Logistics in Thuringia

Logistics and trading companies primarily prefer fast connections to European markets by land and air. Thuringia is particularly compelling in this regard, thanks to its optimal transport infrastructure for time-saving freight handling.

Modern roads and highways

In recent years, companies such as BLG LOGISTICS, Rhenus, and Axthelm + Zufall have opened new distribution centers, primarily along the five major highways. This demonstrates that the country has developed into a hub for transport between Eastern and Western Europe.

• A4 (Paris) – Frankfurt/Main – Dresden – (Prague/Warsaw/Krakow)
• A9 (Scandinavia) - Berlin - Munich - (Italy)
• A38 (Brussels/Ruhr area) – Göttingen – Halle/Leipzig – Dresden – (Prague)
• A71 (Hamburg/Magdeburg) – Erfurt – Stuttgart – (Switzerland)
• A73 (Hamburg/Magdeburg) – Erfurt – Nuremberg – (Munich/Vienna)

Express air freight shipping

The Erfurt-Weimar Airport Erfurt serves as a hub for international air freight. TNT Express handles shipments from all over Germany at its own air-and-road hub for onward transport by air or truck. Since May 2008, TNT Express has also operated its own customs clearance facility in Erfurt. DB Schenker offers daily air freight connections to major destination airports worldwide.

Regional airports: Leipzig-Altenburg Airport, Eisenach-Kindel Airfield
Nearby cargo airports: Frankfurt Airport, Leipzig/Halle Airport

Dense rail network

Thuringia boasts the densest rail network in Europe, with one of the most important European transport routes for passengers and freight running through it: the Paris - Frankfurt/Main - Berlin - Warsaw - Moscow line. Relative to its size and population, Thuringia has the densest rail network in Europe. Currently, approximately 1,550 km of track are in operation.

ICE hub Erfurt

Erfurt Central Station is a hub for ICE trains in all directions. Berlin and Dresden can be reached in under two hours, Frankfurt in two hours and ten minutes. Munich is accessible in two hours and fifteen minutes via the ICE Sprinter. All parts of Thuringia are optimally connected to Erfurt's ICE station and rail hubs in neighboring states via express regional trains.

State-of-the-art logistics centers

Freight Village (GVZ) Thuringia

With an area of ​​approximately 340 hectares, the Thuringian Freight Village (GVZ Thüringen) is one of the largest and most modern freight villages in Germany. Located just outside Erfurt, it has direct access to the A4 and A71 motorways. A rail terminal ensures rapid freight handling. Currently, over 60 companies are based at the site, including IKEA, Media Markt/Saturn, and Zalando with their logistics centers.

International Logistics Center Erfurt

The International Logistics Center Erfurt (ILZ) is currently being developed into a 70-hectare facility for companies handling freight across Europe. For example, Panasonic's logistics operations are managed here on 60,000 m², and the wine specialist Mack&Schühle, along with its logistics partner Berger Contract Logistics, operates Germany's largest wine rack. The area has direct access to the A71 motorway. The airport and the Thuringian Freight Village (GVZ Thüringen) are reachable within 10 minutes.

Thuringia employs numerous highly motivated professionals in the logistics sector. This is ensured not only by businesses offering apprenticeships in all relevant professions, but also by private and public universities that train logistics specialists.

Selected study programs

• Traffic and Transport, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Railway Engineering, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Applied Computer Science, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Material Flow and Logistics, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Sustainable Mobility and Logistics, Erfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Business Administration, specialization in Logistics, Gera-Eisenach University of Cooperative Education
• Logistics Management, IUBH Dual Studies, Erfurt
• Technician qualification in the field of traffic engineering, FachSchool for Construction, Economics and Transport Gotha

Logistics Network Thuringia

Companies from business, education and research have joined forces in Logistics Network Thuringia The network combines expertise in marketing, skilled labor recruitment, innovation, cooperation, and logistics services. Its goal is to promote the further development of an innovative and future-proof logistics hub.

Zeitfracht Medien GmbH
Zeitfracht Medien GmbH dominates the B2B and B2C book logistics market with a market share of over 45% in the wholesale book trade and supplies around 7,000 retailers. With over 750,000 titles in its portfolio, the company enables fast, overnight delivery six days a week through its own network. Zeitfracht is also the market leader in the publishing distribution segment with a market share of over 20% and cooperates with renowned publishers.

Schenker Germany
The leading German provider of integrated logistics operates a large logistics terminal at the Erfurt interchange, covering more than 38,500 m², and distributes general cargo, partial loads, and full loads from here to all regions of Europe. With a robust business model, DB Schenker is well-positioned to meet the demands of customers in increasingly integrated international markets and the growing volume of goods.

Zalando
Together with the investor Goodman, Zalando built its first in-house logistics center in Erfurt. After a construction phase of just ten months, test operations began in August 2012. With a storage area of ​​120,000 m², the center is the largest warehouse for shoes and fashion in all of Europe.

XXXLutz
The Austrian furniture retailer XXXLutz has chosen the Erfurter Kreuz industrial park as the location for its new e-commerce center. The approximately 25-hectare site houses a state-of-the-art warehouse as well as office and training facilities. Once fully operational, 400 employees will ensure fast and reliable delivery to online customers. The location of the group's new headquarters is ideal: situated in the heart of Germany, with excellent transport infrastructure and outstanding connections to the..
large logistics partners.

Other selected companies:

• Amazon Germany Transport, Erfurt
• AXHELM + ZUFALL International Freight Forwarding, Nohra
• Aldi logistics center, Nohra and Langenwetzendorf
• Berger Logistik GmbH, Erfurt
• BLG LOGISTICS GROUPEisenach, Erfurt, Kölleda, etc.
• Dachser, Logistics Center Ichtershausen
• Deutsche Post DHLErfurt, Nohra, Gera, Suhl, etc.
• Fiege Mega Center Erfurt, Nesse-Apfelstädt
• Geis Euro Cargo, Industrial Service, Ohrdruf and Tanna
• HAVI LogisticsDistribution center Central Germany, leather trousers
• Hermes Fulfillment, Logistics Center, Ohrdruf
• LDZ Logistics Service Centers Thuringia, Straußfurt
• LIDL, Logistics Center Gera
• NORMA Logistics Center Central Germany, Erfurt
• Raben Trans European Germany, Eisenach
• redcoon Logistics, Logistics Center Erfurt
• REWE Market, logistics center Neudietendorf
• Rhenus, Hörselgau, Eisenach, Gotha and others.
• SPS Germany GmbH, Waltershausen
• UPS United Parcel Service Germany, Gera and Ichtershausen