DHL began in 1969 as the courier company that delivered documents between San Francisco and Honolulu by air.
The company was founded by Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. Its name comes from the initials of those three surnames. Their early service transported bills of lading and other shipping documents before the related cargo arrived, helping customers reduce customs delays.
DHL’s first route connected the United States mainland with Hawaii. The company later expanded internationally, using air transport to move urgent documents and parcels faster than conventional postal services.
DHL is often confused with Deutsche Post because Deutsche Post acquired a controlling interest in the company in 1998 and later made it part of its logistics group. DHL remains a globally recognized courier and logistics brand.