2025 Freight Forwarder Performance Survey Report

A Complete Breakdown of Industry Perception Across 10 Critical Performance Metrics

The freight forwarding industry in 2025 is defined by intense competition, digital acceleration, and rising expectations from shippers. Amid geopolitical shifts, freight rate volatility, sustainability pressures, and global capacity challenges, forwarders are being judged more closely than ever.

To understand how logistics professionals truly perceive the top players, we conducted a comprehensive public survey covering ten critical factors that define a freight forwarder’s performance today.

This report covers the detailed findings.

The survey focused on the top four freight forwarders of 2025 based on TEU handled and revenue:

1. Sinotrans — 4.87 million TEU | $14.30B

2. Kuehne + Nagel — 4.31 million TEU | $31.66B

3. DSV (including DB Schenker) — 4.5 million TEU | $43.5B

4. DHL Global Forwarding — 3.3 million TEU | $33.87B

These four companies dominate the global forwarding landscape and were chosen due to their global network, volume, and relevance across major trade lanes.

The responses offer a clear picture of how the industry perceives these players today, and who is positioned to lead the future of global forwarding.

Below is a detailed analysis of each poll and what the results reveal.

Survey Results: Detailed Analysis of All 10 Polls

Poll 1: Best Overall Service Quality (2025)

Question: Which freight forwarder do you believe offers the best overall service quality in 2025?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 5%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 21%
• DSV: 20%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 54%

Insights: Service quality is the ultimate reflection of operational discipline, documentation accuracy, responsiveness, and issue resolution. DHL Global Forwarding clearly leads with 54%, capturing more than half the votes—suggesting strong customer satisfaction across regions.

K+N and DSV are nearly tied (21% and 20%), showing healthy competition but still far behind DHL.

Sinotrans’ 5% indicates its service quality is still perceived as regionally strong but globally inconsistent.

Poll 2: Most Reliable Delivery Performance

Question: Which freight forwarder provides the most reliable delivery performance?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 3%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 18%
• DSV: 19%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 60%

Insights: Delivery reliability is where DHL pulls ahead most aggressively. With 60%, DHL is seen as the safest option for on-time performance and predictable transit schedules.

DSV (19%) and K+N (18%) remain competitive but lack the large majority that DHL enjoys.

Sinotrans again scores low at 3%, reinforcing the perception gap in global reliability.

Poll 3: Best Customer Service & Communication

Question: Which forwarder gives the best customer service and communication?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 2%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 14%
• DSV: 15%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 68%

Insights: This is one of the most telling polls. With 68%, DHL dominates customer communications—touchpoint frequency, visibility updates, exception alerts, and account management.

DSV and K+N show moderate perception, but the combined 29% is still far below DHL’s 68%.
Sinotrans' 2% suggests minimal engagement quality or slow communication in global shipments.

Poll 4: Most Cost-Effective Solutions

Question: Which company do you find most cost-effective for ocean freight forwarding?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 6%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 30%
• DSV: 17%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 47%

Insights: Cost-effectiveness is often where carriers with strong Asian volumes lead, but the trend here shifts. DHL topped the chart with 47%, meaning customers feel they receive better value for the money—even if rates are not the lowest.

K+N’s strong 30% shows its contracting strength with carriers across Europe and Asia.

DSV’s 17% indicates competitive, but not industry-leading pricing.

Sinotrans’ 6% is unexpectedly low considering its traditionally competitive rates, perhaps due to concerns about service trade-offs.

Poll 5: Technology & Digital Capabilities

Question: Which freight forwarder leads in technology adoption and digital tools?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 2%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 18%
• DSV: 21%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 59%

Insights: Digital transformation is shaping the future of forwarding. DHL leads with 59%, showing strong adoption of automation, visibility tools, digital documentation workflows, and predictive analytics.

DSV’s second place (21%) reflects aggressive investment in tech post-merger.

K+N, typically known for digital platforms, surprisingly received only 18%—possibly indicating lower customer-facing adoption.

Sinotrans’ 2% shows limited global digital footprint.

Poll 6: Global Network Strength

Question: Which one has the strongest global presence and network coverage?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 1%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 10%
• DSV: 20%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 69%

Insights: A global network is fundamental for connecting origin-destination combinations efficiently. DHL, with express, air, and ocean integration, leads overwhelmingly at 69%.

DSV’s 20% shows that its acquisitions (UTi, Panalpina, DB Schenker) have strengthened its network significantly.

K+N at 10% holds a solid but smaller global footprint.

Sinotrans’ 1% indicates limited global network recognition despite strong regional operations.

Poll 7: Most Improved Performer (2023–2025)

Question: Which forwarder has improved the most over the last 2 years?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 3%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 19%
• DSV: 28%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 50%

Insights: This metric is crucial because it shows direction rather than current performance. DHL’s 50% suggests significant improvements in processes, communication, and technology over the past two years.

DSV at 28% is seen as the second most improved—driven by network consolidation from mergers.

K+N at 19% indicates steady improvements but not at the same visible pace.

Sinotrans’ 3% shows limited recognition for performance upgrades.

Poll 8: Personal Preference Among Logistics Professionals

Question: Which freight forwarder do you personally prefer working with?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 2%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 15%
• DSV: 16%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 68%

Insights: Personal preference is shaped by day-to-day interactions, responsiveness, and trust. DHL’s dominance with 68% shows industry professionals prefer working with them based on real interaction.

DSV and K+N remain in the mid-tier preference range.

Sinotrans again receives only 2%.

This poll captures what numbers alone cannot—industry trust.

Poll 9: Future Industry Leader by 2030

Question: Which one do you think will dominate global forwarding by 2030?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 2%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 11%
• DSV: 25%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 61%

Insights: This poll reflects expectations for future leadership. DHL’s 61% indicates strong belief in its long-term strategic direction.

DSV’s 25% positions it as the most promising challenger by 2030, especially with its scale and acquisitions.

K+N’s 11% shows doubts regarding its ability to lead the next decade.

Sinotrans’ 2% reflects limited global leadership expectations.

Poll 10: Overall Industry Leader in 2025

Question: Overall performance — Who’s the best freight forwarder in 2025?

Results:
• Sinotrans: 2%
• Kuehne + Nagel: 16%
• DSV: 20%
• DHL Global Forwarding: 62%

Insights: This final poll summarizes the market’s overall sentiment. With 62%, DHL Global Forwarding has been recognized as the top-performing freight forwarder of 2025.

DSV at 20% remains a strong No. 2.
K+N at 16% holds stable credibility.
Sinotrans at 2% shows limited global perception despite high TEUs.

This confirms the overarching theme of the entire survey—DHL leads convincingly in almost every area measured.

Conclusion: What the Industry Really Thinks in 2025

After analyzing all ten performance metrics, the results reveal an exceptionally clear pattern:

DHL Global Forwarding is the industry’s top performer across every surveyed dimension in 2025.

• Strongest service quality
• Most reliable delivery performance
• Best customer communication
• Most cost-effective solutions
• Leading digital capabilities
• Most extensive global network
• Most improved in the last 2 years
• Highest personal preference
• Strongest future leadership potential
• Best overall performer of 2025

This level of dominance across all categories is rare in freight forwarding surveys and highlights how DHL’s integrated logistics model is resonating deeply with customers.

DSV emerges as the strongest challenger, especially in improvement trends, future leadership potential, and digital capabilities.
Kuehne + Nagel maintains consistency but not market-leading perception in any category.
Sinotrans, despite its volume scale, is perceived as a regional rather than global leader.

Overall, the survey tells a clear story: 2025 is the year DHL Global Forwarding set a new benchmark for global freight forwarders.