BGL condemns threat of price dumping by Mercedes-Benz

The Federal Association of Freight Transport, Logistics and Disposal (BGL) e.V. reacts indignantly to the demand of the passenger car division of Mercedes-Benz AG. The automobile manufacturer informed its transport service providers at the beginning of this year that it expects a cost reduction of all transport contracts by 10% (total freight rate) effective from 01.02.2025. Corresponding offers are expected from the carriers by 23.01.2025.

(Berlin) The industry association of medium-sized transport and logistics companies, BGL, and its state associations make it unequivocally clear that this approach lacks any legitimacy. The shortcomings of the automotive industry must not be cross-financed at the expense of the transport sector. The German economy and the German middle class will not be revitalized through dumping competition.

Undignified for a premium brand

BGL board spokesman Prof. Dr. Dirk Engelhardt expresses what German medium-sized companies think: “The automotive industry lobbied for a doubling of the truck toll with the government just a year ago and successfully implemented it. This has increased the operating costs of each individual truck by about 20,000 euros per year, and that with already only average margins in road freight transport of 0.1 to around 2%. And today, our medium-sized companies are supposed to pick up the pieces for a failed policy of the automotive industry and offer ruinous freight rates. Those who cannot comply because otherwise a cost-covering operation is not possible will likely lose the contract to Eastern European low-cost providers who often employ their drivers at starvation wages well below the minimum wage. This form of dumping competition is undignified for a German premium brand like Mercedes-Benz.” From the perspective of BGL and its state organizations, such demands should be reconsidered and revised as soon as possible.

Threat of disappearance of domestic medium-sized transport companies

Engelhardt further states: With this demand at this point in time, the shift to Eastern European dumping competition is pre-programmed, and it is only a matter of time before we experience a Gräfenhausen 2.0, coupled with the disappearance of domestic medium-sized transport companies.

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