DHL expands electric trucking to subcontractors with JUNA deal

DHL is pushing electric freight beyond its own fleet and into subcontracted carriers through a new Partner Store arrangement with JUNA, starting with a five-year agreement for 20 electric trucks at Bavarian carrier Pflaum. The deal is meant to lower adoption barriers for smaller operators while supporting DHL’s 2050 net-zero logistics goal.

Why it matters: - DHL is extending freight electrification into its carrier network, not just its owned fleet. - The model gives subcontractors access to electric trucks without requiring large upfront capital commitments. - The partnership is designed to cut CO2e emissions while keeping carriers’ operations intact. - Pflaum’s rollout could become a template for other DHL subcontractors.

What happened: - DHL is using its Partner Store program to give subcontracted carriers pre-negotiated access to electric trucks from JUNA. - The first agreement under the setup is a five-year, 20-truck deal with Bavarian subcontractor Pflaum. - The announcement was made in Berlin on September 15, 2026. - JUNA operates one of Europe’s largest electric truck fleets.

The details: - JUNA’s model pairs large shippers such as DHL with the carriers that move freight on their behalf. - JUNA provides route and usage analysis, technical expertise and an as-a-service model. - Carriers pay only for the truck they actually use. - JUNA says the structure keeps total cost of ownership on par with diesel. - DHL keeps running its logistics network as before while pushing emissions down. - Pflaum avoids the investment and resale risk of owning the trucks outright. - Stefan Kasprowiak, VP Transport Procurement at DHL Freight, said DHL has committed to net-zero logistics-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. - Kasprowiak said the Partner Store helps network partners accelerate their sustainability journey with DHL’s scale and expertise. - Matthias Schellenberger, CEO of Pflaum, said the arrangement lets the company move forward on sustainability without changing how it runs its business. - Johan Kjellner, COO at JUNA, said the five-year commitment among DHL, Pflaum and JUNA is central to building the fleet.

Between the lines: - DHL is signaling that freight decarbonization will depend on contract structures, not just vehicle purchases. - The setup spreads financial risk across shipper, carrier and fleet provider. - That approach could make electrification easier for carriers that cannot justify buying electric trucks on their own. - Pflaum already had momentum on electrification before the JUNA deal, which makes it a practical test case rather than a first step from zero.

What's next: - Pflaum’s 20 JUNA trucks are set to join 45 self-owned trucks already on the road. - Pflaum’s electric fleet will reach 65 vehicles by the end of 2026. - Pflaum is targeting 75% of its fleet on alternative fuels or drivetrains by 2030. - DHL and JUNA are positioning the Pflaum structure as a model for broader rollout across DHL’s subcontracted carrier network. - The wider plan allows carriers to combine ownership and flexible, risk-shared partnerships based on operational fit.

The bottom line: - DHL is trying to make electric trucking easier to adopt by turning fleet electrification into a service relationship instead of a capital expense.