Oliver Arnold with Co-Managing Director Heike Fuchs. | Photo: Julia Fofanova
Oliver Arnold with Co-Managing Director Heike Fuchs. | Photo: Julia Fofanova
2025-07-18

Arnold Schwerlast GmbH, based in Rimpar near Würzburg, looks back on 80 years of company history. The family business has evolved over several generations from a traditional transport company to an internationally operating specialist in project logistics and heavy cargo transport. Today, management is in the hands of Oliver Arnold, the grandson of founder Ernst Arnold.

Transformation from Haulage Company to Project Logistics Expert

Founded immediately after World War II with the purchase of a truck, Ernst Arnold initially transported goods such as charcoal and sugar beets. In the following decades, as the company's chronicle tells, it continuously developed under family management—from a pure transport service provider to a supplier of complex logistics solutions. The once extensive fleet with several hundred vehicles has now been completely replaced by expertise

and digital office infrastructure.

International Project Business and Heavy Cargo Logistics

Today, the company reports that the 20-person team consists of specialists in international logistics projects. Their services range from route analysis to packaging and interim storage and the complete coordination of transport by land, sea, and air. Additionally, Arnold also handles crane and assembly operations, customs clearance, and document management. Among the references the company is particularly proud of is the transport of 50 straddle carriers, each weighing around 105 tons and standing 17 meters high, from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul and the delivery of cyclotrons with individual weights of 200 tons to Japan.

Awards and International Presence

Arnold Schwerlast has been awarded multiple times for their services. These include the Bavarian Export Prize from the Bavarian Ministry

of Economic Affairs (2010), inclusion in the publication "The Best of German Mittelstand" (2015), membership in the Logistics Alliance Germany (2017), and most recently, the "Employer of the Future" seal from the German Innovation Institute (2024). To optimally position itself for international projects, the company has opened locations in Hamburg, New York, Salzburg, and Bratislava.

New Leadership and Current Challenges

For the past three years, management has been broadened alongside Oliver Arnold. Heike Fuchs, who has been with the company for over 20 years, and Volker Lenzing, who brings international management experience, strengthen the leadership team. The company is responding to challenges such as volatile geopolitical conditions, complex supply chains, and the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. Well-trained specialists in project logistics and multimodal disposition are particularly sought after.

Ongoing Major Projects

The company is currently managing two extensive projects: On one hand, Arnold is handling all transport and crane services for the construction of the new Stern Bridge in Hamburg, a 108-meter-long and 21-meter-high tied-arch bridge with a total volume of around 125 million euros. On the other hand, the service provider is responsible for the special transport of several hundred tons of components from Kyiv (Ukraine) to Finland. The project requires high flexibility and logistical precision given the challenging geopolitical situation.

Digitalization and Future Prospects

In the coming years, Arnold is focusing on further growth through digitalization, optimization of internal processes, and expansion of its international activities. Despite current uncertainties in the market environment, the company sees potential in developing customized solutions for complex logistics projects.