Dieter Haltmayer
Source: QCS
Dieter Haltmayer, founder of German family-owned freight forwarder Quick Cargo Service (QCS) and a pioneer in the airfreight industry, has passed away at the age of 91.
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Haltmayer built QCS from a small family business into one of Germany’s top 10 privately owned freight forwarding companies over a career spanning more than five decades. He was widely respected for his entrepreneurial vision, integrity, and commitment to fostering long-term relationships with customers, partners, and employees.
“Dieter Haltmayer was not only the founder of a company, but the founder of values that shaped generations of logistics professionals,” QCS said. “What began as a vision built on trust, precision, and personal responsibility grew into a European logistics group shaped by strong relationships and dedicated people. His legacy lives on in the company he built and the people he inspired.”
Haltmayer founded QCS in 1974, initially focusing on supporting smaller players across the German market. Recognising the importance of global reach, he partnered with a business contact in Hong Kong to develop freight traffic between Germany and the growing Asian export market.
A vocal and proactive leader, Haltmayer advocated for industry improvements and was unafraid to speak out on matters affecting freight forwarders. His dedication to process innovation, talent development, and building cooperative solutions earned him recognition for outstanding contributions to the air cargo sector in 2010.
One of Haltmayer’s most notable achievements was the creation of the Interessengemeinschaft Luftfracht (IGLU) alliance, designed to pool airfreight from smaller forwarders and provide volume discounts that would otherwise be unavailable to individual players. From its initial five members, IGLU has grown to around 25 participants, remaining a key network for smaller German freight forwarders.
Despite multiple offers to sell QCS, Haltmayer maintained family ownership, passing leadership to a management board that includes his son Stephan, now CEO, and daughters Heidi and Jennifer, who oversee operations, finance, and marketing.
Today, QCS continues to thrive as a leading privately owned freight forwarder in Germany, reflecting Haltmayer’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and lasting impact on the airfreight industry.
