In addition to environmental performance, EcoVadis evaluates companies in the areas of Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. In 2024, Gebrüder Weiss earned a Silver Medal rating.

“The EcoVadis Gold Medal validates our long-term commitment to sustainability. For Gebrüder Weiss, sustainability is not a stand-alone initiative but an integral part of our corporate responsibility and the value we deliver to our customers. Being recognized among the top 5% of all companies assessed worldwide is an important acknowledgment of what we have achieved so far and an incentive to continue improving,” said Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of the Management Board of Gebrüder Weiss.

Key initiatives implemented in recent years include investments in low-emission transportation solutions and renewable energy generation. These efforts encompass the expansion of the company’s electric truck fleet and charging infrastructure, the installation of photovoltaic systems at logistics facilities, and the operation of its own wind farm. In addition, Gebrüder Weiss has implemented group-wide standardized management systems for occupational safety and compliance. Since 2024, the company’s consolidated CO2 accounting has covered more than 95% of the organization, including emissions generated by transportation providers operating on behalf of Gebrüder Weiss.

For more information about sustainability at Gebrüder Weiss, please visit: For more information about sustainability at Gebrüder Weiss, please visit: gw-world.com/company/sustainability.

The contest encourages participants to explore one central question: What will the transportation of goods look like in the year 2276?

From autonomous transportation and sustainable logistics to space travel, artificial intelligence, and technologies yet to be imagined, participants are invited to create original visual works that explore the future of transportation, logistics, and connectivity.

“As a company with more than 500 years of history in transportation and logistics, we have witnessed remarkable changes in how the world connects,” said Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. “The 250th anniversary of the United States is an opportunity not only to celebrate our nation's past but also to inspire conversations about the future. We're excited to see how artists envision the next era of innovation, logistics, connectivity, and transportation.”

The contest is open to artists of all experience levels across the United States. Eligible artwork may include painting, illustration, digital art, mixed media, photography, or other original visual works that creatively interpret the theme. The contest celebrates human imagination and original artistic expression; submissions must be created by the participating artist and may not be generated by artificial intelligence.

A panel of judges representing leadership, the arts community, and innovation sectors will evaluate submissions based on creativity, originality, artistic quality, and interpretation of the theme. All entries will be evaluated through a blind judging process, meaning judges will not see artists' names or identifying information during scoring.

The grand prize winner will receive $2,500, and 11 additional artists will each receive a $250 gift card for artwork selected for the 2027 Gebrüder Weiss art calendar. All 12 selected works will be featured in the calendar and showcased in the Gebrüder Weiss digital gallery and across other communication and promotional channels.

Artwork submissions will be accepted beginning Tuesday, September 15, 2026, through Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Complete contest rules, eligibility requirements, and submission information are available at info.gw-world.com/america-in-250.

The Gebrüder Weiss supervisory board has appointed Alessandro Cacciola to its management board. Effective March 1, 2026, Cacciola will assume responsibility for the company’s Air & Sea divisions, succeeding Lothar Thoma, who will step down from the role March 31, 2026.

“In Alessandro Cacciola, we are gaining an experienced leader who possesses the abilities needed to ensure continuity and bring a fresh perspective to Gebrüder Weiss,” says Wolfgang Niessner, Chair of the Gebrüder Weiss supervisory board. “With his support, we plan to further consolidate our expanding air and sea business, and grow our services on a global, future-oriented scale.”

Alessandro Cacciola brings more than two decades of experience in international logistics to the table. He holds a degree in business administration with a focus on freight forwarding, transport and logistics, as well as an MBA in international business management and leadership. Cacciola began his professional career with the logistics provider Dachser; there he held several European sales and executive positions before becoming the head of global sales and a member of the Dachser Air & Sea Logistics management board, helping to power the company's international growth. In 2019, Cacciola joined the management board of the Andreas Schmid Group and became its CEO. In this capacity, he was responsible for the organization’s comprehensive restructuring and globalization program.

“Gebrüder Weiss is a highly-regarded name in the industry and has always stood for credibility, quality and consistent customer centricity,” Cacciola says. “I am looking forward to meeting my colleagues around the world. To my mind, the free-flowing exchange across and beyond national and cultural borders is an essential factor in success, one that also engenders personal motivation. The aim will be to drive the further strategic development of the Gebrüder Weiss product portfolio by placing a premium on service quality, integrative capability and sustainable solutions – thereby keeping the global supply chains resilient and future-proofed.”

Lothar Thoma has been a member of the management board at Gebrüder Weiss since September 1, 2019. Under his guidance, the Air & Sea division successfully evolved despite challenging phases in the market, including the COVID pandemic. Landmark expansion measures took place during his tenure – in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Poland, Germany and elsewhere.

“Starting with my initial experiences in our family business, I have had the good fortune to spend some 40 successful and eventful years in the logistics industry, getting to know myriad countries and cultures, and working with wonderful people. It has been a fulfilling journey, but now I would like to pursue other interests. I wish Alessandro Cacciola and my team great success working together,” Thoma concludes. 

“The company would like to explicitly thank Lothar Thoma for his many accomplishments and wish him all the best for the future,” says Wolfgang Niessner.

The handover from Lothar Thoma to Alessandro Cacciola will extend over a one-month transitional period to ensure continuity for customers, partners and staff alike.

Alessandro Cacciola's appointment will expand the executive team at Gebrüder Weiss, which consists of Wolfram Senger-Weiss (CEO), Jürgen Bauer and Peter Schafleitner.

China’s GDP grew by 4.8 percent in Q3 2025, a slowing from the 5.2 percent growth posted earlier in the year. Trade tensions with the United States, weak domestic demand and a struggling real-estate sector are slowing the economy in China, but the picture looks different for international logistics leader, Gebrüder Weiss. By expanding its warehousing operations, including specialized e-fulfillment and e-commerce solutions, the company has secured new customers and strengthened its position as a full-service logistics provider. Key industries include automotive, machinery and electronics.

Gebrüder Weiss Greater China closed the 2024 business year with revenues of around 330 million euros (more than 380 million dollars), representing a 24 percent increase year-over-year (2023: 265 million euros/305 million dollars). Cross-border e-commerce continues to perform exceptionally well. In 2024, Gebrüder Weiss Express China shipped 25 million parcels for major online retailers to Europe, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The European Union remains the company’s largest market and strongest growth engine.

“Our steady growth underlines the strategic importance of the Chinese market for Gebrüder Weiss and demonstrates how successfully we have evolved in recent years,” says Yongquan Chen, General Manager of Gebrüder Weiss China. “We have strong capabilities in air and sea freight, and are equally well positioned in multimodal transport, rail services, and warehouse logistics, where we deliver tailored solutions quickly and with precision.”

Gebrüder Weiss has had a presence in China for more than 30 years, opening its first office in Shanghai in 1992. The company rapidly expanded into major port cities and economic hubs throughout the country. In Qingdao, the world’s fourth-largest container port, the team recently celebrated its 30-year anniversary. Beijing, as well as the port cities Tianjin (largest port in Northern China) and Ningbo (third-largest container port worldwide), mark 25 years in the Gebrüder Weiss network this year.

Today, the organization includes 19 locations and more than 450 employees in Greater China. Over the next few years, Gebrüder Weiss China plans to further invest in electromobility and automation. The goal is to create sustainable logistics solutions and innovative services that fuel continued growth.

