Schenker AG

Schenker AG, widely known as DB Schenker, is a German logistics and freight-forwarding company serving industrial, commercial and multinational customers. Its activities cover land transport, air freight, ocean freight and contract logistics, allowing it to manage individual shipments as well as complex, international supply chains. The company has handled logistics programs for major manufacturers and technology companies, including Apple, Procter & Gamble, Dell, ASML and BMW, according to descriptions of its business. The business traces its origins to 1872, when Gottfried Schenker founded Schenker & Co. in Vienna. Over time, the company became closely connected with the German railway system. German Railways acquired Schenker in 1931, and the company operated through the Nazi period. Historical research has identified Schenker as an important participant in the movement and distribution of property seized during Nazi Germany’s occupations and mass crimes between 1938 and 1945. Its historical shipping records have also helped researchers trace Nazi-looted artworks, including works taken from Jewish owners. Schenker changed ownership several times in the postwar period. Stinnes AG, then part of the VEBA group, acquired the company from Deutsche Bahn in 1991. A restructuring in 1997 included the sale of the bulk-cargo business and the acquisition of Swedish logistics company BTL-AB. Deutsche Bahn regained control indirectly in 2003 when it acquired Stinnes AG, bringing Schenker back into the railway group. The rationale was to give Deutsche Bahn an international logistics platform for customers whose freight requirements extended beyond Germany and beyond rail transport. Under Deutsche Bahn, the business expanded through acquisitions and integration. DB Logistics acquired BAX Global in 2006 for approximately US$1.1 billion, and the wider group also incorporated operations including Spain-Tir and S.C. Romtrans. These moves strengthened its European and international freight network. The brand developed into Deutsche Bahn’s principal freight-logistics subsidiary outside the group’s rail-cargo activities, with dedicated divisions for land, air, sea and contract logistics. The company also pursued innovation and alternative delivery models. It opened a major intermodal hub in Salzburg in 2010, cooperated with Volocopter on heavy-lift drone concepts in 2021, established Schenker Ventures as a logistics-focused venture arm, and pre-ordered 1,500 Volta Zero electric commercial vehicles from Volta Trucks. It has additionally participated in emission-free and autonomous urban-freight trials at the EfeuCampus project in Bruchsal, Germany. Schenker has supported international events and cultural initiatives, including logistics for the 1972 Munich, 2000 Sydney and 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and transportation for United Buddy Bears exhibitions. Deutsche Bahn began considering a sale of the business after DB Schenker had become a major contributor to the railway group’s revenue. The formal sales process began in 2023, and DSV agreed in 2024 to acquire Schenker for €14.3 billion. Regulatory and other final approvals were obtained in April 2025, and the transaction was completed on April 30, 2025. DB Schenker therefore became part of DSV, a global transport and logistics group. Public descriptions in 2025 characterized the business as having approximately 71,000 employees, more than 1,850 locations and operations in 130 countries; these figures relate to the period around the ownership transition and may change under DSV.

Schenker’s history began in Vienna in 1872, when Gottfried Schenker established Schenker & Co. The company developed as a forwarding and transport business and later became integrated into the German railway system. German Railways acquired Schenker in 1931. During the Nazi period, the company participated in the movement of property taken during German aggression and persecution across Europe. Researchers have used surviving Schenker documentation to investigate shipments of Nazi-looted art, making the company’s wartime history a significant subject of historical and provenance research. In the postwar era, Schenker continued to evolve as a European logistics enterprise. Stinnes AG acquired it from Deutsche Bahn in 1991. A major restructuring in 1997 included the disposal of bulk-cargo activities and the purchase of BTL-AB in Sweden. In 2003, Deutsche Bahn again became the indirect owner after purchasing Stinnes AG from E.ON’s predecessor group. Deutsche Bahn’s strategic case for the acquisition was that its largest customers increasingly required international logistics services, while a rail-centered business could not efficiently serve all of those needs through organic expansion alone. The Deutsche Bahn period brought further internationalization. In 2006, DB Logistics acquired BAX Global for approximately US$1.1 billion. The group also integrated Spain-Tir and S.C. Romtrans, strengthening its position in European road freight and international forwarding. DB Schenker became the principal logistics arm of Deutsche Bahn, combining land, air, ocean and contract-logistics services while remaining separate from the group’s core rail-cargo operations. A major intermodal hub opened in Salzburg in 2010. The company also developed a substantial United Kingdom freight operation, which from 2016 operated under the DB Cargo UK name. During the 2020s, DB Schenker explored technology and lower-emission logistics. It worked with Volocopter on heavy-lift drone applications, created Schenker Ventures to invest in logistics technology and backed Warehousing1, and partnered with Volta Trucks on electric delivery vehicles. Its urban-freight experimentation at EfeuCampus in Bruchsal involved partners including Volocopter, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and SEW-Eurodrive, with public funding support. Deutsche Bahn’s decision to examine a sale reflected the scale of Schenker within the parent group. The sales process was launched in 2023, DSV reached an agreement to acquire the business in September 2024, and the transaction received final approvals in April 2025. Completion on April 30, 2025 transferred Schenker to DSV and ended its period as a Deutsche Bahn subsidiary. The company’s historical brand and logistics activities continued within the new ownership structure.

