HSL Logistik was founded in 2003 as a private company offering trained staff to rail operators.

In 2004 the company received a license to operate freight and passenger trains from the German Federal Railway Authority.

[1] HSL Logistik provides shunting services at terminals and ports in Bremen, Hamburg, Rostock and Seelze (Hanover), transportation by train, including path ordering, spot hire and one-off locomotive hire.

[4] HSL also operates traffic in neighboring European countries, namely the Netherlands, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.

[5] On 12 April 2017, the Dutch Railway Authority revoked the company's operations license with immediate effect due to significant safety problems within the organization.