Privacy policy

I. General

Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy details how General Logistics Systems B.V., Amsterdam, including any of its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “GLS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses and transfers personal information in the course of its business activities. GLS performs reliable and high quality parcel services as well as express deliveries and logistics-related value-added products (the “Products and Services”). This Privacy Policy applies to the information we collect from you through our website www.gls-canada.com (the “website”), through your use of our Products and Services, or through any interactions you have with us by any means. If you click through to links to third parties’ websites or applications from our website, this Privacy Policy does not apply to such external services. It is always a good idea to read their privacy policies to understand what they do with your information.

Information security

By means of technical and organizational security measures, GLS companies act to protect personal data from loss or misuse. Personal data is processed only in systems which are protected by appropriate security measures according to the GLS IT Security Policies. GLS will modify the security and data protection measures as much as necessary in light of technological progress. However, information transmitted on the Internet and/or stored on systems attached to the Internet is not 100% secure, and no security can provide absolute protection. As a result, we do not ensure, warrant or guarantee the security or integrity of such information.

Data subjects rights

Under certain circumstances and subject to applicable data protection laws, supported by a written request and proof of identification, you may consult the personal information that we have collected, used or shared, and/or ask that it be corrected, and/or withdraw your consent to our disclosure or use of personal information collected. You may also be entitled to additional rights, including:

  • the right to control the dissemination of your personal information;
  • the right to be informed about data processing and have access to your personal data processed;
  • the right to obtain deletion of your personal data;
  • the right to restrict processing;
  • the right to receive your personal data provided to us in a structured, commonly used and technological format and to have this information transferred directly to another organization;
  • the right to object to processing data on grounds relating to your particular situation based on legitimate interests or the performance of a task in the public interest; and
  • the right to be informed of and submit observations regarding automated decision-making.

Exercising your rights

If you want to exercise your rights as a data subject please send a message to the Data Protection Manager of GLS explaining what right you want to exercise so that GLS can take the necessary further steps to respect your rights.

Right to lodge a complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection authority of your country if you believe that your rights have been violated. For further information on the complaints process, please click here .

II. Consignment and consignee data

Data categories, purposes of processing personal data and legal basis

For carrying out parcel services and therefore fulfilling the contract with its customers (the consignors), including, in particular, delivery of the parcel, payment of services, complaints management, quality and safety management, statistical performance data and compliance with relevant government bodies, GLS needs consignor data (address details and further contact details, payment information and other relevant contractual data according to the services ordered by the consignor) as well as consignee data (name, address, postcode, city, country, optionally phone no. and e-mail address).

Consignee data transferred to GLS companies as well as interface documentation (scans of the parcels at different locations) and the proof of delivery (POD) may be processed and recorded by various GLS subsidiaries. GLS uses personal consignment and consignee data only for the fulfilment of its contractual obligations. Any further use is not permitted.

We may also collect and use your information for any other purpose permitted or required by law.

Data sharing and recipients

Generally, only the consignor and consignee of a parcel are entitled to receive information about the parcel. GLS provides parcel information to third parties (e.g. governmental authorities) only on the basis of statutory regulations.

GLS companies will not sell or lease personal data to any third party. However, there are certain circumstances where GLS may share your personal data without additional notice to you. Parties which may receive your data include:

  • GLS subsidiaries and contractors all over the world for the purpose of parcel delivery from the consignor to the consignee.
  • Affiliated or unaffiliated third parties that are under contract to perform services for or on behalf of GLS (Processors), in particular IT service providers. GLS B.V. has concluded appropriate data protection contracts with these parties.
  • Other persons or organizations as permitted by applicable law or regulation.
  • Law enforcement personnel and agencies for the purpose of meeting national security requirements or as part of a legal process in order to protect our property or in furtherance of an investigation regarding a breach of GLS´ rules and policies, unauthorized access to or use of GLS equipment or any other illegal activity.

Some of these third parties may be based or share your information outside of your local jurisdiction. By submitting information to us, you consent to the communication of your information to, and the storage of that information, outside of your local jurisdiction. While such information is outside of local jurisdiction, it is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is held, and may be subject to disclosure to the governments, courts or law enforcement or regulatory agencies of such other jurisdictions pursuant to local laws.

Retention and erasure

GLS B.V. is processing personal data as long as it is required for the purpose for which we use it. We will determine how long to retain the data based on the following requirements:

  • Operational requirements: such the length of time that information is needed in order to provide the services.
  • Legal requirements: such as where GLS B.V. needs to retain records for a certain amount of time in order to comply with the law.

Archived data is recorded on storage media accessible only for authorized personnel. After the legal retention period has expired, the data is deleted.

III. Collection, processing and use of personal data

Logging and IP

Each time a user accesses a GLS web page data is saved in a log file. The following specific data is temporarily recorded:

  • Date and time of request
  • IP address or DNS name of the requesting computer
  • Requested page (URL)
  • HTTP answer code
  • Client operating system and version
  • Browser and version

The temporary storage of this data is necessary to enable the delivery of the website to your device and to ensure the functionality of the website. With the help of anonymized data, we also gain statistical knowledge about the use of the GLS websites. In addition, we collect the data in order to be able to trace and prevent unauthorized access to the web server and the improper use of the websites and to secure our information technology systems.

We use the services of web hosting providers, that process the above data on our behalf, to provide our web services for you.

The log-files are deleted after seven days, unless we need the data for a longer period to prove or clarify specific legal violations that have become known within the retention period.

Cookies

For usage of the GLS pages it may be necessary for the GLS servers to set cookies. These cookies are used by the technical administrators of the website. Every visitor can configure his/her browser to reject cookies. All visitors have the right to refuse cookies. Unless the consent of the user is given, no cookie data will be saved on the computer of the visitor. In this case, the data stored in the cookies will not be transferred to GLS. The functionality of specific areas of the website may be inaccessible with cookies disabled. For more information on how cookies are used by GLS, please see our Cookie Policy .

Contact forms

Among other functions, our website provides the user with an E-mail contact form, "Track and Trace", and the Parcel Shop search. Data entered in the scope of an enquiry via the E-mail form such as name, street, postcode, city, etc. is required by us in order to process your enquiry.

Careers

If you would like to apply for an open GLS position, you may use the “Quick Apply” option on our website. Data entered in the scope of the application form, such as name, email address, phone number, professional experience, skills, resume, etc. is required by us to evaluate your candidacy and to confirm whether your experience is appropriate for the job posted.

IV. Contact Information for Data Protection

If you want to contact the GLS Data Protection Manager, please use the following email address: dataprotection@gls-holding.com

You may also contact GLS by sending a written letter to the Data Protection Manager of GLS at the following address:

Data Protection Manager of GLS B.V.,
c/o General Logistics Systems B.V,
Breguetlaan 28-30
1438 BC Oude Meer
The Netherlands

V. Updates to this Privacy Policy

GLS B.V. may from time to time, and in its sole discretion, update this Privacy Policy. Any changes will be effective when the amended Privacy Policy is posted on the website(s). This information was last updated on July 23rd, 2024. Subject to applicable laws, GLS will notify you of any changes to this Privacy Policy.