Under the motto “Cycling for the Seas,” the logistics company encouraged participants to log as many kilometers as possible between April and October. For every 100,000 kilometers ridden, the company pledged to fund the removal of one metric ton of plastic waste from rivers and coastal areas in Southeast Asia. Thanks to the remarkable total of over one million kilometers, ten tons of waste will be collected by the end of the year. Gebrüder Weiss partnered with CleanHub, a Berlin-based environmental technology company that builds sustainable waste management systems in heavily polluted regions.

“Cycling makes a difference, for yourself and for the environment. That’s what our GWcycles initiative stands for,” said Frank Haas, Head of Marketing & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “It also shows the power of community. We’re proud of our growing global cycling community, which continues to come together across borders in support of environmental protection.”

To keep motivation high, Gebrüder Weiss once again offered attractive prizes for milestone achievements and published a leaderboard ranking participants by distance covered. This year’s top cyclist was Kristian Buljan from Germany, who completed 19,022 kilometers.

More information: https://info.gw-world.com/cycling-for-the-seas
 

This weekend, international logistics experts from Gebrüder Weiss put their support of marine conservation into action as German extreme athlete and climate advocate Michael Walther sets off from Lagos, Portugal. Walther is making an attempt to set a new world record and cross the Atlantic Ocean on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). His journey will span approximately 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles), taking him past the Canary Islands and Cape Verde before reaching French Guiana. Walther is undertaking this challenge solo and without a support vessel. His mission is to draw attention to the threats facing the oceans due to climate change and to collect valuable scientific data for marine research.

Before the journey could begin, logistics partner Gebrüder Weiss handled the transportation of the specially designed SUP board from Germany to Portugal. The company has been supporting Walther for several months and is also assisting with communications efforts to raise awareness of his mission.

“With his transatlantic crossing, Michael Walther is sending an important signal for ocean conservation. We are proud to support him as a partner and wish him strength and perseverance on his journey,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss.

Once the crossing is complete, Gebrüder Weiss will return the paddleboard to Germany via climate-neutral sea freight. The company uses a certified insetting approach, which reduces CO₂ emissions directly within the transport chain by utilizing sustainable fuels rather than offsetting emissions through external projects.

More information about Gebrüder Weiss’s sustainability efforts can be found at https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility and on the company’s social media channels. Since 2021, Gebrüder Weiss has been actively supporting innovation projects in sustainable transportation, collaborating with universities, research institutions, and startups. 

Fact Box – Atlantic Crossing by SUP

• Route: From Portugal via the Canary Islands and Cape Verde to French Guiana
• Distance: Approx. 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles), around 4 million paddle strokes
• SUP Board: Modeled after offshore rowing boats, includes a 2 m² sleeping cabin in the bow
• Equipment: 200 kg of (440 lbs) food, life raft, medical kit, tools
• Navigation: GPS, chart plotter, satellite phone, radio
• Research: Hydrophone for recording marine animal sounds
• Live Tracking: https://zeroemissions.eu/live

"Placing 11th shows how well the team handled the challenges of this year's race – a great achievement," said Tracy van Arend, branch manager for Gebrüder Weiss Adelaide. She welcomed the ETH team at the finish line together with Sharon Young, customer service and process manager at Gebrüder Weiss Australia. "It was exciting to follow the race and cheer for the team. While we, as the logistics partner, don't directly influence the competition itself, we make sure that the vehicle arrives in Australia on time, giving the students sufficient opportunity to train and prepare. We were able to deliver that again this year," adds Sharon Young.

Following the race, Gebrüder Weiss is handling the return transport of the solar car and its equipment back to Europe. The customized logistics solution includes sea freight, comprehensive customs clearance, and final delivery of the solar vehicle by truck to Technopark Zurich.

Challenging Conditions in the Australian Winter
For the first time, the race was held during the Australian winter. The students had to adapt to cooler temperatures and different light conditions. This required an adjusted race strategy, particularly with respect to energy management and daily planning. On day three of the race, the team also faced a technical issue: the cruise control failed, and a gust of wind tore off part of the left wheel cover. Both problems were quickly repaired, and the vehicle was back on the road shortly afterward.

"This year's circumstances pushed us but also showed how resilient our team and vehicle are," says Clara Nörenberg, team manager at aCentauri. "We modified our strategy and proved that solar mobility can perform reliably even under difficult circumstances."

Looking ahead, the aCentauri Solar Racing Team is already preparing for the next World Solar Challenge in two years. Their goal: to return with an optimized vehicle and secure a spot among the top ten.

Further background on this and other Gebrüder Weiss projects related to the "Future of Mobility" can be found at: https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility, or via the logistics company's social media channels.

On August 1^st, Gebrüder Weiss established a new country organization in the Philippines, expanding its presence in Asia. This strategic move by the international transport and logistics company responds to the growing economic importance of the island nation and further expands its regional network. The logistics provider also recently announced the opening of another new country operation in Thailand.

“The Philippines offers great economic potential. With this new country organization, we are creating additional transport connections for our customers to this high-growth market, while strengthening our network in Asia,” says Michael Zankel, Gebrüder Weiss's Regional Manager for East Asia and Oceania.

The Philippines is the tenth-largest economy in Asia in terms of gross domestic product. The Philippines maintains close foreign trade relations with the USA, China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, among others – all countries in which Gebrüder Weiss has an organizational presence. In 2024, the country achieved an export volume of around $73 billion, while imports totaled just under $135 billion. Electronic products, consumer goods, food, and raw materials from the Philippines are in particularly high demand.

The first Gebrüder Weiss site in the Philippines is located in the capital city of Manila. From there, a team of 14 will handle international air and sea freight transport, manage customs processes, and coordinate national land transport.

“In the coming years, we aim to expand our services, particularly offering logistics solutions for key industries such as high-tech, automotive, and consumer goods,” Regional Manager Michael Zankel went on to say.

The Manila metropolitan area is the industrial and economic center of the Philippines, boasting direct connections to international seaports and Ninoy Aquino Airport. The city’s central location between free trade zones such as Clark, Subic, and Cavite makes the Philippine capital an ideal starting point for logistics activities.

Growing network in Asia and Oceania
With its entry into the Philippine market, Gebrüder Weiss is now active in ten countries in East and Southeast Asia and Oceania. These include Australia, Greater China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. The regional network now comprises 36 locations, with approximately 800 employees, including those in the Philippines.

The logistics specialists at Gebrüder Weiss’s Hamburg, Germany branch are managing the complex transportation needs for this custom-built SUP board. The board will first travel overland from Kiel to Lagos in Portugal, where Walther’s Atlantic crossing will begin. From there, he will paddle past the Canary and Cape Verde Islands before reaching his final destination in French Guiana. Once he lands in the port of Cayenne, Gebrüder Weiss will ship the board back to Kiel via sea freight using a certified climate-neutral process, made possible through verified insetting within the logistics chain. 

“Michael Walther is drawing attention to marine conservation through an unconventional form of mobility and we are proud to support this mission as his logistics partner,” says Robert Stahlschmidt, Country Manager Air & Sea Germany at Gebrüder Weiss.

Collecting Scientific Data for the Alfred Wegener Institute

Walther expects the crossing to take approximately three months. He deliberately chose not to use a support vessel or receive any external assistance. During the journey, he’ll deploy a hydrophone to record the sounds of marine life. These audio recordings will be shared with the Alfred Wegener Institute, one of Germany’s leading marine research institutions, to support ongoing climate impact studies on ocean ecosystems.

This isn’t Walther’s first bold move for climate action. Since 2008, he has undertaken high-profile expeditions to raise awareness of climate and environmental issues. Past projects include paddling across Germany by river and traveling through Iceland to document glacial melt.

