Build a German delivery network that still works in city ten.
Hub geography, fleet mix, 3PL and courier partner selection, and the subcontractor compliance that decides whether your cost model holds.
German last-mile economics are decided before the first route runs.
The Schwarzarbeitsbekämpfungsgesetz and liability for subcontractor wages make courier structure a board-level risk, not a procurement detail. Enforcement in CEP is active.
Drive-times, depot rents, and Umweltzonen vary sharply between German cities. A hub plan drawn on national averages produces routes that never reach target density.
Municipal zero-emission requirements and charging access shape vehicle choice years ahead. Committing a diesel fleet in 2026 narrows which cities you can serve in 2029.
What a last-mile engagement delivers.
A network you can cost, staff, and defend — with the compliance structure and partner shortlist needed to run it from day one.
- CEP network and route density model
- Micro-hub and depot siting analysis
- 3PL and courier partner shortlist
- Subcontractor compliance structure
- Courier employment model options
- Zero-emission fleet transition plan
- Cost-per-drop and unit economics
- City launch sequencing
From volume forecast to an operating network.
Volume read
Demand density, drop profile, and service promise translated into route requirements.
Network design
Hub siting, fleet mix, and depot density modelled on real German geography.
Partner & compliance
3PL shortlist, courier structure, and the labour-compliance framework around it.
Launch support
Site setup, partner contracting, and performance management through ramp-up.
We have worked inside last-mile operations across marketplace, grocery, and courier models, and our work on DODO's German market entry has been covered by LOGISTRA and e-commerce Magazin.
Questions delivery operators ask us.
Should we build our own fleet or use a 3PL?
For most entrants the first city is 3PL-led and the second is hybrid. We model both against your drop density, service promise, and capital position rather than assuming either.
How exposed are we to subcontractor liability?
Under German law you can be liable for your subcontractors' minimum-wage and social-security obligations. We review your intended structure and design the contracting and audit framework around it.
Which city should we launch in?
Rarely Berlin by default. Drop density, depot cost, labour availability, and competitive saturation decide it — we rank candidate cities as part of the network work.
Do you work with us during ramp-up?
Yes. Most engagements continue through site setup, partner contracting, and the first operating quarter.
Planning a German delivery operation? Let's model the network.
Book a ConsultationOr call +49 174 311 77 68 — direct line, no call centre.