Schenker tracking

Global transport and logistics subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn

Schenker is one of the world's leading providers of transport and logistics services, based in Essen, Germany. A subsidiary of the Deutsche Bahn group and often referred to under the DB Schenker brand, the company capitalizes on more than a century of experience to offer a comprehensive range of solutions covering the entire supply chain. It has a vast international network that enables it to meet the needs of customers in many sectors around the world.

Schenker - History and Global Expansion of the Carrier

Founded in 1872 by Gottfried Schenker in Vienna, Austria, the company began its activity by specializing in rail freight transport. From the early years, Gottfried Schenker introduced the principle of consolidation: he combined several small batches of goods into a single rail shipment, reducing transport costs and opening the international market to more shippers. In its early days, Schenker mainly organized the transportation of cargo by rail, allowing it to quickly expand in Europe and gain a solid reputation in the logistics sector.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in response to changing market needs, Schenker expanded its services by integrating air and sea freight transport. The company then experienced rapid growth and built a vast network of offices and warehouses across Europe and other continents. Its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction played a key role in its development, enabling it to adapt its offerings to market changes and technological advancements.

During the second half of the 20th century, Schenker continued its expansion and diversification. The company acquired several transport and logistics companies, thus extending its geographical reach and expanding its service portfolio. This growth was also supported by strategic partnerships and collaborations, strengthening Schenker's capabilities in different regions of the world (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, etc.) and allowing it to serve an ever-wider range of industries.

In the early 2000s, Schenker became part of Deutsche Bahn, the German railway company. This merger, formalized in 2002 by the acquisition of Schenker by Deutsche Bahn, resulted in the creation of the DB Schenker brand, which encompasses the group's international logistics activities. It strengthened Schenker's position in the global market while offering new synergies with the European rail network.

Today, Schenker stands as one of the world leaders in integrated logistics solutions. With a network established on all continents, the company offers a global range from international freight transport to supply chain management. This leading position allows it to serve a wide variety of industrial sectors around the world.

Main Activities and Logistics Services Offered

Over time, Schenker has developed a comprehensive range of logistics services to meet the varied needs of its clientele. Its activities cover all modes of transport and include numerous value-added services, forming an end-to-end integrated offering. Ranging from simple parcel shipping to outsourced management of an entire company's logistics, Schenker covers a wide range of services. Among the main services offered by Schenker are:

• Air freight: Schenker's specialized division organizes the transport of goods by air. Relying on a vast global network of partner airlines, freight platforms, and dedicated handling infrastructures, the company ensures fast and reliable international shipments of urgent consignments. It also offers dedicated charter flights for special or urgent cargo, providing tailor-made solutions by air when needed.
• Sea freight: Schenker also manages the shipment of goods by sea. Through close partnerships with major shipping companies, the company offers container transport solutions suitable for both full container loads (FCL) and less than container loads (LCL). This mode of shipment ensures flexibility and cost savings for transporting large non-urgent volumes worldwide. Schenker handles port formalities and cargo consolidation, ensuring complete sea freight management from origin to destination.
• Land transport: this activity covers road and rail transport solutions. Schenker has a large fleet of trucks and trailers and also operates rail services to transport goods. These land means ensure efficient door-to-door deliveries, over short or long distances, guaranteeing reliable deadlines and shipment security. In Europe in particular, Schenker operates a dense road network with daily connections between major economic centers.
• Contract logistics: Schenker offers personalized logistics management services on behalf of its clients (so-called contract logistics). This includes warehousing of goods, order preparation, distribution, and inventory management. By optimizing these processes, this activity aims to increase the efficiency and profitability of clients' supply chains. For example, the company can manage light assembly of components, packaging, or labeling of products before shipment, according to the needs agreed with the client.
• Supply chain management: Schenker offers expertise in global supply chain management. Its dedicated team ensures visibility and control of every step, from product origin to final delivery. Relying on advanced technologies and its know-how, the company helps clients streamline their end-to-end logistics flows and significantly improve their operational performance. Schenker also offers consulting services to optimize supply chains and provides advanced IT tools (data analysis, performance indicators) to improve demand forecasting and flow planning.

In addition to these main areas, Schenker also offers value-added services such as customs clearance (handling customs formalities), shipment insurance, or solutions specifically adapted to e-commerce. These additional services complement the offering to provide comprehensive and tailor-made logistics support, covering all client needs (for example, inventory and shipment management for online orders).

Geographical Presence and Sectors Served

With its global reach, Schenker is present in almost all regions of the globe. The company has more than 2000 logistics locations in a large number of countries, including major markets such as Germany, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and Mexico, to name just a few. This extensive geographical coverage allows Schenker to organize end-to-end international shipments, relying on solid local infrastructures and an in-depth knowledge of regional transport networks.

Schenker also operates major logistics sorting centers on key international trade routes. These strategic transit platforms allow for the consolidation of shipments from different regions and the efficient redistribution of goods to their final destination, while ensuring optimized connections between sea, air, and land transport.

Thanks to this international presence and the diversity of its services, Schenker serves a wide range of industries. Among the main sectors of activity of its clientele are the automotive industry (supply management and distribution for manufacturers and equipment suppliers), the healthcare and life sciences sector (secure transport of pharmaceutical and medical products), high technology and electronics (logistics of IT equipment and specialized components), as well as retail and mass distribution (store supply and delivery to consumers). Many other sectors (from aerospace to agri-food) also call on Schenker's services for their specific logistics needs.

