Rhenus closes location in Pleidelsheim: 40 employees lost their jobs!

Rhenus closes location in Pleidelsheim: 40 employees lost their jobs!

Rhenus Logistics has announced the closure of its logistics location in Pleidelsheim. This affects around 40 employees who are now faced with the challenge of having to reorient themselves. The reason for this difficult decision is the high costs and the acute driver shortage that is affecting the entire industry. This shortage, which saw a shortage of at least 70,000 truck drivers in Germany in 2023, has worsened since the previous year and is preventing many companies from exploiting their growth potential, as Transportlogistic reports.

The trend towards closing the Pleidelsheim location is not isolated. Last year, Rhenus closed a logistics location in Bavaria, which resulted in 460 layoffs. Markus Kaiser von Rhenus emphasizes that there is no alternative to the decision to close the site. “Despite extensive adjustments to the corporate structure, we see no other way out,” explains Kaiser.

Economic framework conditions

The general economic market situation and rising energy prices are putting a strain on Rhenus and many other companies in the logistics industry. According to the analysis by TAWI, companies also face other challenges that affect their efficiency: labor shortages, infrastructure overload and increasing demands for environmental sustainability.

The closing of the gap in the workforce is primarily due to several factors: an aging workforce, declining interest among younger generations in becoming a truck driver, and the economic impact of the pandemic. The forecasts indicate that this situation will continue to worsen in the coming years, presenting the industry with major challenges.

Impact on the industry

The closure of the Rhenus location in Pleidelsheim is not only a direct consequence of internal company policy, but also part of a larger trend in the logistics industry, which is suffering from a chronic shortage of drivers. Current bottlenecks not only lead to rising delivery costs, but also to increasing time pressure for companies. Dirk Engelhardt from BGL warns of impending conditions like those in Great Britain, where the shortage has already led to significant disruptions in freight traffic.

The persistently high demand for cargo space is offset by a significantly reduced supply, which further exacerbates the situation. The challenges in the field of logistics require innovative solutions and an adaptation of existing infrastructures in order to meet new requirements.

Despite the difficult situation, Rhenus is examining whether alternative employment offers within the group can be made to some of the affected employees. The logistics service provider is considered one of the leading players in the industry, with over 39,000 employees and more than 1,100 locations in over 60 countries worldwide.

Finally, it should be noted that the loss of the Rhenus location in Pleidelsheim is a clear sign of the current and future challenges of the logistics industry. Joint action and innovative approaches are required to secure the future of the industry.