSLV is a member of CLECAT and FIATA and an associated member of IRU, and supports initiatives such as Mobilitätsrente (a sector pension scheme), SSD SAFE-Services (security/risk management), and Die Wirtschaftsmacher (industry image campaign), plus the annual Young Freight Forwarder Germany Award jointly run with Deutsche Verkehrs-Zeitung since 2006.

Name

DSLV

Legal name

DSLV Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik e. V.

Website

https://dslv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DSLV is the Berlin-based federal trade association representing roughly 3,000 German freight forwarding and logistics companies through 16 regional associations, providing political advocacy, contract standards (ADSp), professional training, and industry research to Germany's third-largest industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Trade Association

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding association
• Logistics industry advocacy
• Logistics industry standards
• Transport policy representation
• Logistics professional training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DSLV is a non-profit trade association (eingetragener Verein) that provides political representation and advocacy for approximately 3,000 German freight forwarding and logistics companies. It develops industry standards (ADSp, Logistik-AGB, Palettenklauseln), delivers vocational training and certification programs (FIATA-Diplom, IRU-Ehrendiplom), publishes guidelines and market data, and operates as the central political contact point for the German Federal Government on logistics and freight transport policy.

Product overview

DSLV (Bundesverband Spedition und Logistik) is a German freight forwarding and logistics industry association, not a product technology company. It does not offer commercial products, software platforms, or technology services. The organization provides industry guidance, publications, training resources, and professional certifications for its member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ADSp - Allgemeine Deutsche Spediteurbedingungen (General German Forwarding Conditions) DSLV-published standard contractual terms governing freight forwarding and logistics services in Germany, used by member companies as the contractual baseline for their operations.
• Logistik-AGB (Logistics General Terms and Conditions) Standard general terms and conditions for logistics services published by DSLV and adopted by German logistics service providers.
• Palettenklauseln (Pallet Clauses) DSLV-published contractual clauses governing pallet exchange and pallet-related liability in German freight forwarding operations.
• Zollvollmachten (Customs Powers of Attorney) Standardized customs power-of-attorney templates published by DSLV for member companies to authorize third-party customs declaration services.
• Handbuch des Internationalen Straßengüterverkehrs (Handbook of International Road Freight Transport) Comprehensive DSLV-published reference handbook covering international road freight transport regulations, customs procedures, and cross-border compliance for German forwarding companies.
• UBA-DSLV-Leitfaden zur ISO 14083 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculation Guide) Joint UBA-DSLV guideline for applying ISO 14083 to calculate greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, including case studies, implementation guidance, and data collection methodologies.
• FIATA-Diplom Program Professional certification program administered by DSLV on behalf of FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations), awarding the FIATA Diploma to German graduates of the freight forwarding and logistics merchant apprenticeship.
• IRU-Ehrendiplom Program (IRU Diploma of Honour) Honorary diploma program facilitated by DSLV on behalf of IRU (International Road Transport Union), recognizing outstanding professional drivers in national and international road transport.
• Young Freight Forwarder Germany Award Annual DSLV-DVZ competition recognizing the best trained young freight forwarding and logistics merchants in Germany, with finalists presenting solutions to a jury and winners receiving a 2,000 Euro training voucher.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pro-DEENLA Project (BIBB/BMBF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2016A model project funded by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). DSLV supported this project which developed 27 learning tasks to promote competencies for sustainable professional action in dual training for freight forwarding and logistics merchants. Project ran from April 2016 to June 2019.
• CLECAT (European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services)coreOthersDSLV is a Member of CLECAT, a European association representing the interests of freight forwarders, transport, logistics, and customs services providers at the EU level. This membership enables DSLV to participate in European policy discussions affecting the logistics industry.
• FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations)coreOthersDSLV is a Member of FIATA, the world organization of freight forwarders. Through this membership, DSLV facilitates the FIATA-Diploma program for German graduates and participates in FIATA's professional development initiatives including the Young Logistics Professionals (YLP) Award.
• IRU (International Road Transport Union)coreOthersDSLV is an Associated Member of IRU, the international road transport organization. Through this affiliation, DSLV facilitates the IRU-Ehrendiplom (IRU Diploma of Honour) program for outstanding professional drivers, awarded annually by IRU's Executive Committee.
• Mobilitätsrente (Mobility Pension Scheme)minorOthersThe MobilitätsRente was initiated by industry associations of the transport sector to provide member companies and their employees with a simple and efficient way to close pension gaps. DSLV supports this initiative.
• Die WirtschaftsmacherminorOthersA nationwide initiative that showcases the performance of logistics for the global economy to the general public and especially to career changers of all qualification levels. DSLV supports this initiative.
• SSD SAFE-Services Deutschland GmbHminorOthersSAFE supports forwarders in establishing preventive risk management. The goal is sustainable protection of logistics services by containing robbery and theft risks as well as terrorism risk. SAFE acts exclusively for and in the interest of its participants, predominantly SMEs.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency)minorOthersDSLV participates annually in the digital parent evenings organized by the Federal Employment Agency, informing parents and young people about training pathways and career opportunities in the forwarding and logistics industry.
• AHV - Akademie Hamburger Verkehrswirtschaft GmbHminorOthersListed as a partner educational institution (Weiterbildungsanbieter) under DSLV's training network, located at Uhlandstraße 68, 22087 Hamburg.
• Bildungsakademie Spedition, Logistik und Verkehr e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Eschborner Landstraße 42-50, 60489 Frankfurt/Main.
• Bildungswerk Verkehrsgewerbe Niedersachsen e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Lister Kirchweg 95, 30177 Hannover.
• Bildungswerk Verkehr Wirtschaft Logistik Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Haferlandweg 8, 48155 Münster, with a Berlin office at Friedrichstraße 155-156 / Unter den Linden 24, 10117 Berlin.
• LBS-Landesverband Bayerischer Spediteure e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Georg-Brauchle-Ring 91, 80992 München.
• L.A.N. Logistik Akademie Nordrhein-WestfalenminorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Engelbertstr. 11, 40233 Düsseldorf.
• Speditions- und Logistikverband Hessen/Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Eschborner Landstraße 42-50, 60489 Frankfurt/Main.
• Verband Spedition und Logistik Baden-Württemberg e.V.minorOthersListed as a partner educational institution under DSLV's training network, located at Am Westkai 11, 70327 Stuttgart.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA): TIA is the leading US trade association for third-party logistics intermediaries (brokers, forwarders). Comparable as a freight-forwarding/brokerage-focused trade association providing advocacy, education and compliance support to logistics intermediaries — but in the North American market.
• Logistics UK (formerly Freight Transport Association): Logistics UK is the principal UK logistics and freight trade association, representing similar member companies (forwarders, hauliers, logistics providers) with analogous advocacy, training and standards services — but serving the UK market rather than Germany.

