DB Cargo
- Company typePublic
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersMainz, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
DB Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DB Cargo
- Legal name
- DB Cargo AG
- Website
- https://dbcargo.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where DB Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mainz
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
DB Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Rail Freight Transport: Core rail freight transport services including single wagonload transport, block trains, and complete train solutions for various industries.
- Combined Transport: Intermodal transport combining rail and road, including continental and maritime solutions for port-to-door logistics.
- Maintenance Services: Maintenance services for freight wagons and locomotives through ECM-certified workshops.
- Climate+ Services: Carbon-neutral transport services using green electricity and biofuel with optional compensation through sustainability projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Standard rail freight transport rates |
| Subscription | Annual | Climate+ carbon neutral transport |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
DB Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DB Cargo provides rail freight transport and logistics services for business customers across Europe and into Asia. Core offerings include single wagonload transport, block trains, combined continental and maritime intermodal transport, industry-specific solutions for automotive, steel, chemicals, and bulk cargo, plus the link2rail digital platform for eServices. The company also offers carbon-neutral transport via Climate+, freight wagon and locomotive maintenance through ECM-certified workshops, and full-load forwarding through DB Cargo FLS.
Product overview
DB Cargo operates as a comprehensive rail freight logistics provider offering both traditional transport services and a digital platform ecosystem. The core portfolio includes single wagonload transport, block train services, and combined transport (continental and maritime). The link2rail digital platform serves as the central hub for eServices including Network, Planner, Wagon Catalogue, Order management, Empty Wagon requests, and Track&Trace. Industry-specific solutions cover Automotive, Steel, Liquids & Bulk, and Full Load Solutions. Subsidiaries include DB Cargo FLS (full load solutions), DB Intermodal Services (container services), TFG Transfracht (port-to-door), RBH Logistics (bulk cargo), DB Cargo BTT (hazardous goods), and DB Cargo Logistics (automotive transport). Climate+ provides carbon-neutral transport options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- link2rail: Digital platform providing eServices for managing freight transports via portal, app or API interface
- DB Cargo Eurasia
- DB Cargo FLS (Full Load Solutions)
- DB Intermodal Services
- Climate+
- DB CargoLab
Products and services
- Single Wagonload Transport Rail freight transport service for individual wagon shipments enabling flexible logistics with access to the European rail network. Available to business customers across industries, providing nationwide and cross-border single wagon services in cooperation with Xrail.
- Block Train Full trainload transport service for dedicated cargo shipments between fixed origin and destination points. Used by industrial shippers including the 'Alter Schwede' intermodal connection between Germany and Sweden operating for over 10 years.
- Combined Transport - Continental Intermodal transport combining rail with road for flexible continental European logistics, connecting major economic centers via a network of terminals and railports.
- Combined Transport - Maritime Port-to-door logistics combining maritime and rail transport for seaport hinterland services with the densest network in European port hinterland transport.
- Climate+ Carbon-Neutral Transport Premium climate-neutral transport solution using green electricity and biofuels for rail shipments, with carbon offsetting options through CDM Gold Standard sustainability projects.
- DB Cargo FLS (Full Load Solutions) Full truck load and intermodal transport solutions across Europe and the Eurasian corridor, including heavy load and large-volume project logistics with 70 years of forwarding experience.
- DB Intermodal Services Container trading and supplementary transport services for worldwide container logistics and maritime combined transport.
- TFG Transfracht Port-to-Door Logistics Port-to-door logistics services operating the densest train network in European port hinterland transport, including depot and customs services.
- RBH Logistics Bulk Cargo Service Block train specialists for bulk cargo, liquid transports, and combined cargo transportation in Europe.
- DB Cargo BTT Hazardous Goods Logistics Hazardous goods logistics and industry-specific solutions for chemicals and dangerous materials, with SQAS and SCC certifications.
- DB Cargo Logistics Automotive Transport Intermodal automotive transport solutions designed individually and sustainably for finished vehicles and components across Europe.
- Wagon and Locomotive Maintenance Services Maintenance services for freight wagons and locomotives delivered through ECM-certified workshops, covering inspection, repair, and overhaul activities.
- link2rail Digital Platform Digital platform providing eServices for freight transport management (Network, Planner, Wagon Catalogue, Order, Empty Wagon, Track&Trace) accessible via portal, mobile app, and API integration to customer systems.
- DB Cargo Eurasia International Transport Solutions International rail transport solutions across the Eurasian corridor, connecting Europe with CIS states and China via Silk Road logistics services through DB Cargo Eurasia GmbH.
- Rail Profession Qualification (Lokführer, Wagenmeister, etc.) Training and qualification programs for rail professions including locomotive drivers, wagon masters, shunting drivers, and shunting assistants, offered to companies and employment agencies.
- Door-to-Door Logistics Solutions End-to-end door-to-door logistics combining rail trunk haul with pre- and on-carriage road transport to deliver freight from shipper to final receiver.