GWcycles: A Shared Commitment to Clean Oceans

Gebrüder Weiss is also actively engaged in another initiative to protect the world’s oceans. Through the global cycling campaign GWcycles – Cycling for the Seas, the company is inviting participants around the world to log their bike mileage in support of ocean health. For every 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles) cycled, Gebrüder Weiss funds the removal of one metric ton (2,240 pounds) of ocean plastic. Since the campaign’s launch in April 2025, six tons (13,228 pounds) of marine debris have already been collected. Walther is a dedicated supporter of the initiative, helping amplify public awareness around the shared mission to protect our seas.

More information about Gebrüder Weiss’s sustainability efforts can be found at https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility and on the company’s social media channels. Since 2021, Gebrüder Weiss has been actively supporting innovation projects in sustainable transportation, collaborating with universities, research institutions, and startups. 

Through the first five months of 2025, trade in goods between the United States and Mexico totaled $359.6 billion, with Mexico holding its position as the United States’ top trading partner. In May alone, bilateral trade reached $74.5 billion. Despite this momentum, newly announced tariffs from the Trump administration have reintroduced uncertainty. A 90-day pause issued in April does not apply to imports from Mexico that fall outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). As a result, manufacturers in sectors such as automotive, aerospace and high-tech are reassessing their supply chains. Gebrüder Weiss is supporting customers with strategies to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and maintain cross-border efficiency.

"Knowledge is power, and Gebrüder Weiss has that knowledge," says Acuña. "Our El Paso employees are cross-border logistics experts and well-equipped to support customers navigating this shifting landscape through warehousing strategies, customs expertise, and alternative routes that help them move forward."

In addition to being a key hub for international trade, the El Paso region is the fifth-largest manufacturing center in the Western Hemisphere. To support this trade volume, the Gebrüder Weiss facility includes additional secure storage and advanced technology for efficient customs processing.

"We are confident that cross-border trade between the U.S. and Mexico will continue to grow over time, even if the growth is marked by near-term adaptations," says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. "Our relocated El Paso facility and warehouse strengthen our position at the Southern Border for our customers’ benefit. We’ve successfully navigated supply chain challenges year after year, guiding our customers to best-fit outcomes.” 

For more information about Gebrüder Weiss USA, its services, locations, or employment opportunities, please visit gw-world.com/us. 

Born in Vorarlberg / Austria, Peter Kloiber launched his career at Gebrüder Weiss in 1990 when he took up a post in corporate and human resources development. He recognized the key role of internal training and development programs for long-term success, and initiated their establishment. The company‘s transformation into a modern, networked logistics group is also due in a large part to his dedication. "Peter Kloiber is a pioneer of our value-oriented corporate culture, which continues to shape our self-image and strategic direction to this day. We owe him a great deal," said Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss, paying tribute to Kloiber's total of 35 years of service to the company.

Peter Schafleitner (56), an experienced logistics expert, is moving up to the company's top management tier. Born in Salzburg, he joined the organization in 1989, holding various positions in sales and land transport and managing two locations in Austria. From 2017 onwards, he was Director and Regional Manager for the Central Region, which includes Salzburg, Carinthia, Upper Austria, and the Czech Republic. Since 2024, he has been Head of Product Management for Land Transport. Schafleitner's appointment to the Management Board reflects the group’s primary focus on continuity and the benefits of long-term experience and internal networking.

As part of this personnel change, Gebrüder Weiss is also reorganizing the board's portfolios. From July 1, 2025, the responsibilities will be distributed as follows:

• Wolfram Senger-Weiss (CEO) will oversee digitalization, finance, corporate governance, real estate, and the Black Sea/CIS region.
• Jürgen Bauer will take charge of Land Transport Europe, Customs, Purchasing, Logistics, and the subsidiary Xvise (logistics consulting).
• Lothar Thoma will head the Air and Sea Freight and Overseas divisions as well as Human Resources and Organizational Development.
• Peter Schafleitner will take over Product Management Land Transport, Sales, Marketing and Communications, while also being responsible for the parcel service (GWP) and the dicall call center.

Further information on the Gebrüder Weiss management team can be found here: https://www.gw-world.com/company/about-us/business

“We are delighted to be accompanying the aCentauri team from ETH Zurich again this year. Such collaborations are in line with our understanding of partnership: long-term, trusting, and focused on a sustainable future for mobility,” explains Frank Haas, Head of Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “The students already demonstrated in 2023 that solar mobility works, and we wish them every success in reaching the top ten.”

The technical equipment was shipped to Australia by sea freight back in May. Now, following a live presentation at the Gebrüder Weiss location in Wolfurt, the solar vehicle is beginning its journey by air freight. After completing a final test drive in front of the media, the solar car was prepared for air transport at the International Air Transport Association (IATA)-certified terminal.

Certification from the IATA designates the Air & Sea Terminal in Wolfurt as an officially recognized air freight terminal, authorized to prepare shipments in accordance with IATA standards, including special packaging, security checks, and all required inspection processes. From there, the vehicle will fly to Australia via Frankfurt Airport without any additional stops.

Upon arrival in Australia, the logistics experts at the new Gebrüder Weiss location in Adelaide, which opened in December 2024, will take charge of the next stage of the process. The team will coordinate the import procedures and oversee transport to the University of Adelaide.

The World Solar Challenge starts on August 24, 2025, and covers 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) across the Australian outback. Launched in 1987, the race promotes innovation in the areas of sustainable mobility and renewable energies.

With a legacy spanning more than 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is committed to actively shaping the future of mobility. Since 2021, the company has participated in and supported relevant projects, working closely with universities, research teams, and start-ups. Beyond providing logistics expertise, Gebrüder Weiss fosters collaboration among project partners and elevates forward-thinking ideas. The goal is to implement new technologies at an early stage. 

Further background information on the projects can be found at: https://www.gw-world.com/company/sustainability/future-of-mobility, or via the logistics company's social media channels.

“We launched our scholarship program at Rutgers to open doors to supply chain careers, and we couldn’t be more impressed with the passion, talent, and ambition of each recipient,” says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Rutgers and investing in the supply chain leaders of the future.” 

The 2025 Gebrüder Weiss Supply Chain Leadership Scholarship recipients are Gabriel Godoi De Lima, Jun Pak, and Nikhil Walia. Gabriel is a junior double majoring in Supply Chain Management and Marketing. Jun is a junior in the Honors College, majoring in Supply Chain Management with a concentration in Business Analytics. Nikhil, who recently graduated, earned a double major in Supply Chain Management and Marketing. Gebrüder Weiss has committed $5,000 per year over the next five years to support supply chain management students at Rutgers.

"Receiving the Gebrüder Weiss Supply Chain Leadership scholarship is a tremendous honor and a meaningful recognition of my journey and passion for supply chain management. This support inspires me to keep learning and growing both personally and professionally. I am truly grateful to Gebrüder Weiss for believing in me and investing in the future of supply chain leaders," says Nikhil Walia.

Rutgers Business School’s Supply Chain Management Undergraduate program is one of the top five programs in North America, and number one among Big Ten schools, according to Gartner Rankings in 2024. The undergraduate Supply Chain Management major provides a mix of comprehensive knowledge and technical skills relevant to supply chain roles. The school has a strong focus on career placement, and 82% of Rutgers Supply Chain Management students accept job offers before they graduate. 

