# Palletways Closes German Less-than-Truckload Network – 24plus Takes Over Operations **Category:** Companies | **Source:** VerkehrsRundschau – Palletways schliesst Deutschland-Geschäft im Stückgutmarkt | **Published:** 2026-09-15 | **Updated:** 2026-09-16 **Tags:** Palletways, 24plus, Stückgut, Deutschland, Spedition, Palettenverkehr, Kooperation, Zustellung, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Schienentransport > Palletways is discontinuing its German less-than-truckload network. 24plus will take over Germany operations going forward. Freight forwarders and shippers should review their current shipments. --- Palletways is closing its own less-than-truckload network in Germany. The network was launched in 2011 and is set to end effective September 28, 2026. Michael Sterk, Managing Director of Palletways Germany, confirmed this decision to Verkehrsrundschau. He did not provide reasons for the decision. This means the end of cooperation in the German Palletways network for approximately 60 forwarding and distribution partners. However, this does not mean that all of them will lose their shipments or that 24plus will automatically take them over. Many delivery areas are already occupied at 24plus. Its Managing Director Paul Walter therefore expects approximately ten to twelve additional partners. It is not yet clear exactly who will join. Palletways is not completely disappearing from German traffic. In future, 24plus will take over German handling for the European Palletways network. Conversely, Palletways partners in Europe will operate for 24plus. Palletways intends to focus more strongly on pallets across national borders. In practice, a clean handover now counts. According to 24plus, freight forwarders can process their shipments via the Palletways platform on a transitional basis until at least the end of 2026. A connection to 24plus's system should enable the exchange of shipment data. Nevertheless, dispatchers should clarify for ongoing and newly booked shipments who picks up, who delivers, and what transit time is guaranteed. Swiss shippers may also be affected if their goods are picked up, distributed, or transported further to Europe via German partners. Whether something changes for a specific route must be confirmed by the commissioned freight forwarder. General statements about longer transit times or higher costs would be premature at this time. --- In dispatch, I would first filter out shipments with German Palletways pre-carriage or German delivery. Then contact the current partner: Does the pickup remain the same? Who takes over the delivery from September 28th onwards? Do the agreed transit times and prices continue to apply? Shippers should pay particular attention to fixed delivery times. A change of partner may require new delivery routes. This can cost time and money; however, this has not yet been proven for individual routes. In short: Shipments don't automatically go nowhere, but the German transport route now needs to be reviewed. --- Palletways launched its German network in 2011. The closure of its own German less-than-truckload (LTL) network is scheduled to take effect on September 28, 2026. Michael Sterk confirmed the decision to Verkehrsrundschau. Approximately 60 former forwarding and distribution partners are affected. 24plus is to assume Germany handling for the European Palletways network in the future. According to Managing Director Paul Walter, 24plus currently has around 70 partner freight forwarders in Germany. Walter expects approximately ten to twelve additional partners; the recruitment process is not yet complete. The Palletways platform is to remain usable on a transitional basis at least until the end of 2026. Waterland announced on March 4, 2026 the acquisition of a majority stake in Palletways. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Glossary - [Freight forwarding](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarding-2) - [Pallet](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pallet) - [Shipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipment) - [Freight forwarder](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarder) - [Freight forwarding](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarding-3) - [piece goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/piece-goods) - [Supply Chain](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/supply-chain) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Processing](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/processing) - [delivery](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/delivery-2) - [Pre-carriage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pre-carriage) - [Pallet freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pallet-freight) - [Freight forwarding cooperation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarding-cooperation) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/palletways-schliesst-deutsches-stueckgutnetz-24plus-uebernimmt-abwicklung-20260915190628](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/palletways-schliesst-deutsches-stueckgutnetz-24plus-uebernimmt-abwicklung-20260915190628)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/palletways-schliesst-deutsches-stueckgutnetz-24plus-uebernimmt-abwicklung-20260915190628](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/palletways-schliesst-deutsches-stueckgutnetz-24plus-uebernimmt-abwicklung-20260915190628)*