Apprenticeship at DACHSER: Growing together
by Melanie Guggenberger I photos by Frauke Schumann I 8 minute read
23/10/2026
Training at DACHSER means much more than just imparting technical knowledge. Personal guidance, dialogue on an equal footing, and shared experiences lay the foundation for young people to take on responsibility and develop within the company over the long term. The company’s own MESSAGE! event brings this approach to life and brings together trainees from various German branches every year.
At the most recent meeting in September in Unna, nearly 120 trainees gathered to network and demonstrate their skills through various challenges. The event kicked off with a surprise visit to the German Soccer Museum in Dortmund. An interactive scavenger hunt required team spirit, communication, and strategic thinking—skills that also play a key role in day-to-day logistics operations. The following day at the Unna Logistics Center, the program featured collaborative hands-on tasks, such as the traditional truck-pulling challenge. Participants worked together across locations, strengthening their professional network within the company.
Direct dialogue with CEO Burkhard Eling was also a central focus. In an open “Ask Me Anything” session, he answered the young professionals’ questions about his daily work, the company’s development, and current topics in the logistics industry. “I haven’t given a speech at a ‘MESSAGE!’ event in a long time. Instead, I’m moderating an open Q&A session. Once again, I was impressed by my young colleagues’ curiosity and insightful observations,” says the CEO. The MESSAGE! Event takes place every year at three different DACHSER locations across Germany, bringing together trainees from nearby branches.
The success of our business depends largely on the people who take on responsibility day after day and deliver reliable service to our customers.
Nurturing Talent, Shaping the Future
DACHSER’s consistent investment in developing its own young talent is also evident in the start of the 2026 apprenticeship program: 684 apprentices, 33 dual-track students, and three trainees began their careers at DACHSER in Germany this year. The Germany-wide apprenticeship rate has remained steady at around ten percent for years.
“The success of our business is largely based on the people who take on responsibility day after day and deliver reliable service to our customers,” says Burkhard Eling. “That will not change, even in a world marked by increasing digitalization, automation, and the use of artificial intelligence. This makes it all the more important to train young talent and retain them for the long term.”
apprentices across Germany began their careers at DACHSER—along with 33 dual-track students and three trainees in 2026.
DACHSER offers its trainees a wide range of development opportunities.
From the class of 2025, DACHSER in Germany hired 263 apprentices and 16 dual-track students. Experience from recent years shows that many former apprentices, dual-track students, and trainees continue to advance their careers within the company. “DACHSER offers them a wide range of development opportunities—from professional specialization and international experience to taking on technical and leadership responsibilities early on,” says Natachia Antonis, Corporate Director of Human Resources.
Across all cohorts, DACHSER currently employs approximately 1,800 apprentices throughout Germany. Worldwide, around 2,400 young people are completing an apprenticeship, a dual study program, or a trainee program at the family-owned company.
