Is DHL a freight forwarder or carrier?

We need to understand the concepts of freight forwarders and carriers. A freight forwarder is usually an intermediary responsible for coordinating the transportation, customs clearance, and other related services of goods, but it does not actually carry the goods. On the contrary, the carrier is the enterprise that bears the actual responsibility for the transportation of goods, responsible for transporting and delivering the goods. There are some ambiguous boundaries between these two, as some companies may provide both freight forwarding services and directly transport goods.
For DHL, its operational model is more comprehensive, including not only the functions of freight forwarding agents, but also the role of carriers. DHL has established a huge logistics network worldwide, covering various transportation modes such as land, sea, and air. As a freight forwarder, DHL can provide global cargo coordination, tracking, customs clearance and other services, providing customers with one-stop logistics solutions. At the same time, DHL also directly carries a large amount of goods and has its own transport fleet, aircraft, and trucks. This comprehensive operational model makes DHL not only a freight forwarder, but also a comprehensive logistics service provider.
A prominent example is DHL's international express delivery service. As one of the world's largest international courier companies, DHL carries millions of packages and quickly and reliably transports goods from one country to another. In this process, DHL plays the role of a freight forwarder, coordinating various procedures and procedures, and is also the actual carrier responsible for ensuring the safe and timely arrival of goods at the destination. This integration of agent and carrier functions enables DHL to occupy an important position in the global logistics market.
It is worth noting that DHL's operating model is not static. According to different regions and service needs, DHL may adjust its role to focus more on freight forwarding or emphasize the functions of carriers. This flexibility enables DHL to adapt to different market demands and maintain competitiveness.
In addition, DHL has further expanded its service scope through cooperation with other logistics companies. Establishing cooperative relationships with airlines, shipping companies, freight forwarders, etc. enables DHL to better integrate global logistics resources and provide more comprehensive and efficient logistics solutions.