Germany: Brummer Logistik receives twelve eActros 600

Brummer Logistik is a major transport player in the German-Austrian food logistics market. The company, which has recently become part of Dachser, uses around 300 of its own refrigerated trucks to transport temperature-sensitive foodstuffs. Since December, Brummer has sent electric trucks on the road for the first time: a dozen Mercedes-Benz eActros 600s.

Things are moving fast at Brummer Logistik: In 2024, the Bavarian family business was acquired by logistics giant Dachser. At the same time, Brummer took a major step towards electric mobility, with twelve long-haul electric trucks arriving at its site in Neuburg am Inn in December. The company is among the first to take delivery of the new Mercedes eActros 600, which entered production in November.

Electric trucks in food logistics? Brummer believes it’s possible. Managing Director Max Reih explains that the refrigerated trailers will continue to use diesel-powered cooling units while in transit. Although tests with fully electric refrigerated trailers—already underway in Dachser’s network—are planned for this year, Brummer’s priority is establishing smooth operations with its electric trucks first. “We want to deploy e-trucks primarily on medium-distance routes, covering up to 600 kilometres per round trip, including en-route charging,” says Reih. The company is currently using the same charging points on each journey to ensure compatibility with infrastructure. While the eActros 600 is mainly intended for regional distribution, Brummer also considers it viable for longer routes, such as Hamburg, which is currently served by diesel trucks.

Brummer is also expanding its charging infrastructure. The company operates eleven 400 kW HPC chargers and two mobile units at its German headquarters. Initially, each electric truck has a dedicated charging point, though this may change as the fleet grows.

Meanwhile, Dachser continues to expand its own EV strategy. The logistics group, which now fully manages Brummer’s operations, is strengthening its European food transport network. Dachser has focused primarily on urban EV deployment, rolling out its zero-emission delivery zone concept in 16 cities. Recently, the company added its 100th electric truck to its fleet—a 16-tonne Volvo FL Electric with a refrigerated body, now operating in Hamburg and the surrounding region.

However, Dachser is also gaining experience with electric trucks on medium- and long-haul routes. Since 2023, it has operated a Volvo FH Electric with two swap bodies on a 180-kilometre route in the Czech Republic. As part of its electric truck expansion, Dachser plans to deploy an additional 14 eActros 600 trucks across six of its sites, following the initial batch delivered to Brummer.

“The deployment of the first eActros 600 in the DACHSER network is another milestone for us in the transition to zero-emission drives,” adds Alexander Tonn, COO Road Logistics at DACHSER. “More and more battery-electric tractor units are now coming onto the market for heavy-duty transport, and the ranges are also increasing. As an impulse generator in the field of sustainability, it is important for us to put these vehicles into practical use quickly in order to gain further experience with electromobility, especially in long-distance transport.”

dachser.com