Logistics service providers run business under a considerable
pressure. They have to provide high quality logistics services
at lowest possible prices and at the same time have to ensure
a sustainable, profitable operation. This kind of business
management requires reliable and true information about
service costs. Distortions of costing information shall be
minimised and the drivers of costs shall be accurately explored.
Activity-based costing with methodological and industry specific
adaptations may be used to improve the accuracy of logistics
service providers’ costing procedures. Additionally, it can deliver
information on cost efficiency as well. Thus this paper aims to
analyse the applicability of activity-based costing for the case of
logistics service providers. A specialised cost calculation model
is elaborated and tested under real-world circumstances. The
functionality of the model is illustrated by pilot calculations. This
shows that significant differences might exist between the results
of activity-based costing and the outcomes of traditional costing.
The significance of differences is in line with the complexity and
heterogeneity of logistics services.