Astre
Astre is a French-headquartered cooperative of 160 independent European transport and logistics SMEs operating 400+ locations across 46+ countries, providing shared purchasing, training, Palet System palletized freight, and logistics services totaling €3.3 billion in aggregate member revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersLe Plessis-pâté, France
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Astre does
Astre is a French-headquartered cooperative grouping of 160 independent transport and logistics SMEs, founded in 1992 and operating across 16+ European countries with 400+ physical locations. The cooperative provides shared services — centralized purchasing (90+ supplier protocols), training (Astre Académie), insurance, financial monitoring, and collective tendering — that allow member SMEs to compete against large integrated logistics groups while preserving their independence.
Its three core product lines are Transportation (full truckload, less-than-truckload, refrigerated, exceptional loads, bulk, multimodal, and on-board forklift services), Logistics HQL (storage, stock management, order preparation, cross-docking, and reverse logistics across 3.4 million m² of warehouse space in Europe), and Palet System, a palletized freight distribution network launched in 2005 covering 46+ countries via 70 distributors and 10 hubs and delivering roughly 1.7-2 million pallets per year with guaranteed deadlines. The Palet System was enhanced in February 2025 through an alliance with Alerce Group integrating the ALERTRAN TMS, which adds AI-powered route optimization and real-time incident response.
Revenue is generated indirectly through the €3.3 billion aggregate commercial activity of the 160 member companies, with the Astre cooperative entity itself funded primarily through member contributions and shared-service fees. Distribution is run through member company direct sales, a centralized European tender platform, and the Palet System hub network; a 2024 reorganization created Astre Europe as the parent holding supervising regional subsidiaries (Astre France, Astre Italie, Astre Benelux, Astre Péninsule ibérique, Astre DACH), and a December 2024 protocol with Federtrasporti established a 7,000-truck combined grouping in Italy.
Astre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astre
- Legal name
- ASTRE COOPERATIVE
- Website
- https://astre.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Astre is a French-headquartered cooperative of 160 independent European transport and logistics SMEs operating 400+ locations across 46+ countries, providing shared purchasing, training, Palet System palletized freight, and logistics services totaling €3.3 billion in aggregate member revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Astre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Freight Transportation and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload (484122), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), Support Activities for Transportation (488)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interregional/Long-Haul LTL Network Carriers (TLADAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA), Heavy Haul / Oversize / Specialized Equipment TL Carriers (TLADADAI), Rail Consolidation & Deconsolidation (LCL/Groupage) (TLACADAD), Oversize/Heavy Express & White-Glove Time-Definite (TLAAABAJ), Heavy Haul / Oversize / Project Cargo Brokerage (TLADAMAJ)
Keywords
Where Astre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Le Plessis-pâté
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Astre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Member Contributions and Cooperative Fees: Astre operates as a cooperative of independent transport and logistics SMEs. Revenue is generated through member fees, shared services, and collective purchasing power. The network collectively generates €3.3 billion in revenue.
- Transportation Services: Services include full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL) transport, specialized transport (refrigerated, exceptional loads, bulk), multimodal transport, and palletized freight via Palet System.
- Logistics Services: Storage, stock management, order preparation, cross-docking, reverse logistics, and customized logistics solutions covered by more than 3.4 million sqm of warehouse space in Europe.
- Collective Purchasing: The Purchasing Department deploys preferential protocols and special offers accessible to all affiliated companies, creating collective purchasing power. In 2019, 90 suppliers generated more than €203 million in revenue through these partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing for transport and logistics services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Astre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astre is a cooperative network of 160 independent transport and logistics SMEs operating across Europe. Its core offerings span three pillars: Transportation (full truckload, less-than-truckload, refrigerated, exceptional loads, bulk, and multimodal transport), Logistics HQL — Haute Qualité Logistique (warehousing, stock management, order preparation, cross-docking, reverse logistics across 3.4 million m²), and Palet System (a palletized freight distribution network covering 46+ European countries with 70 distributors and 10 hubs, delivering 1.7 million pallets per year).