Broad incumbents

• CLECAT: CLECAT is the European association for forwarding, transport, logistics and customs services. DSLV is a member; CLECAT operates at the EU level with similar advocacy and standards functions but at supranational scope.
• International Road Transport Union (IRU): IRU is the global road transport industry body. DSLV is an associated member and channels IRU diploma programs to German applicants — comparable as a larger international association serving overlapping constituencies (road transport operators, drivers, forwarders).
• FIATA: FIATA is the global federation of freight forwarders' associations — DSLV is itself a member. Comparable as the global parent/umbrella organization for national freight forwarding associations, providing diploma programs and policy advocacy at the international level.

Direct peers

• Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV): VDV represents German public transport and rail freight companies. Directly comparable as a German federal transport association; DSLV and VDV already co-host the annual combined transport (KV) marketplace event.
• Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL): BVL is Germany's broader logistics industry network/association, covering supply chain management, logistics science and practice. Highly comparable as a German logistics industry association with overlapping member constituencies (logistics service providers, shippers, academics).
• Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL): BGL is the German federal association for road haulage, logistics and disposal — directly comparable to DSLV as a federal-level German industry association advocating for commercial freight and logistics operators in political forums.
• AMÖ Bundesverband Möbelspedition und Logistik: AMÖ is the German federal association for furniture removal and specialized logistics. Comparable as a German federal trade association for a logistics sub-segment, sharing the same advocacy and standards-setting model as DSLV.

Others

• Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband (DSLV regional associations, e.g., VSL Baden-Württemberg): DSLV's own 16 regional Landesverbände (state associations) function as the operational distribution channel for DSLV membership services. They are part of the DSLV ecosystem but operate as semi-independent regional entities, providing a useful internal benchmark for membership economics and regional service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DSLV_Berlin
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/spediteure

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 DSLV