“Our Supply Chain Management program is full of talented students set to become the next generation of supply chain leaders. Support from partners like Gebrüder Weiss helps empower them to reach their goals,” says Lei Lei, Dean of Rutgers Business School. 

Full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Rutgers Business School may apply for this scholarship by submitting the university-approved financial aid form. The application period for the Gebrüder Weiss scholarship opens each year in November, and Rutgers announces the awards in early January. Each year through 2030, students studying supply chain management will be selected by Rutgers as recipients.

“The new country organization allows us to close a strategic gap and create direct connections to central Asia-Pacific markets for our customers,” says Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss. “Thailand is an important export location with strong trade links to the USA, China, Japan, Australia, and Singapore – markets where we are also represented with locations of our own.” 

In 2024, Thailand posted export volumes worth approximately $ 300 billion, up 5 percent from the previous year. Industrial goods account for the majority of outbound trade at 86 percent, with key categories including electronics, vehicles, machinery, and food.

The team of 20 employees in Bangkok provides international air and sea freight transportation, customs handling, and national and cross-border land transport services. “Our employees have many years of experience in international transport management. In the medium term, we are aiming to expand our services in Thailand to include warehouse logistics, with a particular focus on the automotive and high-tech sectors,” says Cristian Predan, Director South-East Asia at Gebrüder Weiss.

With its entry into the Thai market, Gebrüder Weiss now has an active presence in nine countries across the East and South-East Asia region and Oceania. These include Australia, Greater China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. The regional network now spans 35 locations with around 800 employees

New in 2025: cycle longer, celebrate success faster

This year’s campaign is running a month longer than usual, wrapping up on October 31. Additionally, the individual competition now features shorter distances — meaning participants can reach prize milestones even faster. Kilometer/Mile totals are tracked using the new version of the Radbonus app, available for free from app stores. A key highlight of the new season is that for every 100,000 kilometers (62137 miles) cycled collectively, our new partner, CleanHub, will remove a ton of plastic waste from rivers and coastal regions of Southeast Asia. The organization is actively committed to reducing plastic pollution in particularly vulnerable regions.

GWcycles welcomes riders at all levels – from recreational cruisers to long-distance professionals. In addition to the rewarding feeling of contributing to a meaningful cause, participants will also have the opportunity to win exciting prizes. The 300 most active riders by the end of the campaign will be entered into a drawing for a high-quality gravel bike, while the top-ranked cyclist will score an exclusive Gebrüder Weiss winner’s jersey. Register now and start pedaling! www.gw-world.com/gwcycles

In the Air & Sea sector, the group reported the highest increase in revenue with 939 million euros/1.01 billion dollars, a gain of 21 percent (2023: 776 million euros/837 million dollars). This growth was powered by various factors, including the expansion of the networks in the United States and Germany, alongside high transport volumes in transpacific trade. Rising sea freight rates for exports from China to Europe provided an additional boost. Attacks in the Red Sea forced container ships to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) instead of through the Suez Canal.

Revenues in the Land Transport and Logistics segment rose by five percent to 1.52 billion euros/1.63 million dollars (2023: 1.45 billion euros/1.56 billion dollars). This figure includes sales generated by the Home Delivery service. Cargoes such as refrigerators and furniture are transported to end customers in Austria and several eastern European countries, implementing a two-man handling service.
DPD Austria, which is partly owned by the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service, processed more than 63.2 million parcels last year. This translates into an increase of one million parcels compared to 2023. The main growth drivers were exports and private consumers.

The company's equity ratio remained steady at 60 percent, positioning Gebrüder Weiss as a crisis-resistant service provider and a dependable employer. The workforce across the group’s 180 locations worldwide rose slightly to 8,700 (2023: 8,600). 

Despite the economically challenging environment, the logistics provider adhered to its investment strategy. During the 2024 fiscal year, a total of 124 million euros/129 million dollars were devoted to expansion and modernization measures, environmentally friendly power generation, and e-mobility.

Investments in logistics locations, automation, and digitalization

Gebrüder Weiss commenced construction of a modern logistics and IT center featuring a fully automated high-bay warehouse in the immediate vicinity of its corporate headquarters and the Wolfurt freight terminal (Vorarlberg/Austria). A new logistics facility was opened in the southern German town of Straubing, providing Bavaria’s industrial and commercial players with efficient transport links to national and global markets. Gebrüder Weiss also expanded its locations in Maria Saal (Austria), Aldingen (Germany), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Tbilisi (Georgia). In Budapest (Hungary), an Autostore warehouse was built as part of the site expansion program; here, inbound cargo handling, material flows, and order picking are largely automated. 

In North America, revenues grew by 47%, driven in part by strategic expansion across the U.S. Southwest and Intermountain West. The U.S. business acquired air-and-sea freight forwarder Cargo-Link in Salt Lake City, Utah, and opened new branch office locations in Denver, Colorado, and Phoenix, Arizona. These new additions enhanced regional LTL, FTL, and LCL service capabilities and brought the number of company-owned locations in North America to 17. To combat the rise of freight fraud and double brokering, the U.S. team developed a partnership with Highway, a leading carrier identity company. The logistics leader also partnered with Turvo, utilizing its Collaborative Transportation Management System software for greater transparency and efficiency.  

Gebrüder Weiss has also charted further progress with its digital service palette: The number of customer-based users registering for the myGW portal has risen to 25,000 since its launch in 2020. The platform provides real-time information on all goods flows and gives customers full transparency on the progress of their orders. In 2024, the application’s functions were progressively fine-tuned to better meet customers’ needs.  

Expanding renewable energy and e-mobility

The company took important steps towards decarbonization and climate-friendly power generation. Additional photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed in Hungary and Slovakia. Gebrüder Weiss now operates 34 PV systems, which generated some 13,000 megawatt hours of electricity during the last fiscal year. This equals roughly half of the power requirements of all Gebrüder Weiss locations worldwide. The increased use of solar energy has led to overall savings of 2,738 metric tons of CO₂.

To further reduce CO₂ emissions on a sustainable basis, Gebrüder Weiss is also reorganizing its own fleet and progressively deploying vehicles with electric drives. In Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania, the logistics company is already utilizing e-transporters to deliver goods ordered online to private households. In Germany, two electric trucks were introduced in 2024, and a further 13 will follow in Austria this year. As an initial step, the logistics provider has already converted a large part of its truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which can potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by some 90 percent (compared to diesel fuel).

Wolfram Senger-Weiss explains: “Along with the issues of sustainability, infrastructure, and digitalization, the logistics industry faces numerous other hurdles this year. The persistently weak economy in Europe, new tariffs, and the crisis in the automotive industry are intensifying the competition for many companies. Gebrüder Weiss will continue to meet these challenges with a solution- and technology-oriented approach while aligning its general business strategy to the needs of its customers.”

The company appointed Mark Berumen as Phoenix Branch Manager to lead the new location. Berumen brings a wealth of knowledge to the role as a seasoned logistics leader with over 30 years of experience in freight forwarding, supply chain management and international trade. His expertise spans profit and loss, budgeting, carrier negotiation, import/export, operations management, air and ocean freight, sales, and project management. 

"Throughout my career in logistics and freight forwarding, Gebrüder Weiss has always had a reputation for being the gold standard in global transport," says Berumen. "Our Phoenix office has fast become an integral part of U.S. operations, and it's an honor to be part of the Gebrüder Weiss team." 

