Logistics in Thuringia

Logistics and trading companies especially prefer fast connections to European markets by land and air. Thuringia particularly convinces here with its optimal transport infrastructure for time-saving cargo handling.

Modern roads and highways

In recent years, companies such as BLG LOGISTICS, Rhenus or Axthelm + Zufall have opened new distribution centers, especially along the five motorways. This is proof that the state 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 region) – 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 serves as a hub for international air freight traffic. TNT Express transships shipments from all over Germany for onward transport by plane or truck at its own air-and-road hub here. Since May 2008, TNT Express has also maintained its own customs clearance in Erfurt. DB Schenker offers a daily connection for air freight to the most important destination airports worldwide.

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

Dense rail network

Densest rail network: One of the most important European connection lines for passenger and freight traffic runs through Thuringia: the route Paris - Frankfurt/Main - Berlin - Warsaw - Moscow. In relation to its size and population, Thuringia has the densest rail network in Europe. Currently, around 1,550 km of the network are in operation.

ICE hub Erfurt

Erfurt Central Station is a hub for ICE train services in all directions. Berlin and Dresden can be reached in under two hours, Frankfurt in two hours and ten minutes. Munich can be reached with the ICE Sprinter in two hours and 15 minutes. All parts of Thuringia are optimally connected to the ICE station Erfurt and railway hubs in neighboring federal states via express local trains.

Most modern logistics centers

Freight Transport Center (GVZ) Thuringia

The GVZ Thuringia, with an area of around 340 hectares, is one of the largest and most modern freight transport centers in Germany. Located on the outskirts of Erfurt, it is directly connected to the A4 and A71 motorways. A rail terminal ensures fast freight handling. Currently, over 60 companies are based at the site, including IKEA, Media Markt/Saturn, and Zalando with their logistics centers.

Erfurt International Logistics Center

Companies are currently settling in the International Logistics Center Erfurt (ILZ) on an area of 70 hectares for Europe-wide freight handling. For example, the logistics business for Panasonic is handled here on 60,000 m², and with the wine specialist Mack&Schühle or its logistics partner Berger Contract Logistics, Germany's largest wine rack is located here. The area is directly connected to the A71. The airport and the GVZ Thuringia can be reached in 10 minutes.

In Thuringia, numerous highly motivated specialists work in the logistics industry. This is ensured not only by the economy with training opportunities in all relevant professions. Private and state universities also train logistics specialists.

Selected degree programs

• Transport 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, Logistics specialization, Gera-Eisenach University of Cooperative Education
• Logistics Management, IUBH Dual Studies, Erfurt
• Technician degree in the field of transport technology, FachSchool for Construction, Business and Transport Gotha

Logistics Network Thuringia

Companies from business, education, and research have Logistics Network Thuringia joined forces. The network bundles competencies in the areas of marketing, securing skilled workers, innovation, cooperation, and logistics services. The goal is to promote the further development of an innovative and future-oriented logistics location.

Zeitfracht Medien GmbH
Zeitfracht Medien GmbH dominates the B2B and B2C book logistics market with a wholesale book market share of over 45% 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. In the publishing distribution segment, Zeitfracht is also a market leader with over 20% market share and cooperates with renowned publishers.

Schenker Deutschland
The leading German provider of integrated logistics operates a large logistics terminal at Erfurter Kreuz on more than 38,500 m² of space, distributing less-than-truckload, partial, and full truckload shipments from here to all regions of Europe. With a robust business model, DB Schenker is prepared for the demands of customers in the increasingly interconnected international markets and the rise in goods flows.

Zalando
Together with investor Goodman, Zalando realized the construction of its own logistics center at the Erfurt location for the first time. After a construction phase of only 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 furniture retailer XXXLutz from Austria has chosen the Erfurter Kreuz industrial area for the operation of its new e-commerce center. The approximately 25-hectare site houses a state-of-the-art warehouse as well as office and training rooms. In the final expansion stage, 400 employees will supply online customers quickly and reliably. The location of the company group's new central site is ideal: located in the middle of Germany, very good transport infrastructure and excellent connections to the
major logistics partners.

Other selected companies:

• Amazon Deutschland Transport, Erfurt
• AXTHELM + ZUFALL Internationale Spedition, Nohra
• Aldi Logistics Center, Nohra and Langenwetzendorf
• Berger Logistik GmbH, Erfurt
• BLG LOGISTICS GROUP, Eisenach, Erfurt, Kölleda and others.
• Dachser, Logistics Center Ichtershausen
• Deutsche Post DHL, Erfurt, Nohra, Gera, Suhl and others.
• Fiege Mega Center Erfurt, Nesse-Apfelstädt
• Geis Euro Cargo, Industrial Service, Ohrdruf and Tanna
• HAVI Logistics, Distribution Center Central Germany, Lederhose
• Hermes Fulfillment, Logistics Center, Ohrdruf
• LDZ Logistische Dienstleistungszentren Thüringen, Straußfurt
• LIDL, Logistics Center Gera
• NORMA Logistikzentrum Mitteldeutschland, 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 Deutschland, Gera and Ichtershausen