Mercedes-Benz Trucks and Karldischinger Logistikdienstleister are celebrating a milestone partnership spanning 100 years. Based in Ehrenkirchen near Freiburg, Karldischinger has relied on Mercedes-Benz trucks for a century. Today, its fleet of 120 Mercedes-Benz Actros and Atego trucks plays a key role in the company’s logistics operations. Karldischinger also holds full-service contracts with Mercedes-Benz CharterWay, ensuring smooth fleet management.
In celebration of this anniversary, the two companies signed a letter of intent (LOI) to deliver 100 zero-emission trucks over the next five years. These trucks, either battery-electric or hydrogen-powered, will align with Daimler Truck Group’s goal of decarbonizing transportation. Battery-electric trucks have been in production since 2021, and hydrogen-powered trucks are currently being tested.
Christian Wilz, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks & FUSO Germany, praised the partnership, highlighting the trust and cooperation between the companies. He expressed excitement about Karldischinger’s future reliance on zero-emission trucks.
The collaboration also supports Mercedes-Benz’s mission to achieve locally emission-free logistics at its Wörth plant by 2026. Currently, 20 eActros 300 trucks, including Karldischinger’s own, are in use. The initiative also aims to electrify logistics at other Daimler Truck plants in Germany.
Jürgen Distl, Head of Operations at Mercedes-Benz Trucks, emphasized Karldischinger’s long-standing reliability and contribution to the company’s production network, highlighting their role in electrifying inbound logistics.
Karlhubert Dischinger, a shareholder of Karldischinger, reflected on his journey since taking over the family business in 1975. Under his leadership, the company transitioned from a traditional transport provider to a specialized logistics service. The fleet, now 20% of the company’s revenue, remains critical to operations. The LOI for 100 climate-friendly trucks reaffirms their commitment to sustainability, with a fleet averaging only two years old.
Since 1995, Karldischinger has been a regional freight forwarder for Mercedes-Benz, serving areas like the Black Forest, the Rhine plain, and southern Baden-Württemberg. The company’s relationship with Mercedes-Benz dates back to 1924 when Karl Dischinger, the founder, purchased his first “Benz delivery van.”
Karldischinger has been an early adopter of new truck technologies, from diesel engines to electric trucks. In the coming days, an eActros 300 will begin operations in inbound logistics, supported by a 300 kW charging station. They’ve also begun using an e-trailer with an electrically powered cooling unit, a sign of their continued focus on sustainability.
Their experience with e-mobility goes back decades. In 1995, the company tested the Atego BlueTec Hybrid 1222L, contributing to the development of low-emission city logistics. The hybrid vehicle was in use for almost a decade, demonstrating Karldischinger’s long-standing commitment to greener transport solutions.
