135 years ago, Gottfried Schenker and two partners founded a small company with the –at that time– revolutionary idea of grouping small shipments to provide quicker and cheaper transport. Today, DB Schenker is a large global platform with more than 20,000 employees that still follows the same basic principles: an extensive network that combines different types of transport and the latest technology to provide a more efficient and reliable integral logistics service.Since Gottfried Schenker founded the company in Vienna 135 years ago, DB Schenker has offered carriage services as a single provider.
1872 Gottfried Schenker founds Schenker & Co. in Vienna, Austria. |
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1873 First consolidated rail shipment from Paris (France) to Vienna (Austria). | ||
1874
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1880 Acquisition of an equity holding in the river transport company Adria-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft. | ||
1895 Schenker founds the company Austro-Americana Shipping. |
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1901 Gottfried Schenker dies in Vienna and he is succeeded by his adopted son, August Schenker-Angerer. | ||
1918 After the First World War, Schenker focuses its business on express delivery services, regional goods carriage, removals and services for trade fairs. | ||
1922 First air freight to Germany. 1924. The German export industry attends a demonstration tour organised by Schenker. 1928. After purchasing BEHALA, Schenker moves its corporate headquarters to Berlin. |
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1931 The German railway company buys Schenker. The first containerised ocean freight shipments are made. | ||
1945 The company starts to rebuild after expropriation and the loss of a large number of branches after the Second World War. | ![]() | |
1947 Schenker opens a subsidiary in the USA. Large-scale expansion abroad and in air freight. | ||
1966 A subsidiary is formed in Hong Kong to supervise the Asian market. | ||
1972 Schenker is appointed official transport provider for the Munich Olympic Games. The registered brand names JETcargo, SEAcargo and Eurocargo are created for air, sea, rail and land transport. |
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1989 The company implements the SWORD (Schenker's Online Real-Time Data Network) and EDIFACT standards. | ||
1991 Stinnes AG buys most of Schenker's shares from Deutsche Bundesbahn, the German railway company, and splits the business into Schenker International (air and ocean freight) and Schenker Eurocargo (European land transport). 1996. Stinnes' air, ocean and land transport, logistics and harbour services are brought together under the Schenker-Rhenus AG umbrella. |
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1997 Schenker's 125th anniversary. The company positions itself by grouping its businesses in three main areas: Schenker Logistics, Schenker International and Schenker Eurocargo. With the acquisition of an interest in the Swedish Goteborg-based company BTL-AB, Schenker becomes Europe's leading transport and logistics provider. | ||
1998 Schenker and BTL's transport operations in Europe are coordinated under the name Schenker-BTL. | ![]() | |
1999 Purchase of the rest of BTL-AB's equity. Schenker Australia is appointed Official Transport Provider for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Strategic alliance between Schenker and Seino. | ||
2000 Integrated Logistics Centre opened in Rotterdam. Schenker, Inc. chosen for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Schenker and Deutsche Bahn form the joint venture Railogservices for rail logistics services. |
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2001 Schenker-BTL AG and Schenker International Deutschland GmbH merge to form Schenker Deutschland AG. | ||
2002 Schenker celebrates its 130th anniversary. Schenker and Seino merge their logistics and international transport activities in Japan to form Schenker-Seino Ltd. The Narita Integrated Logistics Centre is opened in Tokyo. Schenker acquires a controlling interest in Stinnes. | ![]() | |
2003 Schenker is appointed Official Transport and Customs Services Provider by the IOC for the Athens 2004, Turin 2006 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Integration of Schenker and Joyau in France. | ||
2004 With the integration of Schenker and Spedpol, Schenker becomes one of the leaders of the integrated logistics industry in Poland. The new Chinese subsidiary obtains the "A-Class" license to operate in the emerging Asian market. | ![]() | |
2005 | ||
2006 DB Logistics implements a new structure. Acquisition of BAX Global. | ![]() | |
2007 DB Logistics implements a new structure. Acquisition of Spain-Tir. | ||
2008 Merger of Europa GmbH, J.R. Weichelt GmbH, Mair Spedition & Logistik GMBH, F.W. Neukirch Speditions GmbH, Railog GmbH and Roll GmbH. | ![]() | |
2012 The merger between SCHENKER ESPAÑA, S.A.U. and SPAIN-TIR TRANSPORTES INTERNACIONALES, S.A.U. leads to the new corporate name in Spain: SCHENKER LOGISTICS, S.A.U. | ||
2016 DB SCHENKER becomes the only and ultimate brand for the company’s activities in Spain and all over the World: a warranty of success for our customers. |