Global Cargo Service GmbH

What Global Cargo Service GmbH does

Global Cargo Service GmbH (GCS) is a privately held, middle-sized freight forwarding company headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany, with a representative US office (Global Cargo Service Inc.) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The company is led by managing directors Sebastian Lauber and Siegfried Fischer and operates with approximately 10 direct employees, functioning as an asset-light coordinator of international logistics services rather than an asset-owning carrier.

GCS delivers an integrated suite of multi-modal logistics services: Oceanfreight (standard and special containers, Break Bulk, RoRo, LCL, and project cargo), Airfreight (as an accredited IATA Cargo Agent and registered known forwarder, including full and part charter), Customs Clearance (T2L, EX1, A.TR documentation), Trucking (domestic and international full and part loads with express service), Packing (HPE-standard crates meeting IPPC requirements), and Storage (heavy pieces up to 8.5 tons and pallets up to 1000 kg, including airfreight security chain storage). Capability is delivered through a global partner network of more than 400 agents and several hundred European trucking units, supplemented by third-party tracking portals (frachtportal.eu for truck/warehouse; scm.cargosoft.de for air/ocean).

Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis per shipment, with quote-based pricing tailored to cargo, route, and service level. The go-to-market is sales-led B2B, targeting international shippers requiring customized multi-modal solutions and project cargo handling. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, financial results are not reported, and no external investors, parent entities, or institutional ownership have been identified.

Name

Global Cargo Service GmbH

Legal name

Global Cargo Service GmbH

Website

https://gcs.de.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Cargo Service GmbH is a privately held, asset-light freight forwarder based in Wetzlar, Germany, offering multi-modal international logistics (ocean, air, road, customs, packing, storage) to B2B shippers through a network of 400+ global agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Plants & Process Equipment (EPC/Turnkey Projects) (TLACAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), Oversized / Out-of-Gauge & Heavy-Lift Air Freight (Aircraft Constraints, Special Handling) (TLACAAAG), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Project Cargo Logistics & Transport Management (TLADAGAB)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Ocean freight services
• Air freight services
• Customs clearance services
• Project cargo shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Wetzlar

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: International transport services by sea, air, road and rail. Revenue generated from organizing shipping of cargo including standard containers, special-equipment, Break Bulk, RoRo, and project cargo shipping.
2. Airfreight Services: Fast air transport services as IATA Cargo Agent and registered known forwarder, including Full and Part Charter services.
3. Customs Clearance: Document preparation and customs clearance services (T2L, EX1, A.TR) from start to end until clearance for free circulation.
4. Trucking Services: Domestic and international full and part loads via European-wide partner network of several hundred trucking units, including express service for time-critical cargo.
5. Packing Services: Crates and pallets construction conforming to HPE standard and IPPC requirements for safe machinery transport.
6. Storage Services: Storage of goods including heavy pieces up to 8.5 tons and standard pallets up to 1000kg in pallet rack systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Global Cargo Service GmbH is a middle-sized freight forwarding company that organizes international cargo transportation by sea, air, road, and rail across all continents. Its core offerings include Oceanfreight (standard containers, special equipment, Break Bulk, RoRo, project cargo, LCL), Airfreight (IATA-accredited with full and part charter), Trucking (domestic and international full and part loads), Customs Clearance (T2L, EX1, A.TR), Packing (HPE-standard crates per IPPC requirements), and Storage (heavy pieces up to 8.5 tons and pallets up to 1000 kg). All services are delivered through a global partner network of more than 400 agents and several hundred European trucking units.

Product overview

Global Cargo Service GmbH offers a unified suite of logistics services as a middle-sized freight forwarding company. The core offering includes Oceanfreight (container, Break Bulk, RoRo, and LCL shipping), Airfreight (IATA-accredited with charter options), Trucking (domestic/international full and part loads), Customs Clearance (T2L, EX1, A.TR documentation), Packing (HPE-standard crates meeting IPPC requirements), and Storage (handling cargo up to 8.5 tons per piece). The company operates through a global partner network of more than 400 agents worldwide, positioning these services as an integrated logistics solution rather than discrete software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oceanfreight International ocean freight transportation services for intercontinental cargo exchange, including standard and special-equipment containers, Break Bulk, RoRo, project cargo, and LCL shipping, organized by GCS for businesses worldwide.
• Airfreight Air cargo transportation services for time-critical and sensitive cargo, delivered as an accredited IATA Cargo Agent and registered known forwarder, connecting major global metropolises with full and part charter options for businesses.
• Customs Clearance International trade documentation and customs clearance services including T2L, EX1, and A.TR procedures, supporting businesses from document preparation through clearance for free circulation for quick and easy delivery.
• Trucking Domestic and international trucking services for full and part loads across Europe, leveraging a European-wide partner network with access to several hundred trucking units, including express service for time-critical cargo, for businesses from Hammerfest to Palermo to Lisbon to Moscow.
• Packing Professional packing services for machinery and goods, including HPE-standard crates and pallets meeting IPPC requirements, ensuring safe and sound arrival of cargo at consignee for businesses shipping internationally.
• Storage Storage services for heavy pieces up to 8.5 tons per piece and standard pallets up to 1000 kg in pallet rack systems, including storage within the airfreight security chain as a known forwarder, for businesses needing secure warehousing of machinery, finished parts, and pallets.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IATAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCS is an accredited IATA Cargo Agent and registered known forwarder, enabling airfreight services and connections to important metropolises.
• Global Agent NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of more than 400 Agents worldwide ensuring reliable transportation from first to last mile across all continents.
• European Trucking PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeveral hundred trucking units available through European-wide partner network for domestic and international full and part loads.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rhenus Logistics: German-headquartered mid-sized global forwarder with air, ocean, road, and customs services plus warehousing. Closely comparable to GCS in size, German heritage, multimodal service mix, and mid-market positioning.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered mid-to-large forwarder offering air, ocean, road, and contract logistics globally. Closely comparable to GCS in culture, German roots, multimodal service mix, and mid-market customer focus.
• Dachser: German family-owned logistics company with strong European road freight and air/ocean forwarding. Comparable to GCS in mid-sized, owner-led, German heritage and emphasis on customized B2B service.

Broad incumbents

• DB Schenker: German-headquartered global logistics provider covering land, air, and ocean freight forwarding plus contract logistics. Directly comparable multimodal offering with significant European trucking and project cargo capabilities.
• DSV: Global Danish-headquartered forwarder with strong air, sea, and road capabilities following the Panalpina and Schenker acquisitions. Competes with GCS across all freight modes but at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• Expeditors International: US-listed global forwarder focused on air and ocean freight with customs brokerage. Comparable service mix to GCS's airfreight and customs offerings, but with materially larger scale and enterprise customer base.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with deep ocean, air, road, and contract logistics capabilities. Directly comparable to GCS across all modes but operates at vastly greater scale and global brand reach.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Deutsche Post DHL's freight forwarding arm covering air, ocean, road, customs, and project logistics. Overlaps with GCS's full-service multimodal offering and project cargo specialization, but with vastly larger scale and enterprise customer base.
• CEVA Logistics: Global supply chain operator providing freight forwarding, contract logistics, and ground transportation. Overlaps with GCS across ocean, air, and road forwarding and provides comparable end-to-end services.
• Bolloré Logistics: French-headquartered global forwarder with air, sea, and road capabilities plus project logistics. Comparable multimodal offering with particular overlap in project cargo and European mid-market customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-cargo-service-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Global Cargo Service GmbH