Product overview
Astre is a European cooperative groupement of 160 independent transport and logistics SMEs offering three core solutions: Transportation (general freight management across all transport specialities in Europe), Logistics HQL (Haute Qualité Logistique — high-quality logistics covering warehousing, stock management, order preparation, cross-docking, and reverse logistics across 3.4 million sqm), and Palet System (a palletized freight distribution network launched in 2005, covering 46 countries with 70 distributors and 10 hubs, delivering ~1.7M pallets/year). These are supplemented by add-on services including Astre Académie (e-learning training platform), Astre Digital (an in-house IT/digital team deploying tools for members), Purchasing Services (centralized procurement with key-account conditions), Astre Assurances (insurance placement), and Astre Finances (financial health monitoring, reporting, and M&A support). Palet System is further enhanced by the ALERTRAN TMS (integrated from Alerce Group) which provides intelligent route planning and real-time traceability. The group operates under the Astre Europe governance structure overseeing regional entities (Astre France, Astre Italy, Astre Benelux, Astre Iberian Peninsula, and Astre DACH).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Palet System: The palletized freight transportation solution operated by Astre transport carriers, providing exchange and massification of palletized loads across Europe with 70 distributors and 10 hubs serving 46+ countries.
Products and services
- Transportation Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.4 million m² of warehouse/logistics space across Europe
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Astre
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Astre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
Astre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and key.
- Alerce GroupcoreStrategic alliance to integrate ALERTRAN as a new Transport Management System (TMS) solution for Palet System. Alerce provides AI-powered route optimization, real-time incident response, and freight exchange capabilities. The partnership aims to modernize Palet System processes and strengthen its position as a European palletized transport reference.
- FedertrasporticoreProtocol signed between Astre Italia and Federtrasporti, the two main Italian road transport and logistics groupings. Creates a mega-network of 7,000 trucks. First action: participation in capital of Resta Italia S.R.L. to commercialize B2P freight exchange in Italy.
- TAB Rail Road / Terminal Ouest ProvencesupportingTAB Rail Road, an Astre member, presented France's first 100% digital and low-carbon terminal (Terminal Ouest Provence) at Miramas. The 14-hectare facility features electric handling equipment and rail-road multimodal capabilities.
- MichelinkeyPartnership focused on sustainable mobility in transport and logistics. Shares best practices and promotes concrete initiatives to reduce environmental impact while improving operational efficiency.
- UrbykeyPartnership for urban last-mile delivery in dense urban areas. Urby operates urban delivery with a €20M investment in low-emission fleet. Astre members can access Urby services for hypercenter deliveries, combining long-haul network with urban distribution.
- Volvo TruckskeyPartnership for delivery of 100% electric trucks (Volvo FM Electric) to member companies. Volvo Trucks France supplies electric trucks manufactured with fossil-free steel, supporting Astre's decarbonization goals.
- B2P (B2Pweb)supportingFreight exchange platform. Resta Italia (jointly with Federtrasporti) will commercialize B2P freight exchange services in Italy.
- KärchersupportingPartner for equipment including truck washing portal with aquadetox water recycling system at member Malgogne Transport, using bacteria-based treatment without chemical additives.
- ManpowersupportingStaffing and recruitment services partner listed among 90+ Astre partners providing services to member companies.
- Mercedes-Benz TruckssupportingTruck manufacturer partner providing vehicles to member companies with preferential conditions.
- Renault TruckssupportingTruck manufacturer partner providing vehicles to member companies with preferential conditions.
- Toyota Material HandlingsupportingForklift and materials handling equipment partner providing warehouse equipment to member logistics companies.
- TransicssupportingFleet management and telematics solutions partner for tracking and optimizing transport operations.
- TrimblesupportingTransportation and fleet management technology partner providing mobility solutions.
- AFTRALsupportingProfessional training organization for transport and logistics, partner for driver and staff training programs.
- Bouygues TelecomsupportingTelecommunications partner providing connectivity solutions for fleet and operations.
