Mercedes-Benz Trucks and karldischinger logistikdienstleister, a freight forwarding company based in Ehrenkirchen near Freiburg, Germany, are celebrating 100 years of successful partnership. To mark this milestone, the companies have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the delivery of 100 zero-emission trucks over the next five years. The LOI includes both battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
karldischinger logistikdienstleister’s Homogeneous Mercedes-Benz Truck Fleet
Currently, karldischinger logistikdienstleister operates a fleet of around 120 Mercedes-Benz trucks, primarily from the Actros and Atego model series. The company has relied on Mercedes-Benz vehicles since purchasing its first Benz delivery van in 1924. The van was purchased from the Gaggenau plant, the oldest truck plant in the world. Throughout their partnership, karldischinger logistikdienstleister has embraced innovations from Mercedes-Benz Trucks. This includes transitioning from long-nose to cab-over-engine trucks and from wood carburetors to diesel engines.
Commitment to Zero-Emission Transportation
The signed LOI demonstrates both companies’ commitment to decarbonizing transportation:
- Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been producing battery-electric trucks since 2021
- The company is currently conducting customer-oriented practical testing of hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks
- karldischinger logistikdienstleister is already operating an eActros 300 Lowliner in its fleet
- The freight forwarder has experience with hybrid technology dating back to 1995
- In 1995, they tested the Atego BlueTec Hybrid 1222L in Freiburg
Christian Wilz, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO Germany, expressed his pleasure in the continued partnership. He also highlighted the joint commitment to zero-emission vehicles. Jürgen Distl, Head of Operations, emphasized the importance of karldischinger logistikdienstleister’s reliability and innovative spirit. He noted their role as a carrier for transportation at Mercedes-Benz plants since 1995.
Emission-Free Inbound Logistics and Electrification of Supply Chains
Mercedes-Benz Trucks aims to achieve locally emission-free inbound logistics for its Wörth assembly plant by the end of 2026. Around 20 eActros 300 trucks are currently in use for delivery transport. The company is also working on electrifying the inbound traffic of its other German plants. These plants are located in Kassel, Mannheim, and Gaggenau.
Karlhubert Dischinger, shareholder of karldischinger logistikdienstleister, reflected on the company’s growth and transition. The company has evolved from a pure transport company to a highly specialized logistics service provider. The company now employs around 1,100 people across its locations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, and Croatia. It also trains approximately 150 young people in 15 professions.
As the companies look towards the future of goods transport, karldischinger logistikdienstleister has installed a 300 kW charging station. The station is for its eActros 300. The company is also exploring electric solutions for trailers. These solutions include e-trailers with electrically powered cooling units and recuperation axles.
The 100-year partnership between Mercedes-Benz Trucks and karldischinger logistikdienstleister showcases their shared commitment. This commitment is to innovation, reliability, and sustainable transportation solutions.
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