Photo: Gruber Logistics press materials

Gruber Logistics and Universal Transport confirm alliance

South Tyrol-based Gruber Logistics and Universal Transport from North Rhine-Westphalia have agreed on an alliance that will “create a new European market leader in heavy- and specialized transport".

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The official closing of the partnership took place on Monday following final examination and approval by the antitrust authorities in Germany.

In a statement, both parties confirmed that the existing management teams of both companies will be brought together.

Commenting on the deal, Gruber Logistics CEO Martin Gruber said:

“We are building a new European champion. The alliance with Universal Transport is a key step. And I don’t just mean that in terms of economic figures. The alliance will make the services offered by both companies even better and more comprehensive for our customers. Both companies and their employees stand for top quality and reliability and will continue to guarantee this on the highest level. The additional capacities and expanded regional availability are important steps in our European growth strategy. Germany is the central logistics market in Europe. From here we are ready to grow further and drive acquisitions throughout Europe.”

Holger Dechant, CEO of Universal Transport, added:

“We were re-thinking our long-term strategy and we found in joining Gruber Logistics a great opportunity for our company and employees. It is a partner who shares our quality standards, reliability and values. Moreover, with Gruber Logistics, we can expand our service portfolio including general cargo, parcel loads and logistics services. The entire Universal Transport team is looking forward to joining this international success story”.

With around 2,200 employees and total sales of around 650 million euros of transport and logistics activities, Gruber Logistics says it will take over the position of the European market leader in the field of heavy- and specialized transport after the integration.

Gruber Logistics and Universal Transport add that the new alliance will “enable an even more attractive offer and at the same time holistic range of services, as well as a bundle of know-how of the two successful providers, and thus expand them.”

Interestingly, both companies stressed the the alliance was also a “concrete answer to the crisis of transport capacity in Europe for the lack of drivers”.

The alliance was also deemed to be the best way to “tackle the European challenges in the field of logistics such as digitalization and sustainability”.