EU approves sale of Vos Logistics
The European Commission has authorised the acquisition of Dutch company Vos Logistics by French group Jacky Perrenot, concluding that the transaction does not raise competition concerns. According to the Commission, the assessment was carried out under the simplified procedure provided for by the EU Merger Regulation. The analysis focused in particular on the freight forwarding and contract logistics markets within the European Economic Area, as well as transport activities in France, Belgium and other EU countries. The Authority concluded that the combined market shares of the two companies remain limited and are not such as to distort competitive balance. Jacky Perrenot, headquartered in Saint-Donat-sur-l’Herbasse, announced its intention to acquire Vos Logistics on 20 November 2025. The transaction now moves closer to the industrial and organisational integration phase between the two operators. Together, the two groups employ around 12,000 people and generate an estimated turnover of €1.7 billion.
Leadership change at Hupac in May
Michail Stahlhut will step down as chief executive of the Hupac Group in May 2026, after eight years at the helm of the Swiss combined transport operator, the company has announced. The board of directors said that further details on the succession process will be communicated at a later stage. The board thanked Stahlhut for his management during a period marked by significant challenges for the logistics sector, and in particular for combined and rail transport. Chairman Hans Joerg Bertschi underlined that the mandate was characterised by stability and resilience at a time of structural and operational pressure on rail freight traffic and intermodality. In his remarks, Stahlhut highlighted the role of teamwork and the development of internal leadership as central elements of his tenure, pointing to the strengthening of individual responsibility in crisis management as a priority.
New TIR corridor in the Middle East
A new multimodal TIR transport corridor between Turkey, Iraq and Dubai expands logistics options in the Middle East and strengthens regional connections. The service is based on a new ro-ro line between Umm Qasr in Iraq and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, operated by DP World. The link reduces total transport time between Turkey and Dubai to six days in both directions, delivering cost benefits for operators and shippers. The maritime leg between Umm Qasr and Dubai takes around 36 hours. The ro-pax vessel allows drivers to travel on board together with their vehicles, ensuring operational continuity. The service is open to all types of goods and improves the predictability of cross-border transport. For IRU, through the words of delegate Erman Ereke, the new TIR route enhances Iraq’s role as a transit hub between Turkey and the Gulf countries.
Waabi accelerates autonomous trucking
Waabi Innovation, a Canadian start-up specialising in autonomous driving technologies for road freight transport, has raised one billion dollars to support commercial expansion and entry into autonomous taxi services. The Toronto-based company closed a $750 million round led by existing investors Khosla Ventures LLC and G2 Venture Partners. The transaction was oversubscribed by several hundred million dollars and completed within a single quarter. The funds raised will be used to support the industrialisation of autonomous truck solutions and the expansion into automated passenger transport through a partnership with Uber Technologies.
France–Poland intermodal corridor
FM Logistic has announced the launch of its first international multimodal corridor between France and Poland, linking the Dourges hub in the Hauts-de-France region with the Polish market. The new connection combines rail transport for the long-haul leg with road transport for final distribution, positioning itself as a structured alternative to all-road transport and as an extension of the national north–south corridor launched in France in September 2024. The system enables the transport of both containers and non-liftable semi-trailers and is based on scheduled departures and integrated management of rail and road operations. Management of the France–Poland corridor is entirely in-house and includes coordination with terminals and real-time tracking of flows.
