Data-Driven and Electric: How Pathfinder helps Rigterink Lead the Journey to Sustainable Food Logistics
Rigterink Logistikgruppe, a family-run food logistics specialist headquartered in Germany with a fleet of more than 400 tractor units, is guided by strong values built on respect for people, trust, and social responsibility.
"That is why it feels natural for us not to take a reactive stance on the sustainability transition in transport, but to stay at the forefront – investing early in electric trucks and adopting smart tools that support and accelerate this journey,” say CEOs Arne, Eike and Helge Rigterink.
The path to electrify was clear, but challenges remained
Internally, Rigterink Logistikgruppe shared a strong conviction: they know their business best and did not want to be locked into a one‑size‑fits‑all or turnkey model. With electric vehicles already in the fleet, the focus shifted to optimizing how the vehicles were used, scaling their efforts, and clearly demonstrating what was possible to shippers. Doing so required hard numbers, structured plans, and compelling visuals - something that became increasingly complex to manage through manual analysis alone.
Pathfinder - a strategic fit
Instead of outsourcing the thinking, Rigterink chose a tool that lets them keep control of strategy while speeding up and improving the analysis. By using Pathfinder they could translate their strategic direction into detailed plans and business logic. It fit their philosophy:
They stay in the driver’s seat, with no push toward a specific provider or transport model.
They bring in their own shipment data and operational reality.
They build electrification expertise in-house and make it an integral part of their business.
Creating and showcasing actionable electrification plans with confidence
What previously required extensive manual effort was now condensed into a workflow that the team can run in-house – quickly, consistently, and whenever needed. Within a short time, Rigterink could:
Build their decarbonization and electrification plans based on actual shipment patterns, battery capacity and charging availability.
Support their plans with a strong business case.
Evaluate different rollout scenarios for electric vehicles over the coming year.
A central focus for Rigterink was how to communicate their plans externally. They needed to prove to shippers what they could achieve together. Pathfinder strengthened the link between internal strategy and external trust:
With Pathfinder Rigterink can quickly generate clear visuals that show which lanes and volumes can be electrified and when.
These visuals come without hours of manual spreadsheet gymnastics and slide building.
The team can walk into meetings prepared with route maps, deployment phases, and quantified impacts.
"Now we walk in with concrete routes, numbers, and schedules. When a shipper asks detailed questions, we can open Pathfinder and show exactly what is possible,” say the brothers Rigterink.
Looking ahead
Rigterink is clear-eyed about the role carriers can play in the transition. From their perspective, relying on authorities to set the direction is not enough. To stay ahead, they themselves must:
Do the strategic work and lead the transition backed by data.
Bring concrete electrification proposals to shippers
Show that sustainable transport can be credible, reliable, and scalable.