DHL Acquires 25 Electric Vehicles for Transporting Swap Bodies
Swap bodies have long been a key element for DHL in the field of parcel logistics. Their primary advantage lies in the ability to separate the cargo unit from the transport vehicle, which streamlines logistics management. This integration allows for greater flexibility when transferring goods between parcel centers, trucks, and delivery points, helping to meet the sector’s demanding deadlines.
For example, a truck driver can drop off a swap-body cargo container onto a platform supported by four legs at a parcel center, pick up another container for a new load, and continue on their way immediately. Meanwhile, the initial cargo container can be moved throughout the facility—between doors, ramps, and staging areas—using one of these specialized electric vehicles designed for transporting swap bodies.
DHL is currently in the process of electrifying all its logistics operations within its facility yards. For its parcel operations, the company has acquired 25 electric swap-body transport vehicles from the manufacturer TII Kamag, based in the German city of Ulm. These vehicles are the Kamag ePrecisionMover (ePM) model, designed to ensure smooth transshipment operations.
Thanks to their fast lifting and lowering times, as well as their high maneuverability, the Kamag ePrecisionMover helps significantly reduce downtime and waiting periods in the yard. According to the company, this initiative is expected to optimize overall system efficiency and ensure that deadlines are met within distribution center operations.
"The demands placed on parcel networks continue to grow, both in terms of operational performance and sustainability. With the KAMAG ePM, we offer a solution that addresses both aspects and integrates seamlessly into existing, scalable logistics processes," says Godehard Eidenhammer, Commercial Director for Yard Logistics at TII Kamag.
It is currently unclear whether the electric swap-body transport vehicles recently acquired by DHL are the third-generation ePrecisionMover models—introduced in 2024 and featuring a 140 kWh battery and 100 kW DC charging capacity—or the new ePrecisionMover 101, which boasts a redesigned cab, improved ergonomics and safety, an updated control concept, and a 160 kWh battery.
In 1995, DHL took delivery of its first diesel-powered swap-body transport vehicle from TII Kamag, becoming the company’s first customer. Since then, the German logistics giant has continuously expanded its fleet with vehicles from this manufacturer. Regarding electric swap-body transport vehicles, TII Kamag’s client base also includes German logistics providers Dachser and Noerpel.