Gebrüder Weiss has been strategically expanding its operations nationwide to accommodate trade demand between the U.S. and Mexico. Since Arizona is Mexico's largest trading partner, the Phoenix location is growing in importance as a key hub for trade across the Southern border. In 2023, there was close to $20 billion in import/export activity between the two locations. 

 "The Phoenix branch office further strengthens our cross-border trade capabilities and provides even more supply chain flexibility," says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. "Our ongoing expansion in the U.S. continues to open new doors of opportunity for our clients."

In addition to the Phoenix office, Gebrüder Weiss has broadened its North American footprint with new warehouses, port facilities, and branch locations. Within the past few years, the company opened a new warehouse in Laredo, Texas, to accommodate road, air, and sea logistics services; a freight hub in Miami, Florida, to facilitate transport between Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean; a 106,000-square-foot warehouse in Elgin, Illinois; an El Paso, Texas, office to meet increased demand for cross-border trade; and a new office in Denver, Colorado to support domestic trucking, air cargo, e-commerce, and intermodal transport services. The company also acquired Salt Lake City-based freight forwarding company Cargo-Link, expanding its presence in the Intermountain West.

The supply chain company fosters youth career opportunities through its Gebrüder Weiss Supply Chain Leadership Scholarship, collegiate recruiting, and internship programs. 

"Gebrüder Weiss strives to provide opportunities for the next generation of business leaders through scholarships and internships, and we are proud to support Humanity Rising's efforts to empower service-minded students as they pursue their career dreams," says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. 

Humanity Rising celebrates the service achievements of high school students and recognizes their contributions to creating a more compassionate and better world. A committee of participating students selected local student Samantha Iller, a senior at Schaumburg High School, to receive the $1,500 scholarship funded by Gebrüder Weiss. Samantha exemplifies the spirit of service and leadership celebrated by Humanity Rising. Her impactful experience rebuilding homes with Adventures in Appalachia highlighted her dedication to creating safe and meaningful spaces for families, a commitment she plans to carry into her future career as a commercial pilot, ensuring safety and comfort for all.

"I am incredibly grateful to Gebrüder Weiss and Humanity Rising for this opportunity. My dedication to serving others has become such an important part of my life and will be part of my career in the future," says Iller. "It's wonderful to see organizations championing young changemakers and providing opportunities for us to thrive." 

Humanity Rising continues to expand its recognition outlets for young people, including student-led podcasts featuring young changemakers and a film festival competition for high school students with scholarship prizes.

Providing young people with education and knowledge so that they can build an independent existence is a critical part of this philanthropic project. Diesel generators previously powered the settlement and its training workshops. Now, the workshops will benefit from a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar energy solution. The PV system, donated by photovoltaic manufacturers and electrical engineering companies from Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein, operates off-grid and can generate up to 200 kilowatts of electrical energy.

“This is an exemplary initiative by companies in the region that helps to give the local population a perspective for the future – and it also makes ecological sense. Solar energy instead of fossil fuels: a sustainable aid project that we are happy to support,” said Andreas Bilgeri, Manager of Gebrüder Weiss Air & Sea Wolfurt.

The solar energy system, packed into a 40-foot sea freight container, will begin its journey before Christmas. It will travel by rail from Wolfurt to Rotterdam, then by ship to Mombasa, Kenya, and finally by truck to its destination in Uganda. The global logistics company is transporting the solar energy system free of charge from Vorarlberg to Uganda in East Africa.

"I am very happy to have Gebrüder Weiss, an internationally experienced logistics company located in Vorarlberg, on our side. This simplifies the coordination processes for us and we can be sure that the solar system will arrive at its destination safely and on time," says Matthias Burtscher, one of the coordinators of the campaign.

With the support of many volunteers, the donated PV system modules were assembled, tested and then packed at his company's premises before being transported. This collaborative effort exemplifies the power of regional partnerships to create sustainable solutions and provide vital resources for underserved communities around the world.

About the project

"Solar Power for Palorinya" is a joint project of the Catholic missionary order of the Comboni Missionaries - represented locally by Brother Erich Fischnaller - and numerous companies, associations and individuals from Vorarlberg, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol. Fischnaller, who was born in South Tyrol and began his missionary work in Africa 50 years ago, has been involved in the Palorinya refugee center since 2016. More than 125,000 people live there, most of whom have fled the civil war in neighboring Sudan.

The new solar energy system not only helps save on the high cost of diesel fuel, but also makes the most of Uganda's climatic conditions. Due to its location on the equator, the sun shines at a consistently high intensity almost all year round.

 “The decision to gain a foothold in Japan has turned out to be the right strategy in the long term. Companies in the island nation manufacture their products for recipients all over the world. So, their goods are present in numerous supply chains within the Gebrüder Weiss network,” explains Michael Zankel, Regional Manager East Asia / Oceania at Gebrüder Weiss.

Owing to its strong industrial base, Japan had developed into one of the world’s most successful economies by the end of the 1980s, and today ranks fourth in terms of GDP. “It therefore made sense to incorporate Japan and the Asian-Pacific region into the global network of Gebrüder Weiss to offer these companies solutions for their logistics requirements,” recalls Stefan Aebi, Country Manager Japan at Gebrüder Weiss. There are five major transshipment centers strategically located for sea freight transports with container ports in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. The airports in Tokyo and Osaka offer connections to the air freight network.

Congratulations on the 25^th anniversary also came from long-time customers that Gebrüder Weiss has  provided with  transport services since the company’s early years in Japan. “Gebrüder Weiss has always supported us reliably with excellent logistics services in times of the pandemic and other global challenges. We have gained a lot of added value from the company’s professionalism and innovative power, and we greatly appreciate this trusting partnership,” says Hisaya Shiga, Assistant to the Head of Sales – Functional Clothing at Kurabo, a Japanese textile and chemical manufacturer. Other customers come from the automotive and mechanical engineering sectors. But the activities of the 40-strong team in Japan are not limited to specific industries. “We also take care of furniture, food and beverages,” Stefan Aebi explains.

In year 25 after entering the market, Gebrüder Weiss offers its air and sea freight services at three locations in Japan’s major economic hubs: in the capital Tokyo, in Osaka and in Nagoya, a central hub of the automotive, aviation and textile industries. The Southeast and East Asian network is complemented by branches in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Serbia has developed into an attractive procurement market for automotive parts, food, textiles, and furniture, with around 70 percent of exports going to the EU. In addition, the Balkan country is the main supplier of agricultural products to many of its neighboring countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.  

Today, Gebrüder Weiss offers its customers in Serbia land, air, and sea freight transport, customs clearance, and logistics solutions. Groupage freight shipments go to neighboring countries and the EU single market several times a week. The logistics provider has a total of 20,000 square meters (more than 250,000 square feet) of logistics space in the country. In 2023, the company generated net revenue of 53 million euros. 

In addition to its headquarters in Dobanovci near Belgrade, Gebrüder Weiss has three other locations in Serbia: in Novi Sad in the north and in Niš and Strojkovce near Leskovac in the south. A new logistics warehouse in Dobanovci recently commenced operations. The company has already invested over 20 million euros in its logistics facilities. “By the end of the year, we will have invested an additional million euros in our home delivery services and additional warehouse space,” says Thomas Schauer, Regional Manager for Central and Southeastern Europe at Gebrüder Weiss.  

Another area of focus for the logistics industry leader is sustainability. The company’s Dobanovci location obtains all of its electricity from a solar power plant, reducing CO2 emissions by 90 tons per year. Eight natural gas trucks (CNG) operate on four routes for the consumer goods industry. In addition, detergents and cleaning agents are transported sustainably by rail to Germany.  

