According to current market analyses, the German market for courier, express, and parcel logistics is set to grow by 7.4 percent annually starting in 2025. The main causes are same-day requirements, digitized production chains, and rising expectations for delivery times. This development presents many companies with the strategic decision of whether classical general cargo transports will continue to suffice or whether express solutions will become necessary.
Limitations of the general cargo system
According to the Hamburg-based logistics company Zipmend Express, general cargo transports are still suitable for plannable and
standardized deliveries. However, once shipments are time-critical or sensitive, this system reaches its limits. General cargo forwarders are primarily geared toward cost efficiency, not short response times. Drivers have very little time at pickup and delivery. If after five to ten minutes no one accepts the delivery, they continue on, explained managing director Timm Trede.
Direct transports without transshipment
As an alternative, the company describes express logistics. In this case, a shipment is transported directly from sender to recipient without transshipment or interim storage. A vehicle is exclusively dedicated
to a single order. This method shortens transit times, reduces the risk of damage, and enables more precise planning for urgent deliveries.
Transit times and cost structure
The duration of an express transport depends on the distance. According to Zipmend Express, lead times for Europe-wide transports typically range between three and 24 hours after commissioning. Thus express logistics is the fastest form of road transport and the only one that reliably operates outside fixed system times.
Costs also differ markedly from classic general cargo transports. An express delivery starts,
according to the company, in the low three-digit range and depends on distance, vehicle size, and weight. While general cargo solutions may appear cheaper at first glance, downstream costs due to production downtime, contractual penalties, or event delays can quickly offset profitability.
Speed as a strategic factor
According to Zipmend Express, the decision for or against express logistics is increasingly becoming a strategic question. Not speed alone is decisive, but ensuring smooth operations in production and service delivery. Express services are deployed where outages or delays have immediate economic
