Bonn - Am Zehnhoff-Söns International Logistic Services (Head Office)
Am Zehnhoff-Söns Group – Overseas meets Intermodal is a Bonn-based international logistics provider with a heritage spanning more than a century. Founded on a foundation of tradition and continuous innovation, the group has grown into a globally active logistics partner renowned for combining reliability, flexibility, and efficiency across the full spectrum of container logistics. With decades of experience and a relentless focus on customer needs, AZS operates as a multinational door-to-door logistics partner that integrates seafreight, airfreight, port handling, container terminal operations, intermodal transport, inland waterways, rail, trucking, warehousing, short sea trades, project cargo, and comprehensive customs services. The company emphasizes a customer-centric approach, tailoring solutions to fit each transport requirement and delivering the best, most efficient, and quickest service possible. This broad service mix makes AZS a practical and scalable option for shippers and freight forwarders seeking end-to-end supply chain control in a global context while maintaining a strong regional footprint in Europe.
AZS communicates a clear value proposition rooted in regional leadership and global reach. The organization operates trimodal and multimodal gateways that link road, rail, and waterborne transport through its Bonn and Trier terminals, supported by a network that includes additional German locations and major European hubs. This dual emphasis on regional depth and international connectivity enables AZS to offer integrated transport solutions across Europe and beyond, coordinating complex logistics tasks from origin to destination. The group positions itself as a trusted partner capable of handling standard cargo as well as complex, time-sensitive shipments, including hazardous goods where applicable, with diligent planning and execution.
A core strength of AZS lies in its intermodal capabilities. The company harnesses tri- and multimodal hubs to optimize mode-changing points and to reduce total transit times, emissions, and costs. The intermodal strategy combines trucking, rail, and inland waterway movements to deliver seamless sequences from port to inland terminals and then to final destinations. This approach is particularly advantageous for large-volume, time-critical shipments that require dependable schedules and transparent tracking across modes. The AZS network is designed to support both regional distribution within Germany and cross-border flows to neighboring European markets, reinforcing resilience and supply chain visibility across the entire route.
The service portfolio extends well beyond conventional transport. AZS offers end-to-end solutions for oversea logistics with its own air and sea freight capabilities, comprehensive customs support, and value-added services such as pre- and post- haul arrangements, track and trace, and documentation management. The company highlights its global footprint while maintaining a regional backbone that keeps operations close to customers and local markets. This balance between global scale and local responsiveness is a recurring theme in their storytelling, underscoring their capacity to manage diverse regulatory regimes, language and cultural differences, and specialized cargo requirements with a consistent standard of service.
AZS also emphasizes its people and assets as a differentiator. The group operates a sizeable fleet of approximately 150 trucks and employs more than 350 staff, a workforce that underpins their ability to execute complex logistics plans with reliability and speed. The workforce is supported by a network of facilities including Bonn as the head office and additional terminals and regional sites that enable rapid response times, flexible scheduling, and localized expertise. The combination of an experienced team, modern equipment, and strategically positioned facilities enables AZS to deliver end-to-end supply chain management that aligns with customers expectations for quality, safety, and compliance.
From a regional perspective, AZS presents a strong European footprint, anchored by its Bonn terminal and a broader set of operations across major German cities as well as key international hubs such as Rotterdam and Antwerp. The company highlights its capacity to collaborate with global partners while maintaining a Rhein‑land rooted corporate culture. The geographic spread supports a robust cross-border capability, including containerized shipments, intermodal transfers, and specialized services like heavy-lift logistics and wine transport by rail in the wine corridor markets. The AZS network is designed to facilitate smooth cargo handoffs between modes, optimize terminal handling, and deliver predictable turnarounds for customers who rely on tight schedules and just-in-time deliveries.
AZS showcases a suite of modern intermodal and logistics products designed to meet a wide range of industry needs. The intermodal logistics capability revolves around the efficient integration of road, rail, and waterborne transport, leveraging termial facilities to minimize transloading times and ensure reliable connectivity between origin and destination. The Ueberseeelogistik capabilities cover global logistics management with dedicated air and sea freight teams, as well as in-house capabilities for customs clearance, forwarding, and regulatory compliance. The warehousing component includes strategically located storage facilities in Bornheim, Bonn, and Trier that function as integrated nodes within the supply chain, providing secure storage, inventory management, cross-docking, and value-added services that support the broader logistics ecosystem.