1. 2025Acquisition completed by DSV

   DSV completed the acquisition on April 30, 2025, after receiving final approvals.

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2. 2024DSV agrees to purchase Schenker

   DSV agreed to acquire DB Schenker for €14.3 billion.

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3. 2023Deutsche Bahn begins sale preparation

   Deutsche Bahn launched preparations for a potential sale of up to 100 percent of DB Schenker.

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4. 2021Schenker Ventures established

   The company created a venture-investment arm focused on innovation in logistics and announced an investment in Warehousing1.

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5. 2021Volta Trucks partnership

   DB Schenker announced a partnership with Volta Trucks and a pre-order for 1,500 Volta Zero vehicles.

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6. 2010Salzburg intermodal hub opens

   DB Schenker opened a major intermodal transport hub in Salzburg.

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7. 2006BAX Global acquisition

   DB Logistics acquired BAX Global, supporting the expansion of DB Schenker’s international freight network.

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8. 2003Return to Deutsche Bahn ownership

   Deutsche Bahn acquired Stinnes AG, bringing Schenker back under its ownership.

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9. 1997Restructuring and BTL-AB acquisition

   Schenker divested its bulk-cargo business and acquired Swedish logistics company BTL-AB.

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10. 1991Stinnes acquires Schenker

    Stinnes AG purchased Schenker from Deutsche Bahn.

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11. 1931Acquisition by German Railways

    German Railways acquired Schenker, beginning its long association with the German railway system.

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12. 1872Schenker & Co. founded in Vienna

    Gottfried Schenker founded the business that became the Schenker logistics group.

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Global logistics solutions for industrial, commercial and multinational customers, combining freight forwarding, transportation, warehousing and supply-chain management.

• Land TransportRoad and intermodal freight

  DB Schenker’s land-transport activity provides road freight and related intermodal services, particularly across Europe. It supports domestic and cross-border movements for industrial and commercial customers and forms one of the company’s principal operating divisions.

• Air FreightAir freight forwarding

  The air-freight business coordinates international shipments moved by air, including time-sensitive and globally distributed supply-chain flows. It serves customers requiring international forwarding, routing and shipment-management capabilities.

• Ocean FreightOcean freight forwarding

  The ocean-freight division manages maritime cargo movements and associated forwarding activities for international supply chains. It is designed for large-volume and globally traded shipments that do not require air transport.

• Contract LogisticsWarehousing and supply-chain management

  Contract logistics combines warehousing, distribution and supply-chain services under longer-term customer arrangements. DB Schenker uses this business to manage complex logistics programs for manufacturers, retailers and multinational companies.

• DB Schenker LogisticsIntegrated logistics services

  DB Schenker Logistics is the company’s integrated service proposition, combining freight forwarding, transportation and contract-logistics capabilities. It is positioned for customers that require coordinated logistics across several modes and geographies.

• 2021Volta Zero electric-freight partnership

  Europe

  DB Schenker partnered with Volta Trucks and placed a pre-order for 1,500 electric Volta Zero commercial vehicles as part of its lower-emission urban-delivery ambitions.

  Outcome. Partnership and vehicle pre-order announced.

