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Freight Road Transport in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: August 2024 WZ H49.41DE

Revenue

€63.5bn

2024

€63.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

440k

Businesses

35,587

Wages

€XX.Xbn

Freight Road Transport in Germany industry analysis

The structures of the industry are relatively stable, which is why the players can no longer benefit from globalisation to the same extent as in previous years. In addition, the intensity of competition on the market is increasing. The trend towards integrated logistics groups has also cost the industry sales potential in recent years. Since 2019, industry turnover has nevertheless risen by an average of 2.1% per year, partly due to the growing demand for goods transport. The challenging conditions were exacerbated once again in 2020 by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The slump in industrial production in particular caused difficulties for the sector, as manufacturing companies are the most important customer group for haulage companies. According to IBISWorld calculations, the fact that industry turnover will increase by 0.5% to 63.5 billion euros in 2024 is primarily due to the fact that industry players will have to pass on the financial burden of the higher diesel price resulting from the Ukraine conflict to their customers, which has led to an increase in freight rates.In 2024, the industry is likely to benefit on the demand side from a brightening consumer climate, which should lead in part to higher consumer spending, which will have a positive impact on freight transport volumes. In addition, the negative economic consequences of the Ukraine conflict, such as high inflation, are slowing down the recovery of the German economy and, what is particularly important from an industry perspective, the production volume of the industry, resulting in fewer transport orders.By 2029, industry turnover is expected to grow by an average of 1.1% per year, meaning that it should amount to 67 billion euros in 2029. It can be assumed that both the number of industry players and the number of employees will increase by 2029 due to the upward trend in freight transport volumes. In the coming five-year period, however, haulage companies will have to deal with even stricter environmental regulations for trucks with high pollutant emissions to an even greater extent.

Trends and Insights

  • The logistics sector is becoming increasingly networked. More and more customers are commissioning freight forwarders directly to coordinate the entire shipping process instead of pure haulage companies. This leads to an increased dependency of haulage companies on freight forwarders and an intense price war.
  • Domestic transport accounts for the largest share of the industry's turnover. This also includes many journeys to and from ports and airports as part of intermodal transport.
  • The central region is home to most of the sector's companies. The central region is the industrial centre of Germany, which is why there are so many goods to be transported there.
  • Competition within the industry is strong, but varies from region to region. While there are often only a few smaller haulage companies operating in rural areas, the number of players in large cities is significantly higher.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €63.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The rise in the price of crude oil due to the Ukraine crisis is weighing on the industry

  • Since the war in Ukraine, the road haulage industry has been facing major challenges due to the sharp rise in crude oil prices, as diesel, the main fuel for trucks, is made from crude oil.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Freight Road Transport in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Increasing environmental protection and higher toll charges are likely to increase the pressure on haulage companies in the future

  • The German transport sector is likely to be dominated by small and medium-sized companies until 2029. Trucks and goods trains will remain the preferred means of transport, although a slight increase in the use of trucks is expected. At the same time, however, environmental protection will play a greater role.

Biggest companies in the Freight Road Transport in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KG
94.2
Medizinischer Transport-Service GmbH
17.0
Transport Bothe Agrar Logistik GmbH
14.8

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Freight Road Transport in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transport within Germany, Cross-border transport and Transport in transit. Transport within Germany is the largest segment of the Freight Road Transport in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Transport within Germany competes with the rail freight companies

  • Domestic transport accounts for by far the largest share of industry turnover. This also includes many journeys to and from ports and airports as part of intermodal transport.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector deals exclusively with the transport of goods by road, which can include a wide variety of goods such as timber, livestock and motor vehicles. Upstream or downstream activities such as the packing of goods or the operation of goods handling facilities are therefore not included in the services provided by the sector. Removal transport and postal services are also not included.

What's included in this industry?

Transport within GermanyCross-border transportTransport in transit

Companies

Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KGMedizinischer Transport-Service GmbHTransport Bothe Agrar Logistik GmbH

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INTERMODAL TRANSPORTGIGALINERFRACHTRATE

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 49.41 - Freight Road Transport in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The logistics sector is becoming increasingly networked. More and more customers are commissioning freight forwarders directly to coordinate the entire shipping process inste...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Domestic transport accounts for the largest share of the industry's turnover. This also includes many journeys to and from ports and airports as part of intermodal transport.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The central region is home to most of the sector's companies. The central region is the industrial centre of Germany, which is why there are so many goods to be transported t...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition within the industry is strong, but varies from region to region. While there are often only a few smaller haulage companies operating in rural areas, the number o...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are no major players in the road transport sector. There are many smaller companies operating in the sector, which generally serve the local market.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Medizinischer Transport-Service GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Transport Bothe Agrar Logistik GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Medizinischer Transport-Service GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Transport Bothe Agrar Logistik GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The consumer climate is an important indicator of the demand for sector services. If the consumer climate develops positively, consumers buy more products, which means more g...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry's profit margin is low. There is an intense price war among haulage companies, which is exacerbated by competitors from Eastern Europe, who usually offer their s...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany is €63.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Freight Road Transport in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 35,587 businesses in the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Freight Road Transport market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Freight Road Transport market in Germany are Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KG, Medizinischer Transport-Service GmbH and Transport Bothe Agrar Logistik GmbH

What does the Freight Road Transport in Germany include?

Transport within Germany and Cross-border transport are part of the Freight Road Transport industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Road Transport in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Pabst Transport GmbH & Co. KG.

How competitive is the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Freight Road Transport industry in Germany.

Related Industries

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Complementors

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View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.