- 90+ Additional PartnerssupportingPartners spanning vehicle manufacturers (DAF, Scania, Krone, Schmitz), fuel suppliers (Q8 Oils, Total Energies, Antargaz), tire manufacturers (Michelin, Hankook), workshop equipment, insurance, and professional services. In 2019, these 90 partners generated €203M in revenue through the Astre network.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Astre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DSV: Danish global freight-forwarding and road-transport major with aggressive M&A roll-up strategy, including the addition of DB Schenker. Competitor for the same European road haul and contract logistics opportunities though materially larger and asset-light.
- DB Schenker: DB Group-owned European and global road and rail freight forwarder offering land transport, contract logistics, and global forwarding. Comparable as a broad European transport and contract-logistics incumbent that overlaps with Astre's enterprise customer targets.
- Geodis: French-headquartered global logistics provider offering freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain solutions. Comparable as a European road transport and contract-logistics competitor operating at much larger scale across the same shipper base.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics incumbent with significant European road and contract logistics operations, serving the same multinational shipper base as Astre. Comparable as a large-scale competitor for European transport contracts though focused on forwarding rather than network cooperative model.
- XPO Logistics: US-listed, European-focused transport and logistics specialist (LTL-heavy after recent GXO spin) operating large road networks across the continent. Comparable as a competitor in the European LTL and contract logistics segments that Astre serves.
Direct peers
- FM Logistic: France-headquartered contract logistics and transport provider with similar European footprint and emphasis on warehousing (3.4M sqm class) plus distribution. Directly comparable in offering integrated transport/logistics solutions to enterprise clients across Europe.
- Dachser: German-headquartered family-owned logistics company operating one of Europe's largest road transport and contract-logistics networks with a strong European groupage/LTL backbone. Directly comparable to Astre's pan-European network and Palet System-style palletized distribution model.
- STEF: French listed specialist in temperature-controlled food transport and logistics across Europe, operating a hub-and-spoke road network similar to Astre's Palet System. Directly comparable as a European road-transport network serving demanding shipper requirements.
- Gefco: Originally a captive automotive logistics provider for PSA now owned by Russian Railways/GLP, Gefco is a major European transport and logistics group offering road, multimodal and contract logistics. Highly comparable as a European-focused road transport and logistics network serving enterprise shippers.
Regional players
- Heppner: French-headquartered privately-held multimodal logistics provider with strong palletized freight and groupage operations across France and Europe. Comparable as an SME-aligned European palletized freight operator sharing Astre's cooperative heritage.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Astre social profiles
Digital presenceAstre compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Astre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Astre subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Astre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Astre
What does Astre do?
Astre is a cooperative network of 160 independent transport and logistics SMEs operating across Europe. Its core offerings span three pillars: Transportation (full truckload, less-than-truckload, refrigerated, exceptional loads, bulk, and multimodal transport), Logistics HQL — Haute Qualité Logistique (warehousing, stock management, order preparation, cross-docking, reverse logistics across 3.4 million m²), and Palet System (a palletized freight distribution network covering 46+ European countries with 70 distributors and 10 hubs, delivering 1.7 million pallets per year).
Is Astre a public or private company?
Astre is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Astre founded?
Astre was founded in 1992. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Astre based?
Astre is headquartered in Le Plessis-pâté, France, in the Europe region.
How does Astre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Member Contributions and Cooperative Fees are the primary driver. The others are transportation Services, logistics Services and collective Purchasing.
Who are Astre's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DSV, DB Schenker, Geodis, Kuehne+Nagel and XPO Logistics. Direct peers are FM Logistic, Dachser, STEF and Gefco. Heppner is listed as a regional player.
Does Astre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astre.
What industry is Astre in?
Astre's product category is Freight Transportation and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADAEAC, Interregional/Long-Haul LTL Network Carriers, with a secondary code of TLADAEAA, National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers. Its NAICS code is 48851 and its SIC code is 4731.