“Every year, 1,500 containers roll by rail from Budapest to the Ruhr area. This saves us more than a thousand tons of CO2 compared to conventional truck transport,” explains Roland Raith, Country Manager Serbia at Gebrüder Weiss. Next year, zero-emission e-transporters will also be used for deliveries to end customers in Serbia. 

Starting with a small office in Belgrade in 2004, Gebrüder Weiss now employs 300 people in Serbia. Gebrüder Weiss was one of the first logistics companies to implement the principle of dual training for young professionals there. Since 2018, young professionals have been receiving both on-the-job and academic training in cooperation with the Transport and Technical School in Belgrade. “We offer young professionals long-term career prospects in a range of logistics occupations,” says Roland Raith. 

Gebrüder Weiss Serbia at a glance: 

Founded: 2004 

2023 annual revenue: 53 million euros 

Employees: 300 

Logistics area: 20,000 square meters 

Investment volume since market entry: over 20 million euros 

Latest expansion: 3,600 square meters of new warehouse space at the Dobanovci headquarters 

Overland shipments handled in 2023: 290,000 

Home deliveries in 2023: 62,000 

"Gebrüder Weiss continues to enhance its global suite of services for customers, and we're delighted to be one of the companies invited to Cargado's load board," says Kevin Sendre, Director of Full Truckload North America for Gebrüder Weiss. "Cargado's vision to make cross-border freight interconnected, dependable, and transparent fully aligns with Gebrüder Weiss' ethos, and we look forward to our partnership with the team."  

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, trade between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $415.4 billion for the first half of 2024 (January through June). This is the highest total ever recorded for the time period, and the value of trade across the border is consistently breaking year-over-year records. In addition to expanding its services, Gebrüder Weiss is partnering with select companies to optimize nearshoring logistics. Earlier this year, the company announced a new relationship with Highway, a Carrier Identity^TM software platform designed to provide clients with comprehensive information on freight carriers to prevent fraud. Similarly, Cargado's platform is invitation-only to enhance trust and end-to-end transparency.

"Demand for nearshoring has exploded in the past few years, and the movement of freight between the U.S. and Mexico has exploded as a result," says Matt Silver, CEO and Co-founder of Cargado. "I founded Cargado to move the industry forward, improve trust, and create a more interconnected North American freight market. Gebrüder Weiss is a highly respected industry leader, and we're delighted to welcome them to the load board."

For more information about Gebrüder Weiss North America, its services, locations, or employment opportunities, please visit gw-world.com/us.

An industry pioneer in the use of alternative drive technologies and sustainable practices, the logistics company ran its third and latest cycling campaign between March and September. Aptly titled “Cycling to the moon and back,” Gebrüder Weiss called on cyclists around the world to join its campaign by downloading the Radbonus app and covering as many kilometers as possible on two wheels.

“It’s clear that bicycle mobility is growing in popularity,” remarks Frank Haas, Head of Communications at Gebrüder Weiss, “and rightly so: Cycling gives people a chance to enjoy being active and boosts both personal health and climate protection. I’m particularly pleased that we were once again able to encourage so many people to do their best to support a good cause. Thank you to everyone who got involved!”

Another benefit to the company’s annual cycling campaign is that each kilometer cycled helps to protect the climate. The 2024 cycling campaign has enabled Gebrüder Weiss to plant 7,000 new trees in the corporate forest in Nicaragua. A total of 19,000 trees have been planted since the campaign was launched in 2022. Once fully grown, these trees will absorb around 285 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.

For more information about “Cycling around the World”, go to: https://info.gw-world.com/gwcycles.

"We are thrilled to see Sandra recognized for her leadership, dedication, and long list of accomplishments," said Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. "Sandra is a true 'Workforce Innovator' who played a pivotal role in building out our human resources functions in the U.S. from the ground up. We congratulate her for this prestigious and well-deserved award."

Musielak has developed key human resources (HR) initiatives for Gebrüder Weiss since the company entered the U.S. market in 2017. Of note, she created and operationalized a learning and development system, building it from individual one-on-one training to a standardized process that accommodates the company's fast pace of growth. Musielak led a recruiting strategy that has resulted in long lines at their booth at job fairs and built an internship program that offers an immersive learning opportunity for people to gain supply chain skills and contribute to the company in meaningful ways. Within her department, she initiated an HR Boot Camp to set HR administrators on a promotion track, armed with the information and tools they need to move up the ladder, including technical knowledge, industry expertise, and soft skills.

"My mantra is 'be a leader, not a manager,' so it's particularly meaningful to me to be honored with an award for supply chain leadership," says Musielak. "When Mark McCullough hired me, he asked me to keep the 'human' in human resources, and I've carried that mission forward ever since. I'm grateful for the opportunities and support I've received from Mark and my Gebrüder Weiss colleagues over the years and will continue to develop our HR department with the goal of empowering people."

For more information about Gebrüder Weiss North America, its services, locations, or employment opportunities, please visit gw-world.com/us.

"This announcement is exciting on two fronts. We are thrilled to establish a new strategic hub in Denver and continue our pace of growth in the region," said Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. "We are equally thrilled to welcome Don Derbin to Gebrüder Weiss. We specifically sought him out for this role based on his depth of industry knowledge, extensive network of longstanding partnerships, and stellar reputation."

The office opening is part of a broader expansion in the Intermountain West. Earlier this year, Gebrüder Weiss announced the acquisition of Cargo-Link, a non-asset-based freight forwarding company located in Salt Lake City, Utah, specializing in less-than-container load shipping. The Denver location provides additional shipping synergies and operational efficiencies with the Salt Lake City team. Denver is a fast-growing city in terms of population and economic growth, and customer demand has increased as a result. In addition to its regional strength, Denver's central freight hub location opens access to the West Coast and Midwest.

Derbin has more than 20 years of management and supply chain leadership experience and an impressive sales and operations background at mid-sized European freight forwarding companies. "I've long admired Gebrüder Weiss as a company, and I jumped at the opportunity to join them in Denver," says Derbin. "There is tremendous potential in the area, and I'm excited to lead the Denver-based expansion as part of such a well-respected global organization." 

Fraud has become a growing concern across the freight forwarding and logistics industries. Credit company TransUnion reported a nearly 800% increase in global freight fraud from 2019 to 2021. The primary types of fraud include outright cargo theft, carrier identity theft, and double brokering - a practice in which criminal intermediaries pose as legitimate carriers to take control of shipments. Industry group FreightWaves estimates that double brokering costs the supply chain up to $700 million in payments each year.  

“Fraud, identity theft, cargo theft, double brokering, and criminal activity are very serious issues in our industry. Highway’s platform allows us to target potential bad actors, mitigate our risk, prevent illegitimate carriers from infiltrating our network, and ensure quality carrier selection,” says Kevin Sendre, Director of Full Truckload (FTL) North America for Gebrüder Weiss. “Gebrüder Weiss is proactively taking steps to combat fraud, and we are excited to leverage Highway’s expertise in establishing true carrier identity and expand our partnership with new service offerings.”

As freight forwarding communications and information increasingly become digital, bad actors have had greater access to freight transaction details. Highway turns the tables through with proprietary techniques that identify suspicious activity and flag illegitimate carriers before they have an opportunity to conduct fraud. Gebrüder Weiss has its own set of carrier requirements – such as a minimum of 90 days in business – and uses Highway to select carriers that meet its high standards. In addition to fraud prevention, Gebrüder Weiss leverages carrier information to manage relationships with its chosen partners.

