Axel spent 8 years managing transport operations for a 9-figure European manufacturer, then 4 years as Commercial Director at a global forwarder. He now shares insights from both shipper and carrier sides, and enjoys the occasional piña colada.
Your logistics director just called with news that stops you cold: January 2025 saw a spike in freight offers on the Trans.eu platform, with volume increasing on 14 of 16 key lanes. On some routes, the month-over-month growth exceeded 100%. But when you ask about carrier availability, the answer
European shippers are about to face a massive decision. Only 17% of companies report being fully automated, while over one-third still rely heavily on manual processes according to Descartes' 9th Annual Global Transportation Management Benchmark Survey of more than 600 companies. Meanwhile, their AI-powered competitors are pulling ahead at
European manufacturers face an unprecedented transport challenge entering 2025. January 2025 saw a spike in freight offers on the Trans.eu platform, with volume increasing on 14 of 16 key lanes. On some routes, the month-over-month growth exceeded 100%. But carrier activity moved in the opposite direction - dropping both
The most significant TMS vendor consolidation wave in over a decade is reshaping European procurement decisions right now. WiseTech's acquisition of E2open in 2025, Descartes' purchase of 3GTMS for $115 million in March 2025, and Körber's transformation of MercuryGate into Infios following their 2024 acquisition
Last quarter's board meeting should have been a wake-up call. Your CFO presented the annual transport spend analysis: €2.4 million flowing through carriers, yet basic reports showed only cost breakdowns and on-time percentages. When pressed for strategic insights about carrier optimization, route efficiency, or cost levers, the
LTL shipping is experiencing unprecedented growth across Europe, with international LTL shipping dominating the market with over 67% share in 2024 and LTL consignments advancing at a 3.49% CAGR between 2025 and 2030. This shift represents a fundamental change in how European manufacturers and retailers structure their supply chains.
Last month, a German automotive parts manufacturer discovered they'd been overpaying carriers by €127,000 monthly. The culprit? Their TMS reporting system dutifully tracked every expense but missed the cost drivers hiding in plain sight. The Analytics & Reporting Platforms segment is projected to grow at the fastest
Last month, Knights of Old (KNP) Logistics Group collapsed entirely after a ransomware attack that began with a single weak password. The 158-year-old UK firm couldn't meet the £5-6 million ransom demand, forcing 700 employees out of work and disabling 500 trucks. The attackers encrypted everything—including backups
The numbers are already in. No further adjustments are expected in Q4 2025, though major changes are anticipated for 2026. Europe's driver shortage is projected to triple by 2026 if no action is taken, while road freight rates continue to rise and are now outpacing inflation, with toll
By September 2025, European shippers face a reality check. The Commission plans to adopt the remaining eFTI implementing specifications. These will provide detailed functional and technical requirements for the IT systems and services to be used by businesses (eFTI platforms and eFTI service providers) and the rules for their certification.
The 92.7% modal share held by road and maritime transport in 2023, with rail at just 5.5%, reveals the scale of challenge European shippers face. Your TMS wasn't built for this shift. EU's Fit for 55 targets and the expanding ETS to road transport
European manufacturers facing €20M+ annual transport budgets know the drill: every board meeting brings the same question about AI-powered TMS investments. You've heard the promises. AI systems now achieve 98% forecasting accuracy and reduce supply chain errors by 20-50%. The European artificial intelligence market alone reached €53.03