Mars Logistics, one of Türkiye’s leading logistics companies, continues its leadership in the industry through investments and projects developed in 2024. In 2024, Mars achieved significant progress in both rail and road freight, and plans to invest 65 million euros in 2025.
Rail freight shone in 2024
Gökşin Günhan, Mars Logistics Board Member Responsible for Road and Rail Freight, stated that significant steps were taken in rail freight in the past year. He said, "In 2024, we made significant strides in rail freight with our Halkalı-Craiova Romania route, finished vehicle transportation, and domestic train transportation projects. In 2025, we will continue our work in finished vehicle transportation and focus on trial operations for our intra-European rail freight projects, for which we have completed feasibility studies." Günhan also mentioned that they currently operate more than 60 train departures per week on the Halkalı-Bettembourg, Halkalı-Kolin, Halkalı-Craiova, and Trieste-Bettembourg routes. He emphasized that the steps taken in rail freight are significant both in terms of environmental sustainability and operational efficiency.
“We are the market leader in road freight”
Günhan pointed out that the automotive, automotive sub-industry, and textile sectors stood out in road freight in 2024. He highlighted that Mars, with its fleet of 7,600 owned vehicles, provides services across a wide geographical area from Morocco to Denmark. Continuing to lead the market in weekly international transportation services between Türkiye and Europe, Mars reinforced its leadership position by completing 150,000 trips in 2024.
Mars Logistics won the "Service Export Champions Award" in the Cargo Transportation and Logistics Services category at the Service Exporters' Association Awards last year. Günhan said, “The HIB award we won through the hard work of our team is one of the key indicators of our strength in the industry.” He also stated that in 2025, Mars will continue its efforts as a family, engaging in activities that will benefit both the sector and the country.
Günhan stated that Mars plans to invest approximately 65 million euros in trailers and tow trucks in 2025, adding that the final steps for a 100,000 square meter warehouse investment are also underway. He said, "We aim to facilitate our customers' operations and shorten their business processes by quickly increasing the number of our Authorized Economic Operator certified warehouses." He also noted that warehouse investments are continuing both in terms of improving the current situation and expanding the space.
Domestic distribution network continues to expand
The Domestic Distribution Channels, which have attracted attention with their developed projects and growth rate, continued to expand their distribution network in 2024 with operational successes, offering Mars quality services to hundreds of customers. Günhan mentioned that significant growth was achieved in the white goods, textile, and FMCG sectors in domestic distribution. For 2025, he stated that they plan to focus on special distribution for white goods, increase partial distribution volumes, and focus on milk-run operations in white goods sub and main industries.
Günhan mentioned that last year, they carried out 1,500 domestic trips daily with the Domestic Distribution Channels. As a result of the increased business volume, they also increased employment in this department by 40%. He said that the number of warehouses connected to the Domestic Distribution Channels has reached 21, adding that they opened four warehouses in Diyarbakır, Samsun, Sakarya, and İzmit in 2024, and plan to open four more in Erzurum, Kayseri, Diyarbakır, and Van in 2025.
Günhan emphasized that they reached all provinces of Türkiye with Domestic Distribution Channels and noted, “Currently, we provide 100% in-house distribution in 60 provinces and their districts in Türkiye. We aim to increase the number of provinces we distribute to 70 by the end of 2025.”
Social impact efforts continue
Günhan also talked about women truck drivers, saying, "We are in the first place in Türkiye when it comes to employing female truck drivers. It is a great pride for us that we have helped 30 female truck drivers join the industry so far. In 2025, we plan to employ more female truck drivers. We will continue to support gender equality in every area of Mars with great joy."
He also mentioned that they developed their own operational software, stating that they achieved an industry first with the train wagon tracking system. "With the system we developed, we can track the location, load status, and estimated arrival times of wagons in real time through live data flow," Günhan said, adding that they continue to improve their operational software. Furthermore, he stated that Mars would focus more on sustainability-driven transportation methods, reduce carbon emissions, develop projects, and continue to make investments in this field.