Michael Caney, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway, highlighted the importance of this collaboration. “The logistics industry faces significant challenges from fraudsters and criminal activity that can disrupt the entire supply chain. Our partnership with Gebrüder Weiss not only aims to mitigate these risks but also ensures that their carrier network is robust and transparent,” Caney said. “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Gebrüder Weiss and integrate our solutions further into their operations, enhancing both security and operational efficiency."

“Our goal at Gebrüder Weiss is to proactively combat fraud before it starts,” says Sendre. “The transparency of information enables us to prevent criminal activity, and provide quality carrier selection for our customers.”

As Gebrüder Weiss continues to evolve and embrace digital advancements, the company remains dedicated to providing secure, seamless, and trustworthy logistics solutions for its clients worldwide.

As in previous years, GWcycles combines this athletic challenge with environmental protection. The international transport company will plant another 7,000 trees in Nicaragua for the kilometers covered by the participants. In the two previous rounds, a total of 13,000 trees have been planted in Togo and Nicaragua. By planting these corporate forests, Gebrüder Weiss makes an important and active contribution to a climate-friendly future.

“At Gebrüder Weiss, we believe in sustainable mobility, and as a global logistics company, we are enthusiastic about moving things together,” Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss, describes the essential motivation and targets of GWcycles. “So far, our cycling community has accomplished spectacular results each year; they enjoy exercising and actively contributing to environmental protection. We are looking forward to this year’s competition.”

Following the previous year’s campaign, which ended with a surprising success – more than 15 times around the world – the company is challenging the participants of the 2024 competition to cycle to the moon and back. The main prize that Gebrüder Weiss offers to the top 300 cyclists is a gravel bike, as well as other attractive prizes for seven different challenges. Anyone can participate in the competition. The number of kilometers completed will be recorded and calculated in a cycling app. Click here to find the relevant app: www.gw-world.com/de/cycling-around-the-world. Simply download, register, and get started!

While Crandall’s title is Vice President of Sales, his role is customer service driven. He stays involved with existing customers to foster their success and find creative solutions to supply chain needs. For example, he may work with international importers to help manage a complex cross-border import process on a customer’s behalf or connect with supply chain warehousing operations to provide guidance on regulatory requirements. Internally at Gebrüder Weiss, he manages his teams with a strong focus on mentorship.

"Many of today's supply chain pros are more than just leaders within their space; they're innovators, decision makers, pioneers of change and growth. They've spent the last year (and more) creating safer, more efficient supply chains," says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “New this year, we broke the award down into four distinct categories: Top Warehousing Stars; Top Procurement Stars; Rising Stars; and Lifetime Achievement. These winners continue to go above and beyond to overcome challenges, advance supply chain management and make the impossible, possible.”

Recipients of this year’s award will be profiled in Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s March 2024 issue, which will be distributed at MODEX 2024 and at  www.SDCExec.com.

Go to  https://sdce.me/9nuat3bs  to view the full list of winners. Go to  www.SDCExec.com/awards  to learn more about other Supply & Demand Chain Executive awards.

“Despite the challenges posed by general economic conditions, we have been able to help our customers enjoy success in their global sales markets with our first-rate service and increase the presence of Gebrüder Weiss with new locations in the USA and Germany. This is due first and foremost to the wholehearted dedication shown by our employees. Geopolitical conflicts and weaker global economic output had a negative impact on revenue and transport volumes. Our stable financial situation meant that, in 2023, we were still able to implement a comprehensive investment program to expand both locations and services,” says Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss. Many projects that had to be postponed as a result of COVID-19 could now be carried out in 2023. 

Investments in network expansion
With a record investment volume of 187 million euros, Gebrüder Weiss substantially expanded its network in the German and US markets, as well as South-Eastern Europe, while also investing in customer projects and sustainable energy generation. In Bavaria in particular, the logistics company consolidated its position through acquisitions and real estate purchases in Bayreuth, Konradsreuth and Nuremberg and the construction of a new freight forwarding terminal in Straubing. The US network was expanded to include locations in Miami and Laredo, Texas. Other investment projects included a second location in Bucharest, the enlargement of the logistics terminal in Hungary, and the construction of a new logistics warehouse in Graz and Reutte, Tyrol. As a result of the acquisitions, the number of employees at the 180 locations worldwide increased to 8,600 (2022: 8,400).

At the same time as it works to expand its network, Gebrüder Weiss has also been investing in the digitalization of supply chain management. Warehouse analysis functions (Warehouse Analytics) have been added to the web-based customer portal myGW. The portal offers transparency along the entire supply chain and serves as a central information and communication platform for customers and their global shipments, covering everything from real-time tracking to estimated times of arrival (ETA).

North American growth continues
In North America, Gebrüder Weiss continued strategic expansion across the continent with a newly opened office and warehouse in Laredo, Texas, leveraging the largest inland port in North America to provide additional road, air, and sea logistics services for the critical flow of trade between the U.S. and Mexico. Gebrüder Weiss also opened an air and sea freight hub in Miami to facilitate transport between Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, and a 106,000-square-foot warehouse in Elgin, Illinois, near the North American headquarters office in Wood Dale, Illinois. On the capabilities front, the team added highly specialized experts in breakbulk and complicated cargo projects and expanded road transport capabilities with new key hires and full truckload services. Notably, Gebrüder Weiss USA was named a winner in the 2023 Excellence in Customer Service Awards from Business Intelligence Group. Daniela Hendricks, Chief Compliance & Process Officer, was recognized with a Supply & Demand Chain Executive 2023 Pros to Know award. 

"2023 was a pivotal year in which we cemented our logistics leadership in nearshoring by opening multiple key locations and bringing in talented leaders to expand our depth of services," says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss USA. "At the same time, our employees continued to receive accolades for the quality of their work, and I appreciate our entire teams' ongoing efforts to foster a collaborative culture and surpass customer expectations."

More renewable energies 
The company made progress in decarbonizing its own business activities. Three-quarters of the company’s own electricity requirements in the DACH region are already met by its own solar power. In 2023, the logistics expert commissioned nine further photovoltaic systems (PV) in the DACH region and Eastern Europe. A total of 27 PV systems generated 5,850 megawatt hours of electricity, doubling the amount of CO2 emissions saved to 2,750 tons. Gebrüder Weiss has also been helping improve the green credentials of the electricity mix in Germany since 2011 with its wind farm in Northern Germany. 

The company’s attention is increasingly on its own vehicle fleet as part of its goal to achieve climate neutrality in the operation of its own assets and trucks by 2030. The logistics company already uses e-vans to deliver goods ordered online to end customers in Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania. Two battery-powered trucks will be launched in Germany this year, and further e-trucks and e-delivery vehicles will be purchased in Austria. To manage the transition period to e-mobility, the company is converting a large part of its own truck fleet in Austria to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). 

Following the downturn in global trade and signs of a recession, Gebrüder Weiss expects a slight economic upturn in the second half of 2024, thereby translating into more positive revenue development fed by the success of individual national companies. Wolfram Senger-Weiss noted, “We are now benefiting from the fact that we have a global position and can swiftly respond to economic upturns in individual regions with the necessary local logistics services. At the same time, we see confirmation of our “best of both worlds” strategy. The last few years in particular have shown how important it is to invest in both the development of the operational network and the company’s digital expertise.”
 

