Relaxation in Europe: Update of the current loading restrictions

Statement by Dachser CEO Burkhard Eling on the military conflict in Ukraine

Peace and the free movement of goods are fundamental prerequisites for the positive, free development of all societies. In this spirit, Dachser has grown as an international logistics provider over the past decades. We therefore deeply regret the escalation of the military conflict in Ukraine. Among other things, the conflict will also have a substantial impact on supply chains in Eastern Europe. 

Our first priority is the safety of all drivers transporting consignments on behalf of Dachser. We have therefore today imposed an immediate takeover and loading stop for all shipments to Ukraine. This applies to all European transports of our Cargoplus service segment, which specializes in FTL and LTL transports to the CIS countries, among others, as well as to all transports from the European Logistics network that are handled in Ukraine by our partner ACE. Regular traffic from our platform Strykow (Poland) to Kiev will be discontinued. All trucks that are currently still on their way to Ukraine have to be returned in coordination with the customers. We are in close contact with our Ukrainian partner, who has also closed his warehouses.

In air freight, the airspace over Ukraine has been closed in a wide radius. Take-offs and landings are not possible here, so that congestion at the alternative airports is to be feared. 

Our European Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics teams are closely monitoring developments in the situation and are in close contact with our customers. This also applies in particular to restrictions on the movement of goods that may arise in the coming days as a result of the sanctions announced against Russia. 

• Background - Dachser's activities in Ukraine and Russia. 

Dachser does not have its own locations in Ukraine, but works there with its partner ACE Logistics. The Estonian company is also Dachser's partner for the Baltic states and joint venture partner in Finland. The Cargoplus service segment handles additional full truckload services.

In Russia, Dachser has been represented by its own national company since 2008 and provides services in the Road Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics business segments. Around 160 staff are employed at seven locations. In 2020, Dachser Russia handled around 17,000 consignments and generated revenue of EUR 21.6 million.

Short update on the general situation in the transport sector

In the second half of the year, the corona pandemic is still the predominant topic in the media. While at the beginning of the pandemic new findings on Covid-19 were being announced almost daily and many updates were also published by DACHSER on loading restrictions in Europe as well as in America and APAC, something like a "new normality" has now returned.

At the moment, there are no longer any universal country or customer restrictions. We would therefore like to ask our customers to clarify individual restrictions such as closures, changed opening hours etc. with the recipients of the goods themselves. We are closely monitoring the further course of the corona pandemic and will keep you informed immediately of any developments. Should new loading restrictions be imposed, these will be published again via our website.

If you have any questions on this subject, please contact your local contact person at the respective DACHSER branch.

DACHSER resumes general cargo line to Ukraine

DACHSER is re-evaluating the current developments in the Ukraine conflict day by day. This leads to the situation that the complete takeover and loading stop for all goods shipments to Ukraine, which was taken in February 2022, can be partially reversed.

The safety of all drivers and employees remains a top priority for DACHSER. In areas not directly affected by the war, DACHSER is starting a regular general cargo line to Western Ukraine from the Strykov platform in Poland. The corresponding handling of shipments on site and distribution in Ukraine is carried out by the partner company in Lviv.
Transports to the regions in the east, north and south of Ukraine directly affected by the war are still not possible.

As delivery zones can change very quickly due to developments in the war, DACHSER will continue to monitor and assess the situation on an ongoing basis and keep customers informed of further developments accordingly. The local contacts in the DACHSER branches will be available to answer any questions.

DACHSER strengthens its position in the German logistics market

DACHSER has defended its leading position in the German logistics market in the newly published “TOP 100 in Logistics 2020/2021” study. In certain market segments such as consumer goods contract logistics or air and sea freight, the logistics provider can improve.