Uber Freight is stepping up its presence in Europe with what it describes as a “significant, multi-year commitment” to growing its logistics business, including the creation of a new control tower and operations hub in Krakow, Poland.
The logistics provider announced Monday that the expansion will bring additional investment in technology, operations and talent as it scales its fourth-party logistics, or 4PL, business across Europe. The Krakow facility is scheduled to open in 2027 and will become Uber Freight’s second European location, following its existing operations in the Netherlands.
The company has not disclosed how much it plans to invest in the expansion.
“We’re not sharing a specific investment figure at this time, but this is a significant, multi-year commitment to growing our European business,” an Uber Freight representative told FreightWaves. “The investment reflects our confidence in the opportunity we see in Europe and our commitment to building the local infrastructure, technology and talent needed to support customers as we scale.”
Uber Freight also declined to provide an expected headcount for Europe or the new Krakow operation. The company employs more than 4,000 people across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe, although it does not disclose employment figures by region.
San Francisco-based Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) operates three platforms: Uber, its ride-hailing business; Uber Freight, its logistics operation; and Uber Eats, which handles food and goods delivery.
North American customers drive European expansion
A key factor behind Uber Freight’s European push is demand from North American customers that already operate in Europe and want to consolidate transportation management under fewer logistics providers.
The company sees significant room for growth in the region. Uber Freight estimates that Europe’s road freight market is worth approximately $520 billion, with trucks moving 13.3 billion tonnes of goods across the European Union in 2025.
The company also said the number of new 4PL deals it secured in Europe doubled last year.
“Logistics is global by nature, but too often it’s managed through disconnected partners and regional silos,” Uber Freight CEO Rebecca Tinucci said in a news release. “The more of that complexity we can bring together, the simpler and more efficient it becomes for customers to run their global supply chains. That’s the opportunity we see in Europe.”
As part of the expansion, Uber Freight is dedicating product and engineering resources to improving its transportation management system for European shippers. It is also increasing its customer-facing operations in the region.
Uber Freight’s European 4PL business originated with its $2.25 billion acquisition of Transplace, which was completed in 2021. The operation is separate from the European freight brokerage business that Uber sold in 2020.
OXEA agreement links transportation networks across continents
Chemicals are among the industries Uber Freight is targeting as it expands in Europe. The sector can require transportation networks combining cross-border trucking, intermodal rail and short-sea shipping.
Chemical manufacturer OXEA recently selected Uber Freight to manage transportation across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. Uber Freight described the agreement as its first 4PL engagement designed from the beginning to cover both North America and Europe.
“Our supply chain doesn’t stop at a border,” Bret L. Bement, OXEA’s vice president of supply chain management, said in a statement. “We wanted one partner across North America and Europe who wouldn’t just manage our transportation, but would also continuously look for ways to improve the network and help us serve our customers more reliably.”
Mike Doucleff appointed to lead European business
Uber Freight’s investment in Europe also comes with a new executive appointment. Mike Doucleff has been named head of Europe and will report directly to Tinucci. He is scheduled to begin the role on Sept. 28.
Doucleff most recently led Alpitronic’s entry into the U.S. market. The European company manufactures fast-charging systems for electric vehicles.
Before joining Alpitronic, Doucleff spent much of his career at Schneider Electric, where he held commercial and operational leadership roles before ultimately taking responsibility for the company’s global eMobility business.
He has also spent nearly two decades living and working in Europe, bringing extensive regional experience to Uber Freight’s next phase of expansion.
Uber Freight’s European strategy therefore combines new physical infrastructure, technology investment, additional talent and broader 4PL capabilities as the company seeks to support shippers managing transportation across multiple markets.
Why it matters: Uber Freight’s European expansion extends its push beyond North America as global shippers increasingly seek fewer logistics providers to manage transportation across multiple regions.
