The freight forwarding industry is no stranger to volatility, but one factor that continues to shake things up is tariffs. While most of the conversation around tariffs focuses on trade routes and cost increases, there’s another area that’s starting to feel the squeeze: hiring.
With duties and restrictions changing regularly—especially between the U.S., China, Europe, and beyond—forwarders are being forced to rethink how they manage their teams and when they bring on new talent. And the impact is being felt from entry-level hires to seasoned sales and compliance professionals.
Freight Volumes = Job Stability?
Tariffs often result in reduced freight volumes, especially when importers or exporters hold off on shipments due to higher costs or uncertainty. For freight forwarders, that means tighter margins and more unpredictable business pipelines. As a result, many companies are hitting pause on hiring, not because they don’t need the help, but because they’re unsure if the volume will support additional headcount long-term.
It’s a vicious cycle: more complexity in global trade should create more jobs. But instead, it’s creating caution.
Shift Toward Experience
When forwarders do hire right now, they’re being far more selective. There’s a clear trend toward bringing on experienced professionals, especially those with backgrounds in customs compliance, international and domestic sales. These aren’t roles you can learn in a week; they require deep knowledge and strong relationships, especially when dealing with high-value or regulated goods.
This is pushing out a lot of entry-level roles or delaying those hires. Companies want people who can hit the ground running, which is understandable, but it also means fewer opportunities for junior talent to break into the industry right now.
Teams Are Feeling the Pressure
With fewer hires and increased complexity, current staff are being asked to do more. Whether it’s operations, sales, or customer service, everyone’s plate is getting fuller. And that’s leading to burnout, especially in environments where hiring freezes have been in place for months.
Some forwarders are getting creative—cross-training team members, using contractors, or leaning more heavily on tech. But there’s only so much you can automate in this business. At the end of the day, freight forwarding is still a people-driven industry.
Global Shift, Local Impact
As tariffs push companies to shift sourcing from one country to another (think China to Vietnam or Mexico), forwarders are having to build new routing strategies and relationships, often in places where they don’t yet have a strong team on the ground. Hiring in these emerging markets is tough, especially when experienced talent is already in short supply.
This has led to more remote roles, more regional coverage overlap, and in some cases, just asking staff to wear more hats.
What’s Next?
It’s hard to say. With elections coming up in several countries, trade policy could shift again. Companies are holding off on major decisions—including staffing—until they have a clearer picture. But one thing is certain: those that can stay flexible will come out ahead.
Here are a few takeaways for freight companies navigating all this:
- Focus on retaining your core team, they’re under pressure and need support.
- Hire smart, not just fast. Look for people with the right experience to handle the complexity tariffs bring.
- Don’t ignore junior talent entirely. When things stabilize, you’ll need that pipeline.
- Stay close to your clients - many of them are just as uncertain, and forwarders who offer extra guidance will stand out.
To conclude, tariffs may be outside the control of most freight forwarders, but how we react to them, especially in how we hire and manage our teams, makes all the difference.
It’s a challenging time, but also an opportunity to build smarter, more resilient teams that can handle whatever comes next.