SNCF Logistics was the division of the SNCF group responsible for freight transportation and logistics.
The division included the activities of: Geodis (and subsidiaries), general land transport and logistics; Fret SNCF the national rail freight operator as well as Captrain France (short haul freight), Captrain, (international rail freight), combining the former Fret SNCF and operations acquired from Veolia Cargo; rail vehicle leasing operations such as Ermewa, France Wagons, Akiem and Transengrais; and the automobile transportation company STVA.
SNCF Logistics was a state-owned enterprise, classified as an Établissement Public à Caractère Industriel et Commercial (EPIC). On 1 January 2020, SNCF founded Rail Logistics Europe where all its freight services were incorporated, while Geodis was separated as an independently operated subsidiary.
History In 2008, Geodis joined SNCF’s new Transport and Logistics division following a takeover by its major shareholder. That same year, on the basis of a long-term contract Geodis acquires IBM Global Logistics, IBM's global logistics flow management platform, giving rise to the Group's fifth business: Geodis Supply Chain Optimization. In 2009, Geodis continues its program of external growth with the acquisition of two of the four divisions of Giraud International: the Iron and Steel business and the Central and Eastern European Area business.
In 2012, Marie-Christine Lombard joined as chief executive officer.
In 2015, Geodis acquired OHL (Ozburn-Hessey Logistics) and enhanced its freight forwarding and contract logistics offerings in the US.
In 2021, following significant air-freight capacity shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Geodis leased an Airbus A330-300 converted freighter for Geodis Air Network. The aircraft is operated by Titan Airways and is to fly between Amsterdam, London, Chicago and Hong Kong.
Background
Calberson The origins of the logistics company Calberson date back to 1904 when Emile Calberson founded a courier business in Le Havre transferring to and on the rail network, by 1910 his company had expanded to serve the entire Paris-Rouen-Le Havre railway line. In 1925 the company incorporates, becoming the Société des Transports Rapides Calberson. In 1932 France Domicile Transport (FTD) acquires a majority share in the company, and it becomes Société Nouvelle des Transports Rapides Calberson (SNTR). In 1955 it is acquired by the SNCF road transport subsidiary Sceta. With state backing the company expanded, acquiring Schenker France in 1966, and beginning overseas operations. In 1984 the company, as Compagnie Générale Calberson (CGC) had its shares publicly offered on the Paris stock exchange.Geodis S.A. Key dates, sourced from International Directory of Company Histories, Vol.67. St. James Press, 2005., via www.fundinguniverse.com
Geodis In 1995 Calberson, along with its overseas operations, as well as the company Bourgey-Montreuil, and other non-rail freight businesses of SNCF-Sceta, were combined into Compagnie Générale Calberson which was renamed as Geodis. The Geodis group was subsequently privatised in 1996.Geodis 2003 company reportwww.benelux.geodis.com
In 1997 Tailleur Industrie was acquired, in 2000 the express delivery service Extand was sold to the UK Post Office, and had acquired the cargo operations of the Italian firm Züst Ambrosetti by the end of the year. A partnership with the German air and sea freight firm Rohde & Liesenfeld begins in 2002A Group Gaining in Size and Strength Geodis history 2001-, www.geodis.fr leading to its acquisition and incorporation into the subsidiary Geodis Wilson in 2008.Geodis Takes Over Rohde & Liesenfeld press release, www.geodiswilson.com Additionally the group begins to handle forwarding for FedEx in France in 2006 and takes over the freight management activities of TNT (formerly known as Wilson Logistics prior to TNT acquisitionGeodis Acquires the Freight Forwarding Division of TNT 16/11/06, www.geodis.ie in the same year.TNT Sells Freight Management to Geodis TNT Press release, 16/11/2006, www.geodiswilson.com The company became Geodis Wilson in 2007.TNT Freight Management becomes Geodis Wilson. 18/6/2007, via accessmylibrary.com
In April 2008 SNCF made an offer for 57% of the shares in Geodis,"France's SNCF says poised to take over Geodis", 5 April 2008, www.reuters.com (having originally had a 43% stakeSNCF To Buy The Last 57% of Geodis It Does Not Own Yet 7/4/2008, Matthieu Desiderio, en.transport-expertise.org) at 462 million euros, thus taking control of the company and effectively re-nationalising an organisation that had been privatised twelve years earlier."SNCF makes £366m bid for Geodis", 9 April 2008, www.roadtransport.com The bid was authorised by the French stock market regulator AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) in May."Geodis takeover bid from SNCF authorised by AMF", 21 May 2008 ,www.forbes.com
SNCF Geodis Following the acquisition of Geodis SNCF Geodis became the name of the corporate division of SNCF for all freight and logistics, both internal and international, including non-rail activities.