AZS actively communicates its commitment to innovation and sustainability, aiming to deliver efficient and environmentally conscious logistics solutions. Their portfolio includes specialized services such as the Schwerlast Shuttle, a collaboration with BLG Logistics Group that targets efficient and eco-friendly transport of heavy or oversized project cargo. They also introduced AZS Rail to extend flexible and reliable rail-based freight across Germany and Europe, including container, steel train, and hazardous goods movements, with a focus on safety, efficiency, and compliance. In addition, the Weintransport by rail initiative demonstrates AZS’s capability to provide cost-effective, CO2-reduced wine logistics from Spain to Trier, featuring dedicated container configurations, on-train monitoring, and digitized tracking along the route. These innovations highlight AZS’s willingness to expand traditional freight services into specialized, value-added offerings that differentiate the company in a competitive market.
Beyond mode-specific services, AZS emphasizes a comprehensive portfolio that covers all major components of the logistics value chain. This includes port handling, container terminal operations, and the management of TEU-level cargo throughput, ensuring customers receive end-to-end visibility and operational reliability across port-to-plant corridors. The company also highlights its conventional logistics capabilities for standard shipments and complex projects, ensuring that variations in cargo size, weight, or handling requirements are met with appropriate expertise and equipment. The intermodal strategy is further reinforced by the presence of regional hubs that connect major European corridors, enabling efficient cross-border flows and a streamlined process for customers that require sustained and predictable service levels.
In terms of customer experience and information flow, AZS emphasizes a commitment to trackability, transparency, and proactive communication. The group provides digital tracking tools and regular schedule updates to help customers monitor cargo movements in real time, anticipate delays, and adjust plans as needed. The ability to combine track and trace with regulatory compliance tasks, insurance considerations, and documentation management makes AZS a practical partner for shippers who demand end-to-end control over their supply chains. The company also promotes a culture of service excellence where staff engagement, reliability, and responsiveness form the backbone of their operations, reinforcing customer trust and long-term collaboration.
AZS’s regional leadership is underscored by its statement that it operates Bonn and Trier as central nodes within its network, with other regional offices supporting local service delivery. The company frames its business as a global player with Rhein‑land roots, highlighting a philosophy that combines local attention with international reach. This orientation resonates with customers seeking a partner who can manage global shipments while maintaining a close, hands-on approach to operations in Europe. The multi-location strategy enables AZS to offer tailored solutions for complex supply chains, including project cargo that requires careful planning, route optimization, specialized equipment, and cross-functional coordination across multiple terminals and modes.
For shippers exploring freight forwarder platforms and supplier directories, AZS presents an integrated, end-to-end logistics partner with a proven track record in multimodal transport, intermodal optimization, and value-added services. The company’s emphasis on sustainability, safety, and continuous improvement aligns with modern supply chain expectations and regulatory requirements. The combination of a long-standing heritage, a diversified service mix, a robust asset base, and a multi-port, cross-border network positions AZS as a credible option for organizations seeking reliable multimodal logistics services that can scale with growth, adapt to changing market conditions, and deliver measurable efficiency gains. From the perspective of a freight exchange and rating platform, AZS’s profile suggests a strong potential for performance benchmarking across service quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, given its focus on process discipline, technology-enabled visibility, and disciplined operations across modes.
In summary, AZS embodies a comprehensive, scalable logistics partner with deep regional roots and an expanding global footprint. Its combination of traditional logistics expertise with modern intermodal capabilities, specialized services, and a digitized, customer-centric operating model makes it a compelling choice for shippers who require end-to-end supply chain control across Europe and beyond. As a Freightcue platform participant, AZS offers a robust gateway for shippers to connect, compare quotes, and review performance across multimodal logistics services, while benefiting from a partner with a long, storied history and a forward-looking approach to sustainable, efficient transportation.
