VTL Annual Meeting Focused on the Theme: “All about Strategy”

At the annual system meeting of VTL Vernetzte-Transport-Logistik GmbH in Cologne, shareholders, partners, and representatives of the system headquarters gathered to discuss the past business year and the future of the general cargo cooperation. The networking event provided space for new ideas and exciting discussions. In addition to the presentation of the VTL Partner Awards, those celebrating anniversaries for 10, 20, and 25 years of VTL partnership were honored.

(Fulda) At the VTL information event with the thematic focus “all about strategy,” the management provided insights into the operational development of the past business year. Topics discussed included the upcoming toll increase, the current quality in the network, and the results of the quality circles conducted in October.

Three outstanding partners were honored during the traditional VTL Partner Award ceremony for their quality and growth enhancement. The award in the category “Best Quality National” went to BTG Internationale Spedition from Frankfurt a.M. Claassen Logistics from the Netherlands was awarded for the second consecutive time in the category “Best Quality International.” The depot from Handewitt, Christian Carstensen, received the award for the “Largest Growth National.”

Honoring 25 Years of Membership

Another highlight was the honoring of those celebrating anniversaries for 10, 20, and 25 years of VTL partnership. The companies Kockel (Soest), Arco Spedizioni (Monza/Italy), R-T-Logistik (Lübesse), and G.S.L. Trans (Geraberg) have been part of the CargoFamily for 10 years. The partner Petersen & Bileck (Buchholz) has remained loyal to VTL for 20 years. And in line with the 25th anniversary of the VTL cooperation, partners who have been with the VTL general cargo cooperation since its inception were also celebrated. VTL Managing Director Johanna Broese praised the solidarity in the network since the first transshipment night in 1998 and thanked the partners for their long-standing loyalty and high reliability. Among the partners and thus also shareholders from the very beginning are Spedition Auch (Annaburg), Spedition Bergmann (Wuppertal), Spedition Hintzen Logistik (Eschweiler), Schenkelberg Logistik (Ebernhahn), Otto Briem Spedition (Filderstadt), Garbe Transport (Hamburg), Bauer & Mayer (Lützen), Ludwig Häberle Logistik (Schwäbisch Gmünd), Kurt Rothschild Logistik (Ulmen), Fuldaer Speditionsgesellschaft (Fulda), and reimer logistics (Bremen).

25 years of VTL partnership, (from left to right): Johanna Broese (VTL), Hans-Peter Häberle (Ludwig Häberle Logistik), Herbert Rothschild (Kurt Rothschild Logistik), Srdana Deranja (Otto Briem Spedition), Heinz Hintzen (Hintzen Logistik)

In the second part of the event, the best practice partner Emons Spedition GmbH & Co. KG presented its new strategic area Emons | DIGITAL and illustrated with current examples how the company secures the future viability of Emons, its employees, and customers in the digital age, transforming the company into a digital, innovative, and seamless logistics service provider.

Strategy expert Christian Marnetté from the consulting company TransCare GmbH then conveyed to the attending management representatives in his keynote speech the long-term added values that sustainable strategy development brings for all stakeholders and how these can be implemented in SME structures in the logistics industry.

Thoughts on the Future in Group Workshops

In the subsequent group workshop, participants had the opportunity to discuss the future of VTL in a practical and solution-oriented manner, incorporating forward-looking topics and ideas. In the concluding expert discussion between TransCare representative Marnetté and VTL Managing Director Broese, the challenges and opportunities for the future path of VTL were analyzed. “In this development process, it is important for us to deal critically and transparently with our strengths and weaknesses. A careful analysis, taking into account opportunities and risks, has helped us develop a future-oriented strategy plan. Together with our strong partners, we will further develop the VTL network and continue to be an important player in the general cargo market in the future,” summarizes Broese.

Photos: © VTL