In March 2009 the Geodis take-over of IBM's Global Logistics company first announced in December 2008 was finalised.,"Geodis Deal for IBM Global Logistics Closes", 25 March 2009, logisticstoday.com additionally as part of the purchase deal of the logistics business Geodis became the sole logistics supplier for IBM with a multi-year contract.
In September 2009 Veolia Cargo was acquired by SNCF and Eurotunnel, the business units acquired by SNCF were subsequently rebranded along with other international rail freight companies in the SNCF group in February 2010 as Captrain.Captrain brand to consolidate international freight operations 12/2/2010, www.railwaygazette.com
In January 2010 the total acquisition of Ermewa (a major European wagon hire businessERMEWA Group www.ermewa.com) by SNCF Geodis via the SNCF subsidiary company Transport et Logistique Partenaires SA was cleared by the European Commission."European Commission confirms SNCF Geodis branch's acquisition of 100% of Ermewa", 28 January 2010, www.freight-online.co.uk
In December 2010, SNCF Geodis completed its purchase of ITL Eisenbahngesellschaft.
Research of the social democratic party in the European Parliament, the Sheffield Hallam University and further Groups accuses Geodis in 2023 of using Uyghur forced labour camps provided by the Sunrise Manufacture Group Co. for production of clothes.
Divisional structure Geodis was one of five subdivisions of SNCF. The division was organised into four spheres - Geodis (integrated logistics), STVA (car transportation logistics), Rail transport, and Asset management (rolling stock leasing):SNCF Geodis www.sncf.comSNCF Geodis, SNCF’S No. 1 Business www.geodis.fr Geodis S.A.A Global Organisation for an End-to-End Service www.geodis.fr Geodis Wilson (formed from merger of Geodis Overseas merged with TNT Freight Management, Wilson Logistics and Rohde & Liesenfeld.) - road, air and sea freight logisticsFreight Forwarding www.geodis.com Geodis Calberson (formerly Calberson) - messaging and express services - France and EuropeGroupage www.geodis.com Geodis Logistics (formerly IBM logistics plus other acquisitions) - logistics managementLogistics www.geodis.com Geodis BM (Formerly Bourgey-Montreuil) European road transportRoad www.geodis.com STVA (Société de Transports de Véhicules Automobiles )- transportation of vehicles (car etc.) via road, rail and sea.STVA Company website, www.stva.com Rail transport: Fret SNCF - French rail freight transport operations as public company Captrain France - French rail freight transport operations as private company Captrain - European railfreight transport operations outside France: Captrain Benelux (formerly Fret SNCF Benelux, Veolia Cargo Belgium, Veolia Cargo Nederland and ITL Benelux) Captrain Deutschland (formerly Fret SNCF Deutschland and Veolia Cargo Deutschland including the former Rail4Chem) Captrain Italia (formerly Fret SNCF Italia and Veolia Cargo Italia) Captrain UK (formerly Freight Europe UKFreight Europe UK www.freighteurope.co.uk) Captrain Romania (formerly VFLI Romania) Asset management - locomotive and wagon leasing and related services: Akiem (locomotives)Akiem company website, www.akiem.com Ermewa (wagons) with France Wagons (wagons),France Wagons company website, www.francewagons.fr merged into Ermewa group May 2010. Transengrais (rail transport of fertilizer - vehicle lease or rental)Bienvenue chez Transengrais! Company website, www.transengrais.fr
References
External links Geodis (Acquired by SNCF 2008) Detailed background and financial information about Geodis on www.supplychainleaders Geodis Wilson Official Website