Hellmann expands European Direct Load Network

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is expanding its European direct load activities. With France, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, three more countries with their own locations will initially be added to the continental network. Further countries are to follow. The aim is not only to offer customers reliable capacities but also to create new opportunities in European road freight transport.

7 February 2022

News

Katja Siefke

In the Netherlands, Hellmann has been using its existing location in 's-Heerenberg, not far from the German-Dutch border, since the beginning of 2021 to open a direct load office, expand its portfolio, and develop the direct load market there. Hellmann also operates a contract logistics site in Rotterdam, from which considerable volumes of shipments are dispatched in the Direct Load segment, the handling of which Hellmann Direct Load organizes itself.

The same applies to the branch in the Czech capital Prague, which has been connected to the European Direct Load network with a new team since April 2021. The focus of activities here is also to expand the existing trade lane between Germany and the Czech Republic as the first step in order to offer existing customers from the Air & Sea segment additional road freight services and, thus, to open up the market. There are also opportunities for synergies from the contract logistics business.

In France, Hellmann will organizationally link its direct transports to the still young Air & Sea branch network, which was launched in 2019 with branches in Paris and Nantes, from June 1, 2021. In addition, another location will be created in Rennes exclusively for Direct Load. As part of the product expansion, Hellmann is thus strategically expanding the important trade lane to Germany's largest trading partner within the EU.

Until now, Hellmann has been dispatching over 20,000 Direct Load shipments a year from Germany - mostly by charter traffic - to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. With the expansion of its network of locations, Hellmann is focusing on local expertise for its customers in order to tap into local markets and efficiently provide return loads or connecting transports. In this way, the company is creating an attractive range of services for its European customers. There are plans to extend the direct load activities to southeastern Europe in the future.