In a strategic move to sharpen its focus on core global logistics services, C.H. Robinson announced today it has reached an agreement to sell its European Surface Transportation business to Berlin-based digital freight platform sennder.
The transaction marks a pivotal step in C.H. Robinson's "Simplify, Accelerate, Focus" strategy while accelerating sennder's ambition to digitize Europe's fragmented trucking market. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Strategic Refocus for C.H. Robinson
The Minneapolis-based logistics giant emphasized the divestiture represents not a retreat from Europe but a deliberate reallocation of resources toward its strongest competitive advantages in global freight forwarding and North American truck brokerage.
"In today's dynamic supply chain environment, we must remain agile to market shifts," said Dave Bozeman, C.H. Robinson's President and CEO. "This transaction allows us to concentrate investments where we differentiate best—delivering sophisticated global logistics solutions through our scale, technology and expertise."
The company will maintain its European air and ocean freight operations, along with key account management services. The EST division being sold handles full truckload and less-than-truckload movements across the continent.
Sennder's Digital Expansion
For sennder, the acquisition represents a quantum leap in scale for its digital freight matching platform. Founded in 2015, the German startup has raised over $300 million from investors including Baillie Gifford and Accel to modernize Europe's $400 billion road freight market.
"This accelerates our roadmap by years," said sennder CEO David Nothacker. "EST brings established customer relationships and operational expertise that perfectly complement our technology."
The combined operation will leverage sennder's AI-powered platform to optimize routes, reduce empty miles and improve transparency for shippers and carriers alike. The deal follows sennder's 2021 purchase of Uber Freight's European business.
Industry Transformation
The transaction underscores broader trends reshaping logistics:
Digital Disruption: Traditional brokers face pressure from tech-enabled platforms promising greater efficiency through automation and data analytics.
Strategic Focus: Asset-light logistics providers are pruning non-core operations to concentrate resources amid economic uncertainty.
Sustainability Push: Digital freight matching can significantly reduce carbon emissions by optimizing truck utilization.
The deal, expected to close in Q4 pending regulatory approval, will transfer EST's operations and staff to sennder while C.H. Robinson continues serving European clients through its remaining businesses.
Market Implications
Analysts suggest the move reflects C.H. Robinson's response to competitive pressures in the European road freight sector, where profit margins have compressed amid price wars and rising costs. Meanwhile, sennder gains critical mass in its quest to consolidate Europe's highly fragmented trucking market.
The transaction follows similar strategic divestitures by global logistics providers seeking to optimize capital allocation. Recent years have seen DSV sell its Danish domestic operations and XPO Logistics spin off its European transport business.
For shippers, the evolution promises greater transparency and efficiency through digital platforms, though some industry veterans caution that human expertise remains essential for complex logistics challenges.