karldischinger has been driving Mercedes-Benz trucks for 100 years

Mercedes-Benz Trucks and the company karldischinger logistics service provider are celebrating a very special anniversary. For 100 years, Mercedes-Benz trucks have been successfully and reliably in use at the company from Ehrenkirchen near Freiburg im Breisgau. Currently, the company’s own, nearly homogeneous Mercedes-Benz truck fleet consists of around 120 vehicles from the Actros and Atego series. To ensure that the wheels keep turning, the logistics service provider has concluded full-service contracts for the vehicles with Mercedes-Benz CharterWay.

(Leinfelden-Echterdingen/Ehrenkirchen) On the occasion of the anniversary, the partners mark another significant milestone in the history of their collaboration and sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) that includes the delivery of 100 zero-emission trucks within the next five years. Depending on the application and development progress, these may include both battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks. In the decarbonization of transport, the Daimler Truck Group relies on battery-electric and hydrogen-based drives. While battery-electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz have been in series production since 2021, hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks are currently undergoing customer-oriented practical testing.

Christian Wilz, Chairman of the Management Board Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO Germany: “The successful partnership between Mercedes-Benz Trucks and the company karldischinger logistics service provider describes a long-standing and very good business relationship characterized by high appreciation and trust. Therefore, I am very pleased that the company karldischinger logistics service provider will continue to rely on electric trucks from our house and that we have jointly signed a Letter of Intent for 100 zero-emission vehicles.”

On the way to emission-free inbound logistics for the Wörth plant

Together with its logistics partners, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has set the goal of achieving locally emission-free inbound logistics for the assembly plant in Wörth by the end of 2026. Currently, around 20 eActros 300 are already in use for delivery traffic to Wörth am Rhein – soon including an eActros 300 Lowliner from the logistics company karldischinger logistics service provider. In parallel, the company is also working on the electrification of inbound logistics for the other German plants in the Mercedes-Benz Trucks production network, Kassel, Mannheim, and Gaggenau.

Jürgen Distl, Head of Operations Mercedes-Benz Trucks, also emphasizes the importance of the long and successful collaboration: “For a century, the name karldischinger has stood for reliability and innovation in the transport industry. The company has been active as a freight forwarder for transports to our plants since 1995, and they have managed to establish themselves as one of the most reliable partners in our network. I am also very pleased that karldischinger logistics service provider will soon use eActros trucks in our inbound logistics, thereby making an important contribution to the electrification of our supply chains.”

Karlhubert Dischinger, partner of karldischinger logistics service provider, recalls his start at the helm of the forwarding company: “When I took over the family business in 1975 in the 4th generation, I set myself the goal of doubling the fleet from 10 to 20 trucks. This goal was achieved relatively quickly, so we set further goals – such as the transition from a pure transport company to a highly specialized logistics service provider. As we significantly expanded our logistics activities in this process, the fleet currently accounts for only about 20 percent of revenue. However, since our customers and we place great value on safety and reliability, our own fleet still plays a significant role. We underscore this commitment to trucks with our now signed Letter of Intent for 100 climate-friendly trucks. The fleet must be modern and efficient, which is why the average age of the vehicles is only two years.”

karldischinger logistics service provider has been a regional forwarder for almost three decades

A very special quality of collaboration between the two companies has existed for about three decades: In 1995, karldischinger logistics service provider became the regional forwarder. The logistics service provider is now the partner of Daimler Truck for the Black Forest and the entire Rhine valley, including Saarland and parts of the Palatinate, for southern Baden-Württemberg and the Frankfurt am Main area.

“As a Badener, we are proud that our first truck comes from Baden,” says Karlhubert Dischinger. In 1924, his grandfather, Karl Dischinger, purchased his first “Benz delivery vehicle” from the then Benz works in Gaggenau – the oldest truck factory in the world. Two years later, the Daimler Motor Company and Benz & Cie. merged to form Daimler-Benz AG. In 1927, the diesel engine began its triumph after Robert Bosch brought his injection pump to series production. “We have experienced all innovations in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks – from the long-nose to the front-steering, from wood gasifiers to diesel and now to electric trucks,” reports Karlhubert Dischinger. His company, which has been led by his son Karlkristian Dischinger since 2016, has always placed great value on ergonomics, comfort, and safety in the fleet.

Preparations for the next era of goods transport have also begun in southern Baden: A fixed charging station with 300 kW power is ready when the eActros 300 starts practical operations in inbound logistics these days. karldischinger logistics service provider is also looking at the towed unit in the transition to zero emissions, alongside the towing vehicle. An initial E-Trailer for fresh logistics is in operation, with the cooling unit being electrically powered. A recuperation axle generates the necessary energy.

First experiences with e-mobility: City logistics with the Atego BlueTec Hybrid

The logistics service provider gained its first experiences with electric drive in trucks almost three decades ago. As early as 1995, karldischinger logistics service provider tested the Atego BlueTec Hybrid 1222L in practice on the roads around Freiburg. The four-cylinder diesel engine Om 924 with 160 kW was combined with a water-cooled electric motor with a peak output of 44 kW. Due to the heavy battery pack, the 15-ton truck had only 2.8 tons of payload. Nevertheless, the vehicle played a key role in connection with low-emission city deliveries. Together with other stakeholders, the family business established a city logistics concept for Freiburg to bundle goods through cooperation on the last mile and thus relieve the city of traffic and emissions. The hybrid vehicle was in practical use at karldischinger logistics service provider for almost a decade.

Photo: © Mercedes-Benz / Image caption: Joint efforts for the drive transition (l. to r.): Oliver Berger, Manager Transport Network at Daimler Truck, Jürgen Distl, Head of Operations Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Karlkristian Dischinger, Managing Director at karldischinger logistics service provider, Volker Speck, COO Economic Area Southern Baden at Kestenholz Group, Karlhubert Dischinger, partner at karldischinger logistics service provider, Stephan Kestenholz, Chairman of the Board at Kestenholz Automotive Holding, Christian Wilz, Chairman of the Management Board Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO Germany, and Thomas Kestenholz, CEO of Kestenholz Group. The Kestenholz Group is a partner and dealer of Mercedes-Benz Trucks.