Optimizing empty tank management at Den Hartogh Logistics
Overview
| Company Name / Department | Den Hartogh Logistics |
| Contact Person | Tiemen Heesbeen / Luke van de Bunt |
| Location | Brand new office in Rotterdam |
| Optional remote work | yes, 2 |
| Travel expenses (own account or reimbursed by the company) | Company |
| Housing arranged by company | No |
| Housing expenses (how much per month, own account or subsidized by the company) | Own account |
| Internship compensation | € 500 per month |
| Study program | OML |
| ESCF community | Silver |
| Start date | February 1st , 2026 |
Company Description
Den Hartogh Logistics is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers. Established in 1920 in the Netherlands, this family-owned company has grown into a global organization specializing in bulk logistics for the chemical, gas, polymer, and food industries. Safety and operational excellence are deeply embedded in its culture, ensuring high-quality and reliable service across all operations.
Today, Den Hartogh operates in 27 countries with 50 offices worldwide, employing over 2,100 people. The company manages an extensive and modern fleet, including more than 24,000 tank containers, 5,750 dry bulk containers and specialized trailers, 300 tank trailers, and 650 trucks.
Project Description
This master’s thesis project focuses on two of Den Hartogh’s business units that specialize in transporting liquefied chemicals in tank containers on a global scale. Every month, thousands of these containers are loaded and delivered across the company’s international network. Between delivery and loading, planning teams work to optimize empty tank management — through demand forecasting, inventory management, and empty repositioning.
However, the complexity of this planning process continues to increase due to a growing number of customer-imposed constraints. These typically involve specific requirements for tank container types and compatibility restrictions based on previously transported chemical products. Such limitations restrict container flexibility, reduce operational efficiency, and contribute to higher empty repositioning costs.
Goals of the Project
The objective of this thesis is to quantify and analyze the impact of customer-related constraints on the costs of empty tank management. By identifying which constraints have the most significant financial impact, the project aims to provide actionable insights that could guide future strategies to relax or renegotiate certain restrictions, ultimately improving network efficiency and reducing overall operational costs.
Deliverables
Master Thesis
Essential Student Knowledge
More information: escf@tue.nl