Schenker Tracking Number

A Schenker tracking number is a unique reference composed of a series of letters and numbers. Its precise format may vary depending on the shipping service or country of origin, but generally, it consists of between 11 and 20 characters. For example, an international shipment handled by Schenker may be identified by a code such as SB123456789DE. In this reference, the prefix "SB" indicates the carrier code for Schenker, the series of numbers 123456789 corresponds to a specific shipment number, and the suffix "DE" indicates that the destination of the shipment is Germany.

This tracking number allows the tracing of a package at each stage of its transit. By entering this code on the Schenker website or via a dedicated tracking platform, the sender or recipient obtains real-time updates on the location of the shipment and its status. The tracking system thus displays successive statuses (for example in transit, in customs, out for delivery, etc.) corresponding to the different stages crossed by the shipment. Each of these updates provides information on the progress of the transport (initial pickup, intermediate transfer, customs clearance, delivery setup, etc.). Thanks to this visibility, clients can anticipate the receipt of their goods and ensure that they arrive safely. Online tracking thus constitutes an essential tool for transparency and reliability in shipment management.

Delivery Methods

To adapt to the constraints of each shipment, Schenker offers several shipping methods with differentiated service levels. From economical standard transport to urgent express delivery, through specialized freight solutions, each option corresponds to specific logistics needs.

• Standard delivery: this is the most common and generally the most economical shipping option. It offers a reliable solution for sending goods, with a delivery time that varies depending on the distance to be covered and the accessibility of the destination. This formula is suitable for regular shipments that are not subject to strict time constraints.
• Express delivery: this formula is intended for urgent shipments requiring very short transit times. Schenker offers an accelerated service guaranteeing delivery within a defined timeframe, which can range from the day after the package is picked up to just a few days, depending on the distance and route. For the most critical shipments, a dedicated transport (for example, a vehicle chartered solely for the package) can be set up to ensure minimal delay.
• Freight services: for large or heavy cargo, Schenker offers adapted freight solutions. These may involve full truckload (FTL) or less than truckload (LTL) shipments transported mainly by road, sometimes requiring specialized equipment or handling. These freight services allow for the efficient transport of large goods that could not transit via standard shipping networks.
• Air transport: for long-distance shipments requiring very fast delivery, Schenker offers a service by air. Thanks to its network of airline partners, this mode of shipment allows for crossing borders in a reduced time, ensuring the express transport of urgent goods to their destination.
• Sea transport: for very large shipments or less urgent goods that need to cross oceans, Schenker offers shipping solutions by sea. Although slower, sea freight allows for the transport of large volumes at a lower cost over long international distances, with options for full container or groupage.
• Value-added services: in addition to transport, Schenker can provide complementary logistics services as needed. For example, the company handles customs formalities, offers insurance for valuable shipments, provides personalized shipment tracking, or organizes temporary storage and final distribution of goods. These additional options simplify the management of complex shipments by providing a complete solution to the client.

By choosing from these different delivery methods, shippers can prioritize speed (with express or air) or opt for classic solutions suitable for less urgent shipments. Schenker's modular offering thus allows for a tailor-made solution for each logistics need.

Internal Logistics Processes

Schenker places great importance on the efficiency of its internal logistics processes to ensure optimal transport of goods. Each shipment is handled from its origin by operational teams, who coordinate collection, sorting, and preparation for shipment. The company has specialized handling facilities to process cargo (notably in its airport sorting centers for air freight) as well as a network of modern warehouses to temporarily store products if necessary. Storage, order preparation, and distribution operations are streamlined to ensure a smooth flow of goods from the point of origin to the final recipient.

On the technological front, Schenker invests in advanced IT systems for real-time tracking and management of its operations. These digital tools offer complete visibility over the supply chain and facilitate coordination between different teams and modes of transport. For example, the same shipment can successively travel by road, pass through a warehouse, and then be transported by air: Schenker's internal systems ensure the efficient transmission of information and service continuity from one mode to another. Additionally, regulatory formalities such as customs clearance are integrated into the process, reducing delays at borders and ensuring compliance with international shipments. This rigorous internal organization and the transversality between its services contribute to a high level of reliability and punctuality in the delivery of goods.

The group also ensures quality and safety throughout the logistics chain. Strict handling protocols are applied, particularly for fragile or sensitive goods. Schenker ensures the maintenance of the cold chain for pharmaceutical or perishable products and strictly complies with international regulations for the transport of hazardous materials. These measures guarantee the integrity of goods and the safety of operations at every stage.

The modernization of facilities also involves the automation of certain logistics tasks. Schenker deploys, in its large warehouses, robotic equipment and automated sorting systems to speed up order preparation and reduce the risk of error. These innovations help improve the productivity and reliability of its internal operations.

Aware of the environmental impact of transport, Schenker also strives to reduce the ecological footprint of its activities. Route optimization (to limit empty distances traveled), increased use of rail transport for long distances, the use of low-emission vehicles for urban distribution, and investment in alternative fuels are part of the initiatives deployed to reduce CO2 emissions. Through such actions, the company is committed to sustainable logistics and ultimately aims for carbon neutrality in its operations.

Common Tracking Statuses