General Logistics Systems

The company was known as German Parcel when it was founded in 1989 by Rico Back, formed by bringing together twenty-five freight forwarders. Ten years later it was acquired by Royal Mail Group, which used it to form a new holding company: Global Logistics Systems (GLS). Between 1999 and 2002 a Europe-wide network of couriers was formed 'through acquisitions and the founding of companies in numerous countries', and in 2002 GLS was launched as a parcels delivery brand.

In 2012, Global Logistics Systems B.V. was described as a subsidiary of Royal Mail Group Ltd: 'a holding company incorporated in the Netherlands which has investments in other operational companies based in Europe'.

Between 2016 and 2020 GLS Group began to expand into North America: In 2017, GLS acquired the California-based parcel delivery company Golden State Overnight (GSO) Delivery Service, as well as Postal Express. GSO was renamed GLS-US in December 2019. In September 2018 GLS acquired the Canadian parcel delivery company Dicom, expanding operations in North America and Europe. In October 2021 GLS acquired the Canadian logistics company Mid-Nite Sun Transportation Ltd, operating under Rosenau Transport, further expanding into the Canadian market.

In 2022 Royal Mail plc was renamed as International Distributions Services plc; together with Royal Mail Group Ltd, GLS Group became a subsidiary of IDS plc.

GLS Group operates a ground‑based parcel network across Europe and North America, providing delivery solutions for business and consumer customers. Industry profiles describe GLS as one of the larger European parcel carriers, with operations in around 50 countries and a network of more than 120 hubs and 1,600 depots handling hundreds of millions of parcels per year.

Parcel and ground

GLS’s core business consists of deferred parcel and ground services for B2B and B2C shippers, typically focused on parcels up to around 30 kg. Carrier overviews note that GLS positions itself as a road‑based parcel network, with regular services connecting national networks and partner companies across its European core markets and North American operations.

Express

In addition to standard ground products, GLS offers various express and time‑definite services in several of its markets. Trade and industry coverage describes GLS as providing next‑day or expedited delivery options on selected routes, positioning these as a complement to its core deferred parcel services.

Freight

While GLS is primarily a parcel carrier, some national operations also provide additional logistics and freight‑related services. North American materials, for example, refer to GLS offering both parcel and less‑than‑truckload (LTL) services as part of its regional strategy.

Criticism

In 2010 the parcel service was 'passed' a review by the German Consumers' Organization. The handling and wrong parcel pick-ups were criticized. The review was repeated in 2014 with similar results. In November 2019 the German magazine Stern published statistics with a 'shock indicator/goods damaged' value of 44,4%.

In mid-September 2016, hundreds of parcel delivery workers took strike action in the Italian cities of Bergamo, Brescia, Piacenza, Bologna and Parma against GLS and its subcontractors to protest against poor working conditions. On the night of 14–15 September 2016, a van broke through a picket line formed by workers in front of the plant operated by GLS subcontractor SEAM in Piacenza. The van struck and killed Egyptian worker Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf. It was reported that eyewitnesses heard the plant's Chief of Staff ordering the driver to break through the picket line. The Piacenza Prosecutor's office concluded that no strike or protest was taking place at that moment and therefore ruled the death was a car accident. The driver was subsequently released, prompting 7,000 workers to take to the streets in Piacenza and at other GLS offices in Italy, as well as from other firms.