From January 2026 DSV will start the operational integration of Schenker’s activities in Germany within its own organisation. This step represents one of the most important phases of the merger process following the acquisition finalised in April 2025 for a total value of €14.3 billion. The Danish group has confirmed that Germany is one of its priority markets, both in terms of operational scale and strategic role within its European footprint.
The new German organisational structure will retain DSV’s traditional setup based on its three divisions Air & Sea, Road and Solutions, dedicated respectively to air and ocean freight, road transport and contract logistics. Within this framework, however, three specialist operational areas largely derived from Schenker’s long-standing expertise in the German market will be integrated. These include project logistics, express courier services and trade fair and event logistics, which will be organised as dedicated divisions while remaining fully embedded within DSV’s management model.
Project logistics is one of the most technically complex segments. The activity involves the handling of oversized, heavy or highly specialised cargoes, largely destined for industrial, energy and infrastructure sectors. Services include multimodal coordination by road, rail, sea and air, route planning, liaison with authorities for permits, customs and insurance management, and bespoke packaging solutions. In this field Schenker had developed in Germany operational capabilities for handling cargoes of up to 13,000 cubic metres, expertise that will now be incorporated into DSV’s offering.
In the express courier segment, integration will take place under the DSV XPress brand. The offer will cover urgent shipments of goods, parcels and documents on a global scale, with differentiated solutions depending on delivery times and the level of customisation required. Alongside standard and cost-efficient services, special solutions for critical shipments will be maintained, including on-board courier services for small, high-value volumes available 24 hours a day. Here too, the experience developed by Schenker, which had recently expanded its presence in intercontinental urgent transport, represents a key element of the integration.
Trade fair and event logistics is particularly important for the German market, an area in which Schenker held a well-established position. The activity includes the transport and handling of exhibition materials, stand structures and promotional equipment, temporary storage, delivery and collection operations at exhibition stands, as well as documentation and customs management. Schenker operated as official logistics provider for numerous exhibition venues in Germany, including Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. DSV, which had already launched a strategic partnership with Messe Frankfurt in 2025, aims to consolidate and expand this presence through the integration of existing facilities and operational equipment.
The integration timetable in Germany foresees a gradual approach. In January 2026 the legal merger of the first companies is planned, followed by the integration of further operational units in February. The entire global integration process between DSV and Schenker is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028, according to the Danish group. This phased approach has been designed to ensure operational continuity and transparency for customers and employees.
From a governance perspective, the German top management structure will be entrusted to a team of four key figures. Torge Köhnke will lead the Air & Sea division, Ralf Többe will head the Road division, Bart Peeters will take responsibility for DSV Solutions, while Nicolai Knudsen will serve as chief financial officer for all divisions. The German headquarters will remain in Bremen, DSV’s current base in the country. Köhnke, Többe and Knudsen will also assume coordination responsibilities for the DACH cluster, covering Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The impact on the German market will be substantial. With the integration of Schenker’s activities, DSV will triple its workforce in the country, significantly strengthening its presence. Germany is identified as one of the group’s main European markets, with planned investments of around €1 billion over the coming years for the development of sites, infrastructure and transport solutions. At consolidated level, the transaction creates an organisation operating in more than 90 countries, with over 160,000 employees and revenues exceeding €40 billion. Expected annual synergies amount to 9 billion Danish kroner, equivalent to around €1.2 billion, by the end of 2028.
A central role in the process has been played by dialogue with employee representatives. According to the parties, the framework conditions for the integration of operational divisions in Germany were jointly defined with the works councils of DSV and Schenker. The agreements regulate the scope and timing of the integration and include support measures for employees during the transition phase. Trade union representatives highlighted a collaborative, solution-oriented approach in discussions with management. DSV, through its integration operations lead, also underlined that the combination of the two organisations is aimed at expanding the network and strengthening service capabilities in the German market.
Antonio Illariuzzi
