Our own fleet, new technologies, and the path to practical, sustainable logistics

May 18, 2026 by the TRANSCO Team

Today, supply chains must not only function effectively, but also be flexible, cost-efficient, and increasingly sustainable. This is precisely why the transportation industry is evolving rapidly. New propulsion technologies, digital systems, and growing demands for transparency are significantly transforming the industry.

We rely on a deliberate mix of a strategic in-house fleet combined with selected third-party capacities to enable a high degree of flexibility in day-to-day operations while maintaining control over quality, availability, and technical development.

Having our own fleet of vehicles means, above all, predictability and direct control. With our own vehicles and drivers, we can manage transportation flexibly, respond quickly to changes, and drive technical advancements ourselves. At the same time, having our own resources creates greater stability in our day-to-day operations.

This is a particularly important factor when it comes to international shipments, time-sensitive deliveries, or complex customer requirements.

Nevertheless, we do not rely solely on our own resources. We also collaborate with partner networks and, when necessary, draw on external resources. This creates a combination of scalability and operational control that provides our customers with reliable capacity, fast response times, and a high degree of planning certainty.

Driver training is a key component of our strategy. We deliberately rely on our own drivers while also investing in the training of new skilled workers. The increasing technological sophistication of modern commercial vehicles makes training more important today than ever before. Modern trucks have long been highly complex technical systems, and their economical and safe operation requires trained personnel.

The discussion about alternative powertrains is often very one-sided. In practice, however, it quickly becomes clear that different transportation needs require different technologies. That is why we have deliberately opted for a mix of diesel, LNG, and battery-electric vehicles.

LNG vehicles have been part of our fleet for several years now. They offer a comparatively long range—especially on long-haul routes—while reducing CO₂ and noise emissions, making them an important bridging technology in road freight transport.

We do not take a dogmatic approach. Instead, we continuously explore new technologies, test vehicles from various manufacturers, and analyze which solutions actually work in everyday use.

What matters most are not just manufacturer specifications or ranges on paper, but real-world operating conditions: How reliable is the technology? How high are maintenance costs? What ranges are achievable under real-world loads? How well can a vehicle be integrated into existing routes? These questions play a central role in investment decisions.

The fleet is continuously being developed—both technologically and in terms of efficiency and sustainability.

However, the transition to electric mobility was not without its challenges. Especially in the beginning, technical failure rates were high. In some cases, vehicles spent more time in the shop than on the road. At the same time, the company first had to gain experience and adapt its processes.

The infrastructure also presented us with new challenges. “Pulling a vehicle into the yard and charging it sounds simple, but it requires some groundwork,” explains Gerhard Reger, fleet manager at TRANSCO in Singen. Since late 2024, we’ve had our own charging station with a total capacity of 300 kW at our yard in Singen.

“Before commissioning, grid capacities had to be checked, charging infrastructure set up, and technical prerequisites established. You have to verify whether regional energy providers can even supply the electricity on a permanent basis, whether the transformer delivers the necessary power, and what conditions need to be met. The charging infrastructure was very costly and required thorough preparation,” says Reger. It is precisely this infrastructure investment that clearly distinguishes electric mobility from traditional diesel concepts.

In addition to the technology, driver acceptance also played an important role. At the beginning, there was certainly skepticism toward the new vehicles. That is why we made a targeted investment in training.”

Today, the situation has changed significantly. The vehicles are running smoothly, and drivers now view electric trucks as a normal part of the fleet.

In addition to new propulsion technologies, digitalization is also playing an increasingly important role in the transportation industry. With the introduction of Webfleet and modern telemetry systems, vehicle data is now analyzed in much greater detail than it was just a few years ago.

These systems provide information on driving behavior, energy consumption, routes, downtime, and vehicle condition. This makes it possible to plan routes more efficiently, reduce empty runs, and optimize fuel consumption.

This creates significant added value, particularly in the field of green logistics. After all, sustainable transportation means not only alternative powertrains but also more efficient processes. Optimized routes save time, reduce detours, and lower energy and fuel consumption. Additionally, this creates greater transparency—both internally and for customers.

Digital vehicle data also helps plan the deployment of battery-electric vehicles more economically. Range, charging windows, and routes can be managed with significantly greater precision.

For us, sustainability is not just about reducing emissions. Sustainable logistics must always take environmental, economic, and social factors into account simultaneously. Not every technology automatically meets all these requirements equally well.

Battery-electric vehicles, for example, offer clear environmental advantages: no local CO₂ emissions and significantly lower noise pollution for residents and pedestrians. At the same time, however, investment costs, infrastructure requirements, range, and cost-effectiveness also play an important role.

That is why we continue to see the future in an intelligent mix of propulsion systems.

“Diesel will always be around. LNG is also an important topic for us. Electric mobility is here to stay—I’m convinced of that. Whether battery-electric or, looking ahead, fuel cell-based: for certain applications, this is a very good solution,” says Gerhard Reger.

Hydrogen also remains a relevant topic for the future. Currently, however, we still see challenges in terms of infrastructure, availability, and cost-effectiveness. According to Reger, hydrogen has potential. But availability and vehicle prices will still be difficult to justify economically in the coming years. At the same time, we continue to invest in modern vehicles, infrastructure, driver training, and the expansion of our electric fleet.