- Heavy Load and Oversized Transport Specialized transport services for heavy loads and oversized cargo, including project logistics requiring customized routing and equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11,800 tons CO2 emissions reduced per year (40-CONTECH project)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use DB Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DB Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature11 records
DB Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- XrailcoreInternational cooperation for reliable single wagonload transport. From Scandinavia via Germany and the Benelux countries to the Alps. Enables cross-border single wagonload services that would otherwise be fragmented.
- DB EnergieminorPartner for Climate+ sustainability projects offering comprehensive compensation options through selected CDM Gold Standard sustainability projects for unavoidable emissions from rail transport.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DB Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SBB Cargo AG: SBB Cargo is the publicly owned Swiss rail freight operator and the most direct counterpart on transalpine and single-wagonload flows; it sits on the same Rhine-Alpine Corridor and competes head-to-head with DB Cargo Switzerland for Alpine transit volumes.
- ÖBB Rail Cargo Group: ÖBB-RCG is the state-owned Austrian rail freight operator and DB Cargo's closest competitor on Southeast European, Alpine, and combined-transport flows, sharing many of the same Xrail and intermodal customers across the German-Austrian corridor.
- SNCF Fret (Fret SNCF / HEXAFRET): SNCF Fret is the French state-owned rail freight division and a direct peer on cross-border France-Germany corridors, hazardous-materials transport, and combined transport; it was recently restructured under Hexafret to mirror DB Cargo's own restructuring trajectory.
- PKP Cargo Group: PKP Cargo is the state-owned Polish rail freight operator and a direct East-European peer of DB Cargo Polska, competing on bulk, intermodal, and Eurasian transit flows between Poland and Germany.
- Mercitalia (FS Italiane): Mercitalia is the state-owned Italian rail freight operator under FS Italiane and a direct counterpart for DB Cargo Italia, competing on Alpine, automotive, and intermodal flows between Italy and the German market.
- Renfe Mercancías: Renfe Mercancías is the freight arm of Spain's state-owned railway and a direct peer to DB Cargo Iberia on Iberian Peninsula and Mediterranean combined-transport flows linking Spain into the wider European network.
Emerging players
- Lineas (formerly B Logistics): Lineas is the largest private rail freight operator in Belgium and Benelux, an emerging/private counterpart to DB Cargo Nederland and a competitor on dense cross-border flows through the Netherlands, Belgium, and into Germany.
- Captrain (SNCF subsidiary): Captrain is the European rail freight and combined-transport operator owned by SNCF, with significant overlap to DB Cargo FLS on cross-border European block-train and project-cargo flows outside DB Cargo's home market.
Broad incumbents
- DHL Group / DHL Freight: DHL Group is Europe's largest broad logistics incumbent and competes with DB Cargo's combined-transport and door-to-door offerings through DHL Freight and DHL Forwarding, sharing many of the same automotive and industrial customers as a multimodal alternative.
- DSV (including former Schenker): DSV is a global road-, air-, and ocean-freight forwarder that, post-Schenker acquisition, competes as a broad incumbent against DB Cargo FLS, DB Intermodal Services, and the TFG Transfracht port-hinterland business for European freight forwarding volumes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DB Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceDB Cargo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
DB Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DB Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
DB Cargo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries20 records
DB Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DB Cargo 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 DB Cargo
What does DB Cargo do?
DB Cargo provides rail freight transport and logistics services for business customers across Europe and into Asia. Core offerings include single wagonload transport, block trains, combined continental and maritime intermodal transport, industry-specific solutions for automotive, steel, chemicals, and bulk cargo, plus the link2rail digital platform for eServices. The company also offers carbon-neutral transport via Climate+, freight wagon and locomotive maintenance through ECM-certified workshops, and full-load forwarding through DB Cargo FLS.
Is DB Cargo a public or private company?
DB Cargo is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was DB Cargo founded?
DB Cargo was founded in 2000. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DB Cargo based?
DB Cargo is headquartered in Mainz, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DB Cargo make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Rail Freight Transport is the primary driver. The others are combined Transport, maintenance Services and climate+ Services.
Who are DB Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SBB Cargo AG, ÖBB Rail Cargo Group, SNCF Fret (Fret SNCF / HEXAFRET), PKP Cargo Group, Mercitalia (FS Italiane) and Renfe Mercancías. Emerging players are Lineas (formerly B Logistics) and Captrain (SNCF subsidiary). Broad incumbents are DHL Group / DHL Freight and DSV (including former Schenker).
Does DB Cargo have an API?
Yes. link2rail provides digital platform access via portal, app, and direct API interface to systems for transport management. The API portal is available at developers.dbcargo.com. OAuth authentication is used (Drupal.visitor.autologout_login cookie stores JWT token). Session management via SSESSUUID cookie and session_store.id cookie. Developer documentation is at developers.dbcargo.com.