History
cargo-partner has been an integral part of the international transport industry for four decades. Founded in 1983 as an air freight specialist in Vienna, we soon began our expansion to other markets and transport modes and took large steps in information technology and sustainable logistics solutions.
1983 – 1993: From airfreight to integrated logistics concepts
Founded in 1983, we started out as an air freight specialist in Vienna, but soon realized that the market was also demanding efficient sea freight solutions and comprehensive logistics concepts. We began to expand our expertise and service portfolio and were soon providing integrated air and sea cargo solutions, supported by a growing network of trucking partners.
1993 – 2000: A strong start in Europe
From 1993 on, cargo-partner began to strategically grow its presence in Europe, starting with key locations in Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest, followed by other major cities in Eastern Europe. As the European Union expanded to include more Eastern European countries, we further extended our reach to Western European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.
2000: Pioneering info-logistics with SPOT
We ushered in the new millennium by introducing the SPOT Visibility & Collaboration Platform to help our customers to simplify and streamline their transport and supply chain management. Information logistics would soon become the defining cornerstone of our organization as we followed the rapid evolution of digitalization and remained at the forefront of technological innovation.
2001: First establishments in the USA
In 2001, we opened our first US branch office in New York. Ten years later, we set up a branch in Chicago which quickly turned into our main hub for all our business in the Midwest. Since then, we have opened several additional offices and warehouses across the United States to offer maximum coverage.
2004: Expansion to Asia, the continent of the 21st century
In 2004, cargo-partner expanded into Asia, recognizing the region’s pivotal role in 21st-century trade. Beginning with an office in Taiwan, we quickly extended our presence to mainland China, India, Thailand, and Singapore. Today, we operate in numerous Asian countries, embracing local cultures while upholding our core values.
2006: Reinforcing our strong focus on environmentally sound logistics
In 2006, we founded the organization “Environmental cargo-partners” to reinforce our belief in ecologically sustainable logistics and initiate practical steps to promote the further development of innovative technologies for the reduction of hazardous substances. We invest in innovation because we see it as the best way to achieve a lasting positive impact. In an industry where it is customary to delay such research into new technologies, we strive to inspire others to follow our lead.
2018: Establishing contract logistics as third main pillar
In 2018, we began to solidify contract logistics as the third main pillar of our service portfolio, alongside air and sea freight. By expanding our global warehouse network and logistics capabilities, we now offer comprehensive services in key hubs across Europe, Asia, and the USA. Through strategic partnerships in road transport and parcel services, we deliver tailor-made warehousing solutions that ensure maximum efficiency for our clients' international logistics operations.
2020-2024: Growth amid new challenges
In 2020, we demonstrated our agility in response to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and devised innovative transport solutions to meet the unique demands of our customers, facilitating time-critical shipments for the healthcare industry and other essential sectors. Moreover, we achieved a significant milestone by surpassing the billion-euro turnover mark for the first time in our history.
The past several years have also marked a period of expansion and strategic acquisitions. We opened our first locations in Australia and made strategic acquisitions in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to fortify our position as a key player in the international transport and logistics arena.
2024: Joining forces with Nippon Express
On January 4, 2024, we proudly announced our integration into the esteemed Nippon Express Group, a leading Japanese transport and logistics provider with over 70,000 employees worldwide.
The strategic alliance with the Nippon Express Group offers a range of advantages, from expanded global office coverage to a diversified service portfolio. By combining forces, we and the Nippon Express Group aim to leverage our respective strengths, including enhanced regional expertise and advanced IT capabilities. Notably, our robust network in Central and Eastern Europe will synergize seamlessly with the Nippon Express Group’s extensive reach in the Intra-Asian and Trans-Pacific trade routes.
We continue to remain at the forefront of progress in terms of our global expansion, our variety of industry-specific logistics solutions, our innovations for sustainable logistics, and our state-of-the-art IT systems. We sincerely thank our customers and partners for making our success story possible, and we assure you that we will continue to provide exceptional service in accordance with the values that unite our worldwide cargo-partner family:
we take it personally,
serving our customers better than others
with a passion for excellence!