Earlier this week, the European Commission searched the offices of several freight forwarders and at least one US freight forwarder confirmed it the Department of Justice subpoenaed it.  As reported by the Wall Street Journal:

A slew of freight forwarders including Switzerland-based Kuehne & Nagel International AG and Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG have been searched as part of a U.S. and European probe into pricing practices.

The European Commission said Wednesday that it carried out unannounced inspections at the offices of several international freight-forwarding companies without naming them, saying it has “reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated EC Treaty rules that outlaw restrictive business practices.” Freight forwarders make delivery arrangements for shipping companies.

The raids were sparked by information received from an unidentified person, who tipped EU, U.S. and Swiss authorities to alleged cartel behavior, said Patrik Ducrey, deputy director of Switzerland’s competition authority.

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DHL, an international shipping unit of Deutsche Post AG, said European authorities had contacted the company, but it didn’t provide further detail. The investigation centers on whether the freight forwarders fixed prices for fuel and other surcharges, Kuehne & Nagel Chief Financial Officer Gerard van Kesteren said Wednesday.

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In the U.S., international freight-forwarding and logistics company Expeditors International of Washington Inc. said Wednesday that it received a subpoena from the Justice Department ordering the company to produce information and records relating to an investigation of air-cargo freight forwarders. The company said it intends to work with the Justice Department.

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