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Nov 30, 2020 at 4:48 PMWith Manfred F. Boes, one of the most well-known German freight forwarders, was able to celebrate his 80th birthday last Saturday. Manfred Boes expanded the family business into a large enterprise and was one of the pioneers of the network concept among freight forwarders. He was a co-founder of the IDS network. His association career culminated in the presidency of CLECAT and FIATA.
(Bielefeld) The Bielefeld freight forwarding entrepreneur Manfred F. Boes, honorary president of the DSLV Federal Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics, celebrated his 80th birthday on November 28, 2020. In addition to his decades of successful entrepreneurial activity, the jubilarian has made extraordinary contributions to the freight forwarding industry not only during his ten-year term as president of the federal association (1996 to 2006).
Thanks to Boes’ significant commitment, the difficult merger of the Federal Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics with the then Association of Road Freight Forwarders (VKS) was successfully completed and finalized in 2010. The assertive Westphalian has always been guided by his conviction for a robust political lobbying organization at the federal level, which represents all transport-related interests of the freight forwarding and logistics industry in a federal association with powerful state associations.
Presidency of CECLAT and FIATA
His voluntary career gained international dimensions as president of CLECAT, the European Association for Freight Forwarding, Transport, Logistics, and Customs Services (2001 to 2005), as well as president of the World Freight Forwarding Association FIATA (2005 to 2007). In these roles, he tirelessly advocated for the preservation of free trade and for international logistics without national barriers and bureaucratic requirements.
“My predecessor achieved extraordinary things for our industry by establishing sustainable structures for a powerful federal association. Our organization still benefits from this today,” notes DSLV President Axel Plaß. “On behalf of the presidency and management, I warmly congratulate Manfred F. Boes and wish him continued vitality, creativity, and stable health.”
Active in Associations Since 1981
Born in Bottrop, Boes became involved in volunteer work early on. In 1981, he was elected chairman of the Specialist Association for Freight Forwarding and Warehousing in the Association for the Transport Industry Westfalen-Lippe, now the Association for Transport Economy and Logistics North Rhine-Westphalia (VVWL) and one of the largest DSLV state associations. Boes has supported his regional logistics association, of which he is now honorary chairman, in various leading and advisory roles for more than 30 years.
From 1972 Sole Owner of Boes Freight Forwarding
His entrepreneurial success began in 1963 when he joined the family business as an authorized signatory after training as a freight forwarding merchant and various internships. In 1970, he became managing partner, and from 1972, the sole owner of the Boes Group, which at times employed over 700 people and was one of the founding members of the cooperation networks IDS, ILS, and German Parcel. Manfred F. Boes played a crucial role in the development and strategic leadership of the medium-sized networks that successfully competed with corporate logistics in the general cargo logistics and parcel transport sectors. Upon retiring from active professional life, Boes sold his company to the Danish freight forwarding company DSV.
Photo: © DLSV






