Preliminary insolvency proceedings were opened for logistics service provider Betz International on 7 April 2026, the local court in Tübingen announced.
Attorney Dr. Dirk Poff has been appointed as the provisional insolvency administrator. He is now to examine whether the business can be continued and whether investor solutions can be implemented.
The company, headquartered in Sonnenbühl (Baden-Württemberg), is part of the Willi Betz Group, whose roots go back to the immediate post-war period. Founder Willi Betz began transporting goods as early as 1945 and, over the following decades, built the business into an internationally active forwarding network.
140 employees affected – future uncertain
Around 140 employees are affected by the insolvency. Their wages and salaries are secured through insolvency benefits for three months.
“We are examining how the company can be continued. The aim is to preserve as many jobs as possible,” the provisional insolvency administrator told the newspaper “Bild”.
Whether an investor will be found remains unclear at present.
Familiar causes – but increasingly hitting at the same time
The causes have been known in the industry for years, but are currently affecting companies more and more simultaneously.
“Comprehensive internal optimisation and cost-cutting measures were no longer able to absorb these massive burdens,” said managing director Rainer Bisinger.
Key factors include:
- sharply rising energy and diesel costs
- ongoing price pressure in European competition
- structurally low margins in road freight transport
- weak industrial activity in Germany
Mid-sized companies in particular quickly reach their economic limits under these conditions.
From pioneer to restructuring case
The insolvency also marks a turning point for a company with a turbulent history. Willi Betz was among the early players in international road freight transport and, as far back as the 1960s, focused on connections to Eastern Europe and Asia.
Cooperation with partners in South Eastern Europe as well as the early expansion of international transport operations contributed significantly to growth. At the same time, the company came under pressure in the 2000s due to legal and structural problems and had to reposition itself several times.
The current insolvency therefore also comes at the end of a longer phase of structural adjustments.
Not an isolated case: a look at Austria
That this is not an isolated case is evident when looking at Austria – especially Tyrol. There, within just a few weeks, several transport companies have fallen into insolvency.
At the beginning of March, insolvency proceedings were opened for Nothegger Transport Logistik GmbH. The company is one of the larger private logistics providers in western Austria, with around 300 employees affected.
According to creditor protection associations, liabilities amount to more than €15 million. One key factor is said to be deferred charges from the pandemic period that now had to be repaid.
Further insolvencies in regional transport
Shortly afterwards, Aksoy Transporte KG followed with another insolvency in Tyrol – albeit on a much smaller scale. Here, 16 employees are affected; the trigger was outstanding social security contributions.
Across Austria as a whole, a similar picture is emerging: the Renner transport company from Burgenland had to file for insolvency again after a restructuring plan from 2024 could not be fulfilled. Claims totalling around €2.1 million are on the table.
European competition is worsening the situation
The developments point to a deeper problem in the European transport market.
The framework conditions are increasingly diverging between EU member states – for example in energy prices, taxes or government support measures. While companies in some countries are being relieved, cost structures in Germany remain comparatively high.
In addition:
- above-average labour costs
- additional regulatory requirements
- CO2 costs in the toll system
These factors can only be offset to a limited extent in international competition – especially in insolvency.
A warning sign for mid-sized businesses
The insolvency of Betz International is emblematic of a trend that has been emerging for months.
Mid-sized and family-owned companies in particular are increasingly coming under pressure – not due to a single factor, but because of the interplay of several structural burdens.
If the economic situation does not stabilise, consolidation in the transport sector is likely to continue.
Note: The insolvency affects only Betz International; the other companies of the Willi Betz Group are not affected.
