The German Federal Statistical Office forecasts an increase of 28.8 million metric tons in freight volumes in Germany by 2026. Will the infrastructure be able to handle this?

Freight transport looks very different around the world. Yet supply chains connect countries and continents, which is why international exchange helps us researchers compare approaches, challenge assumptions, and develop better solutions. There is much we can learn from each other.

We don’t need an ideologically driven modal shift. According to the German Department of Transport, freight transport should be open to all types of technology and modes of transport as well as environmentally friendly and cost-effective. But what if a majority of the loading units cannot be handled by cranes?

Most of us are familiar with Caparol’s colourful elephant, but behind an internationally successful brand lie complex value-added and supply networks that must be planned, managed, and continuously developed.

Our roads are already full. Every day, millions of cars and trucks share the same busy infrastructure. More trucks mean more congestion, higher accident risks, and more pressure on road infrastructure that is already in need of frequent maintenance.

Did you know that freight transport in Germany is expected to grow by 28.8 million tonnes in 2026?

Rail freight transport is set to play a much greater role in the future—especially as transportation becomes more sustainable. Yet, particularly in single-car transport, many processes remain complex, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. Surely there’s room for improvement, right?

What’s the best way to understand logistics? Watching it unfold in real life. This semester, our students are exploring how data-driven approaches can support real-world logistics decisions: from terminal design and capacity planning to data quality, routing, and coordination across transport modes.

Did you know that in freight transport, knowing that a train will be delayed can be almost as valuable as having it arrive on time? Of course, nobody wants delays. However, in daily operations, the biggest problem is often not the delay itself but uncertainty around it.