With Cargo-Link, Gebrüder Weiss will offer specialized weekly LCL service from North and South China ports directly into Salt Lake City. Gebrüder Weiss, the North American division headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, will leverage Cargo-Link’s strategic location and its leadership team’s expertise to open new LCL routes to Asia and Europe. Salt Lake City is a fast-growing market that values local presence, and the acquisition provides a new regional market entrance. Gebrüder Weiss will retain Cargo-Link’s management team and integrate its employees into the newly merged organization.

“We are thrilled to bring Cargo-Link under the Gebrüder Weiss umbrella,” says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. “There are tremendous synergies between the two companies, and we mutually benefit from the agreement. We look forward to partnering with the Cargo-Link leadership team to enhance our customers' LCL and Intermountain West-based opportunities.”

Cargo-Link was founded in 1976 in Salt Lake City and grew to become a renowned freight forwarder and Customs House Brokerage (CHB) in an important market. Operationally, the majority of the business is comprised of sea freight imports, with air freight, domestic freight forwarding, and export business making up the remainder. CEO and Owner Scott Ogden has managed Cargo-Link since its inception and has developed an extensive network of client relationships and overseas partners.

“This acquisition significantly upgrades our service potential and broadens customer access, seamlessly blending Cargo-Link's expertise with the expansive capabilities of Gebrüder Weiss," says Scott Ogden, CEO of Cargo-Link. “The two companies are a cultural fit as well as a business fit. Cargo-Link is a family-owned, family-focused company with a philanthropic culture, and we sought those same values in a corporate partner.”

In addition to Gebrüder Weiss’ greater coverage in the Intermountain West geographic area and establishing Salt Lake City as its 15^th North American location, the company also gains access to a 22,000-square-foot warehouse attached to the Cargo-Link office and optimally positioned near the Salt Lake City airport. Gebrüder Weiss North America has opened operations in all major U.S. markets and is now focusing on regional markets with location-specific experience and operations.

“Manifest is one of the top supply chain and logistics events in the nation, and we’re delighted to provide support and sponsorship,” says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America. “As a global logistics firm with European roots, we are keeping pace with post-pandemic trends and continue to anticipate and respond to customer needs around the world. In the past two years, our North American offices have expanded our domestic transport services and opened additional facilities in Laredo and El Paso, Texas, to support the North American cross-border trucking and nearshoring trend,” added McCullough.

The company’s booth theme is “The Long Drive,” a play on words for the logistics organization’s golf simulator activity that will allow attendees to practice their swings and compete in a daily contest for prizes in a “Long Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” challenge. The theme highlights full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and partial truckload services offered by Gebrüder Weiss. Demand for LTL, in particular, has boomed during the post-pandemic trend toward nearshoring and cross-border shipping. Globally, the LTL market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3% from 2024-2028.

“The future of the global supply chain hinges on a combination of advanced technology and digitalization for peak efficiency, and the human element of white glove, high-quality customer service,” added McCullough. “We’re grateful to the conference organizers for bringing the top minds in the industry together to help spur the next evolution of the supply chain.”

Event registration is available at a discount through Gebrüder Weiss’ custom sponsor link. More than 3,000 people attended the 2023 Manifest event, and 2024 attendance is expected to surpass 4,500 people.

“Opening a location in Brisbane represents another key step in our efforts to increase our presence in Australia. The services offered here are tailored particularly to customers from the engineering, agriculture, and medical equipment sectors,” says Andrew Antonopoulos, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand at Gebrüder Weiss. “The services include air & sea transports, customs clearance, and a customized logistics mix for project orders.”

Most recently, Gebrüder Weiss organized the transport of an innovative solar car from Switzerland to Australia and back for the ETH Zurich’s aCentauri Solar Racing Team. The Swiss team managed to cover a distance of 3,000 km across the Australian outback using nothing but solar power.

World’s largest free trade zone driving growth

Australia’s most important partners for its import-oriented economy are China, the USA, and other Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan, where Gebrüder Weiss also operates its own locations. “We offer efficient end-to-end logistics solutions for connections with the rapidly growing amount of intra-Asian traffic,” says Michael Zankel, Regional Manager East Asia/Oceania at Gebrüder Weiss. Australia’s most important trading partner in Europe is Germany, with bilateral trade rising to a record high of around 17.9 billion euros in 2022, according to Germany Trade & Invest. Negotiations between the EU and Australia on a free trade agreement are at an advanced stage.

Gebrüder Weiss has plans to open additional locations in the north and west of Australia to provide blanket coverage for the entire continent. The logistics provider also has a foothold in New Zealand with two locations in Auckland and Christchurch, complementing its presence in Australia.

"Gebrüder Weiss is a family-owned organization, and we saw this sense of family translate into enthusiastic participation in our company match for employee donations and in-person volunteer efforts to support families in our community," said Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss USA. "This is our seventh annual charitable program for the holiday season, and we're proud to continue this important tradition."

Bleuroot, a local West Dundee, Illinois restaurant known for its wholesome menu, partnered with Gebrüder Weiss for the third year in a row to prepare the meals and deliver them to recipients' homes. The local Home Depot donated a poinsettia for each family, which was provided with a Thanksgiving meal. Additional community participants joined in to enhance the fundraising efforts. The Goddard School in Elgin, Illinois encouraged parents to donate if they were able, and the school provided a $500 donation that allowed Gebrüder Weiss to drop off additional meals at West Dundee fire and police departments, a Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter, and a PADS shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

To date, Gebrüder Weiss was able to more than triple the number of meals provided year-over-year, from 62 in 2022 to 200 so far in 2023. With its ongoing fundraising efforts, company match, and community partner support, the number of donated meals will continue to grow throughout the season.

Logistics partner and main sponsor Gebrüder Weiss has been on board since the very beginning. Not only did the company ensure the vehicle arrived safely in South America, but it also co-financed the innovative venture. “As the oldest transport and logistics company, we are committed to the future of mobility,” says Frank Haas, Head of Corporate Brand Strategy & Communications at Gebrüder Weiss. “This success underlines our ongoing support for sustainable mobility projects and innovative technologies. We are delighted for the team and will now bring the record-breaking vehicle safely back to Switzerland.”

The impressive undertaking began two months ago: Gebrüder Weiss transported the e-truck from Switzerland via Rotterdam and then by sea freight to Chile. Another overland transport took the solar truck to the Atacama region. The Peak Evolution team started at the Maricunga Salt Flat with the first exploratory tours and acclimatization on the mountain, at an elevation of 11,155 feet (3,400 meters). The extreme terrain and environmental conditions of the world’s highest volcano not only put the high-tech vehicle to the test, but also put the team under extreme physical and mental strain. “Despite these extreme conditions, our specially developed

vehicle managed to drive higher than any other e-vehicle – let alone a solar-powered one,” says Patrik Koller, CEO, and developer at Peak Evolution, summarizing the success. “We have been training for this moment for four years, so giving up was never an option.” The three adventurers reached the first milestone at the end of November, breaking the record for e-vehicles by surpassing the 19,685 feet (6,000 meter) barrier. One week later, they reached 21,325 feet (6,500 meters) above sea level – the record height of their mission. They reached the western ridge of Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on earth, using nothing but solar power. With the world record in the bag, the Peak Evolution team is now heading back to Switzerland, with Gebrüder Weiss ensuring that the record-breaking vehicle also makes it safely back to Europe.

The logistics company will continue to support pioneering projects, and in January it will support a dress rehearsal of the Austrian Space Forum’s Mars mission take place at the Gebrüder Weiss site in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna. The company will also test an autonomous truck next year and send an international research team to Greenland to gain important insights into climate change.