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As the umbrella organisation at national level, the DSLV represents the multimodal interests of German freight forwarding and logistics companies through 15 regional associations. With a total workforce of 600,000 and an annual sector turnover of 123 billion euros, these companies form a significant part of Germany’s third-largest economic sector (as at October 2025).
The DSLV’s membership base ranges from global logistics groups to owner-managed freight forwarding firms with their own lorry fleets, as well as charterers of inland waterway vessels and railways, right through to specialists in sea freight, air freight, customs and warehousing.
Freight forwarders strengthen the functional links between all modes of transport. The DSLV’s policy is therefore largely shaped by the freight forwarder’s cross-modal organisational and coordinating role.
The DSLV acts as a political voice and central point of contact for the Federal Government, the institutions of the Bundestag and Bundesrat, and all relevant federal ministries and authorities in the legislative and implementation processes, insofar as logistics and freight transport are concerned.
Together with its regional associations, the DSLV acts as an adviser and service provider for freight forwarding and logistics companies. The regional associations represent the sector as employers’ organisations and social partners in regional collective bargaining matters.
The DSLV is a member of the European Association for Freight Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations (FIATA), as well as an associate member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU). Through these international networks, the DSLV influences the development of EU law and international agreements within the UN, the WTO, the WCO and others.
The companies organised under the umbrella of the DSLV are committed to the objectives of the social market economy and the European Union.