The German groupage forwarders have once again recorded rising process costs in the first half of 2025 – despite falling fuel prices. This is according to the current Cost Index of the Federal Association for Freight Forwarding and Logistics, published on September 8, 2025. Accordingly, the shipment-related process costs rose by 0.8 percent between January and June.
Decline in shipment volumes
According to the association, the development of shipment volumes is particularly problematic. Compared with the same period last year, the system networks recorded a decline of 3.2 percent.
“The increasingly persistent decline in shipment volume is reducing the utilization rate in
transport and in the handling facilities and is forcing the reduction of fixed-cost blocks,” said DSLV CEO Frank Huster.
The companies have already responded by reducing short-haul routes. However, a reduction of core staff would hardly be feasible, Huster said. If the economy recovers, the labor market for qualified professionals will hardly have the capacity to spare.
Fuel cheaper, personnel more expensive
During the reporting period, fuel was indeed cheaper, but costs for personnel, tolls and non-personnel expenses rose. While fuel prices fell by 6.4 percent, toll costs rose by 3.5 percent. In addition, personnel costs rose by 2.1 percent and non-personnel
costs by 0.5 percent. Taken together, personnel and non-personnel costs account for around 83 percent of the total process costs for a general cargo shipment (LTL).
Without the fluctuating items tolls and fuel, which are accounted for by so-called floaters, the overall cost index for the first six months would have shown a gain of 1.5 percent.
Pallets as an additional cost factor
The pallet exchange also weighs more on the companies. According to the association, process costs for handling used pallets rose by 2.3 percent, and for new pallets by 3.4 percent. The basis for the calculation is the year 2022.
Outlook
The industry expects further financial pressure to come. Huster pointed to investments in alternative drive concepts and charging infrastructures that companies are planning for the coming years. In addition, the minimum wage increase effective from 2026 will further raise costs.
“The industry is therefore urgently waiting for relief and an effective economic policy,” said the association.
Basis of the survey
For the cost index, the consulting company FORLOGIC analyzed data from 13 general cargo networks and system logisticians. They operate a total of 128 depots and move 19.9 million shipments annually. The DSLV has published the index this year for the