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• 2009United Buddy Bears exhibition logistics

  North Korea · International

  Schenker supported United Buddy Bears exhibitions worldwide, including the challenging transport and realization of an exhibition in Pyongyang.

  Outcome. Exhibition logistics delivered in Pyongyang.

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• 2002Salt Lake City Olympic Games logistics

  United States · International

  Schenker served as the official carrier for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

  Outcome. Official-carrier role completed.

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• 2000Sydney Olympic Games logistics

  Australia · International

  Schenker acted as the official carrier for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

  Outcome. Official-carrier role completed.

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• 1972Munich Olympic Games logistics

  Germany

  Schenker served as the official carrier for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, supporting the movement of materials and equipment connected with the event.

  Outcome. Official-carrier role completed.

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• 2024Agree sale to DSVM&A

  Deutsche Bahn initiated a sale process after determining that DB Schenker was a substantial part of the group and could be divested.

  What changed. Deutsche Bahn agreed to sell Schenker to DSV for €14.3 billion.

  Aftermath. After regulatory approvals, ownership transferred to DSV on April 30, 2025.

  Acquisition price. €14.3 billion (2024 agreement; completed April 30, 2025)

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• 2021Create Schenker VenturesStrategy

  The logistics industry was developing new technology in warehousing, automation and alternative transport.

  What changed. DB Schenker established a venture-investment arm and announced an investment in German logistics startup Warehousing1.

  Aftermath. The company gained a dedicated structure for exploring logistics innovation.

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• 2006Acquire BAX GlobalM&A

  Deutsche Bahn sought international logistics scale because major customers increasingly required overseas freight services.

  What changed. DB Logistics acquired BAX Global for approximately US$1.1 billion.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded DB Schenker’s international freight and logistics presence.

  Acquisition price. US$1.1 billion (2006)

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• 1997Restructure around international logisticsStrategy

  Schenker was repositioning its portfolio and seeking greater strength in international logistics services.

  What changed. It divested bulk-cargo activities and acquired Swedish logistics company BTL-AB.

  Aftermath. The move contributed to a broader freight-forwarding and logistics platform.

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• 2020Allegations over freight-exchange pricingControversy

  During COVID-19-related market disruption, DB Schenker was accused of seeking land-transport prices below subcontractors’ production costs. The company denied having insight into subcontractors’ cost structures and said it would temporarily avoid fixed prices posted through freight exchanges.

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• 2016Russian customs corruption convictionsControversy

  DB Schenker was convicted in consecutive corruption cases involving payments to Russian customs officials connected with expedited shipments to a Ford facility in St. Petersburg. The company paid a €2 million penalty.

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• 2015Singapore altercation involving chief executiveControversy

  Jochen Thewes was convicted in Singapore after an altercation with a taxi driver who had refused to transport him. The incident resulted in a fine and a two-week jail sentence.

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• 1938Schenker’s role in Nazi-era lootingControversy

  Historical research has described Schenker as one of the important enterprises involved in the transport and distribution of property looted during Nazi aggression and mass crimes in Europe from 1938 to 1945. Company records have helped researchers trace Nazi-looted art.

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• 2025DSV completes acquisition of DB Schenker

  Following final approvals, DSV completed the acquisition of Schenker on April 30, 2025, ending Deutsche Bahn’s ownership of the logistics company.

  M&A
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• 2024DSV agrees to acquire DB Schenker

  DSV agreed terms to purchase DB Schenker for €14.3 billion after a competitive sales process involving multiple prospective buyers.

  M&A
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• 2023DB Schenker launches logistics sales process

  Deutsche Bahn formally began the process of exploring a sale of up to the entire DB Schenker business after its supervisory board had instructed management to prepare for a potential divestment.

  M&A
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• 2021DB Schenker expands heavy-lift drone cooperation

  The company cooperated with logistics startup Volocopter on the potential use of heavy-lift drones in freight operations.

  Product launchOther
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• 2021DB Schenker orders Volta Zero electric trucks

  DB Schenker announced a partnership with Volta Trucks and a pre-order for 1,500 Volta Zero electric commercial vehicles.

  Product launchCampaign
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1. DB Schenker
2. DB Schenker official website