High quality, low costs: Zeeman relies on DKV Mobility for on-the-road payments

Zeeman was founded in 1967 by Jan Zeeman and has grown into a familiar sight in the Dutch and international streetscape. The company, fully named Zeeman TextielSupers B.V., specializes in clothing and textiles and has approximately 1,350 branches spread across eight countries, including Belgium, Germany, France and Spain. At Zeeman, they believe that affordability and sustainability can go hand in hand. The company embraces the principle of ‘thrift’, a typical Dutch concept that stands for both frugality and care. This principle is woven into all aspects of their operations: from carefully handling resources and energy to ensuring good working conditions for employees. Zeeman has also been a member of the Fair Wear Foundation since 2019, meaning that the people who produce their clothing and textiles work under safe conditions, receive a living wage, and are not exposed to excessive overtime.

Efficient logistics

Supplying all Zeeman stores requires a reliable and well-thought-out logistics network. Lucinda Vermond, fleet manager at Zeeman: "Thrift is a core concept that not only appears in our products but also in our logistics choices and fleet management. We manage our own fleet of 120 fleet cars and 65 trucks, spread across eight countries. In every decision we make, we consider thrift: both on materials and on people and the environment. This means that we not only train our drivers to drive as efficiently as possible but also encourage them to refuel at cheaper gas stations.

Why DKV Mobility?

Simplicity and efficiency are essential for Zeeman. Lucinda Vermond: "We believe that things get better when you make them simple. That's why we decided in 2020 to handle everything related to 'on-the-road' payments, such as tolls and fuel, but also financial services like excise duty refunds, for our entire European fleet with DKV Mobility. This streamlines our processes, saves time, and makes our administration easier. We already had positive experiences with DKV Mobility and the fact that they offer solutions for everything, from fuel cards to toll boxes and digital tools to monitor expenses – and all that for all of Europe, really fits our needs. Previously, we used fuel cards from other providers in some countries, but it was much more practical to handle everything through DKV Mobility. Additionally, we were able to make good price agreements, which aligns with our focus on thrift."

The future is sustainable

In addition to ensuring fair working conditions and focusing on the sustainability of the production process of the items Zeeman sells, Zeeman is also actively working on making the fleet more sustainable. "Alongside the many hybrid passenger cars, we have 20 electric passenger cars in use and more will be added soon. Our goal is to further green our fleet by driving as much as possible electrically or hybrid," says Lucinda. However, the transition for trucks is more complicated. "Hydrogen is still relatively expensive and not developed enough for our application. Additionally, the charging infrastructure for electric trucks in our region is still underdeveloped due to grid congestion in the municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn. We want to move forward, so we were happy to test drive an electric truck to still be able to test, and we continue to follow developments closely," Lucinda adds.

Satisfied with the cooperation

Zeeman is very satisfied with the cooperation with DKV Mobility. "The personal contact with Peter Nienhuis and the DKV Mobility team is very valuable to us. They are always ready to help us and ensure that we are well informed about important developments, such as the new German toll," says Lucinda. "Receiving this information in a timely manner is crucial for us because it allows us to better respond to changes and manage our costs accurately. Although we cannot save on tolls themselves, DKV Mobility's good information provision helps us avoid surprises and better predict our expenses. DKV Mobility and Zeeman share the same vision: low costs and high quality. That's why we are such a good match." Peter Nienhuis, account manager at DKV Mobility, adds: "At DKV Mobility, we not only want to offer our customers efficient solutions but also personal service. We are proud of the relationship we have built with Zeeman and look forward to continuing to support them in the future."