Romania’s logistics and transportation sector is entering a new era. With the recent regulatory approval of DSV’s acquisition of DB Schenker, the industry is witnessing the most significant consolidation move in over a decade. The deal directly reshapes how logistics providers in Romania position themselves, scale their operations, and recalibrate strategic priorities.
The DSV-DB Schenker Merger: What It Means for Romania
Romania has long played a strategic role in connecting European and regional supply chains. Both DSV and DB Schenker operate well-established logistics networks in the country, covering a mix of warehousing, freight forwarding, and multimodal transport solutions. The merger, recently cleared by European regulators, marks the beginning of a complex integration process – one that is expected to influence service structures, client relationships, and competitive dynamics across the Romanian market.
The combined entity is expected to continue its operations in Romania across existing business lines, with integration efforts gradually aligning internal systems, client services, and logistics capabilities. This evolution prompts many local market players to reassess their positioning – some focusing on niche solutions, others investing in process automation or exploring strategic partnerships to strengthen their market role.
Competitive Pressures and Client Expectations
The new market reality pushes Romanian logistics firms to evolve. Clients, especially in the e-commerce, automotive, and FMCG sectors, expect more than just transport from their partners. They are looking for integration: from warehousing to customs brokerage to last-mile delivery – ideally backed by real-time data and ESG reporting.
While larger players have the infrastructure and resources to offer these bundled services, mid-sized companies are turning to M&A, joint ventures, or tech-based partnerships. Some are adopting leaner models, focusing on flexibility, transparency, and client proximity, capitalizing on their ability to move faster than the giants.
Operational Agility Over Legal Complexity
Although new EU and national regulations are shaping operations – especially in areas like emissions, digital freight management, and working conditions/environment – the more immediate concern in the Romanian market is commercial agility.
Legal teams now play a supporting role in strategic decision-making: reviewing commercial terms, renegotiating supplier agreements, and ensuring cross-border compliance for expanding businesses. The goal is not just legal risk mitigation, but creating operational clarity and speed in execution.
Talent, Tech, and Transformation
Labor remains a core challenge, with skilled personnel in short supply. Logistics firms are under pressure to improve working conditions and compensation models to retain talent, while also facing increased scrutiny on proper classification and cross-border employment practices.
Meanwhile, technology continues to separate the resilient from the vulnerable. Romanian logistics firms are investing in route optimization software, transport management systems, and client-facing dashboards. Legal advisors are increasingly involved in drafting and negotiating the tech and data-sharing agreements that underpin these innovations.
Compliance Challenges: RO e-Transport, e-Factura, and UIT Codes
Beyond strategic repositioning, Romanian logistics companies are also navigating increased compliance demands imposed by national fiscal authorities. The mandatory implementation of RO e-Transport and e-Factura systems, along with the requirement to generate and report UIT codes for high-risk goods, has introduced new layers of administrative complexity. While these measures aim to reduce tax evasion and improve traceability, their rollout has placed significant pressure on operational teams – particularly in managing real-time data accuracy and avoiding costly delays or penalties. Companies must now integrate IT and legal functions more tightly than ever, ensuring that digital reporting requirements are met without disrupting the physical flow of goods.
Where the Sector Is Heading
Romania’s logistics sector is growing– not just in volume but in complexity. Clients demand more, the competition is global, and the pace of change is accelerating. In this context, strategic clarity becomes a differentiator.
The DSV-DB Schenker merger is just one headline – but it serves as a wake-up call. Whether Romanian firms choose to scale, specialize, or streamline, the direction is clear: remaining static is no longer an option.
By Alex Teodorescu, Managing Partner, Teodorescu Partners
This article was originally published in Issue 12.3 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
