Belgian Transport Firm Ziegler Files Bankruptcy, 400 Jobs Lost

Belgium's Ziegler transport group has filed for bankruptcy affecting approximately 400 employees across four companies—Ziegler SA, Intertrans, Dornach, and Universal Express. This development follows the collapse of Ziegler's French subsidiary in March, indicating systemic financial distress within the group. Court-appointed administrators will attempt to identify and secure buyers for the affected operations to preserve capacity and employment.

For supply chain professionals, this event signals potential disruption to European transport capacity and raises questions about freight continuity for clients relying on Ziegler's services. The bankruptcy creates a market window for competitor consolidation while potentially tightening European road freight supply, particularly in Belgium and France. The sequential failures suggest broader sector challenges in European transport economics.

Stakeholders dependent on Ziegler's logistics infrastructure should activate contingency plans and assess supplier diversification strategies. The administrator process may take weeks or months to resolve, creating uncertainty around service continuity and pricing in the affected region.