Expert Freight Forwarding Recruitment Solutions

Freight Forwarding Recruitment Expertise

Freight forwarding plays a vital role in the global supply chain, ensuring that goods are transported smoothly across borders, oceans and continents. From coordinating customs documentation to optimizing transportation modes and routes, freight forwarders handle complex logistics tasks that require specialized knowledge and strategic planning. That’s why recruiting top talent in this sector demands more than just posting jobs and scanning résumés. It requires a deep understanding of the logistics industry and the people who keep freight moving.

Freight forwarding recruiting agencies like CS Recruiting bring that niche industry knowledge and talent access to the table. We know the ins and outs of freight forwarding operations, from compliance requirements and international trade regulations to transportation software and client service standards. Our team connects freight forwarding companies with experienced professionals who can make an immediate impact.

Unlike generalist recruiting firms, we focus exclusively on supply chain, transportation and logistics related positions. This allows us to find the right match quickly and with greater accuracy. Our clients don’t need to explain acronyms like FMC, IATA, or NVOCC to our team. We speak the language, and we use our years of experience, real-time data and insights to deliver the right candidates for the right roles.

View our recruiting services now to see how we support end-to-end logistics hiring needs.

Roles We Recruit in Freight Forwarding

Success in freight forwarding requires a combination of operational expertise, regulatory knowledge, and timely communication. Every person on your team plays a critical role in ensuring smooth, compliant, and cost-effective transportation of goods across borders.

At CS Recruiting, we understand these unique demands, and we specialize in identifying the right individuals who can meet these requirements. Our recruiting approach goes beyond résumé keywords; we look for professionals who thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing logistics environments and have the experience to back it up.

We commonly recruit for the following types of roles in the freight forwarding sector:

Import/Export Coordinators– Professionals who ensure accurate documentation and smooth international transactions. They help mitigate risks and avoid delays at borders by staying on top of ever-changing compliance regulations.
Customs Brokers– Licensed experts who ensure goods move legally and efficiently across borders. Their deep knowledge of classification, valuation, and duties helps companies remain compliant while keeping costs down.
Operations Managers– Leaders who oversee daily logistics, carrier coordination, and delivery timelines. They streamline freight movement while improving efficiency and reducing operational friction.
Pricing Analysts– Specialists who analyze market data to offer competitive, profitable rates. Their insights help shape pricing strategies that support both sales goals and margin targets.
Sales Executives– Professionals who build strong client relationships and generate new freight forwarding business. They combine industry knowledge with strategic selling to grow revenue.
Account Managers– Individuals who serve as the main point of contact for clients, ensuring service excellence. They manage client expectations, monitor shipment progress, and resolve issues as they arise.
Compliance Officers– Experts in international trade rules, documentation accuracy, and risk mitigation. Their role is critical in industries where non-compliance can lead to costly penalties.

These positions span from mid-level professionals to senior leadership, including directors and VPs. As one of the top freight forwarding recruiting agencies, CS Recruiting is proud to focus on direct-hire and permanent placements, ensuring that companies find the right long-term fit, not just temporary fixes.

Explore our areas of expertise to learn more about the functions we specialize in across the supply chain.

Challenges in Freight Forwarding Hiring

Hiring the right talent in freight forwarding is more complex than it may initially appear. This isn’t just about filling roles with available talent. It’s about ensuring your team can manage regulatory compliance, coordinate with global partners, and maintain excellent customer service under pressure. With global trade constantly evolving, finding professionals who understand freight movement, customs processes, regulatory compliance and client expectations is more essential than ever.

The freight forwarding sector presents a unique hiring challenge: it requires professionals with both technical knowledge and operational agility while working with time-sensitive freight. Internal HR teams often struggle to identify, assess, and retain such specialized logistics talent.

Some common hiring challenges include:

Shortage of qualified professionals– Demand often outpaces supply, especially for experienced professionals familiar with international regulations, trade laws, and shipping platforms. Companies need a talent partner that can access a broader candidate pool.
Complex regulatory environment– Freight forwarding companies must remain compliant with global trade laws, customs procedures, and security protocols. Missteps in hiring can lead to compliance violations and service disruptions.
High cost of a bad hire– Hiring the wrong person in a key role can damage customer relationships, increase liability, and stall operations. Specialized recruitment with a niche firm helps mitigate these risks.
Fierce competition for talent– The logistics industry is fast-paced, and top candidates often have multiple offers. Acting quickly—and wisely—is critical to securing the right hire.

At CS Recruiting, we help freight forwarding companies overcome these challenges by tapping into our extensive talent network and streamlining the recruitment process to deliver results fast. Visit our recruiting blog to learn more.

Why Choose CS Recruiting as Your Freight Forwarding Recruitment Agency

Choosing the right recruiting partner can determine the success, or failure, of your hiring strategy. Generalist recruiting firms may understand hiring, but they often lack insight into the day-to-day reality of freight forwarding. At CS Recruiting, we live and breathe the full supply chain. We know what matters in a freight forwarding operation, and we know how to identify people who can make a difference on day one.

Here’s why CS Recruiting stands out among freight forwarding recruiting agencies:

Industry specialization– We focus 100% on supply chain, logistics, and transportation searches. Our niche expertise means faster, more accurate candidate matches, which saves our clients time and money.
Established network of candidates– Our talent pool includes thousands of vetted logistics professionals. We maintain ongoing relationships with candidates across the freight forwarding landscape.
Consultative, transparent approach– We don’t simply pass along résumés. We provide expert recommendations, honest feedback, strategic guidance, and personalized support throughout the hiring journey.
Strong employer branding– Our team helps position your company as an employer of choice. This is especially helpful in competitive markets where candidates may weigh multiple offers.
Long-term partnership mindset– We build lasting relationships with our clients, offering guidance beyond a single hire. Many of our clients continue partnering with us for future searches because they trust our process and results.

Want to get to know the recruiters behind our success? Meet our team and see why clients trust us with their freight forwarding recruitment challenges.

Our Freight Forwarding Recruitment Process

Hiring freight forwarding talent often requires a quick yet calculated approach. At CS Recruiting, we’ve designed a recruitment process that not only identifies qualified candidates quickly, but also ensures they align with your company’s values, workflow, and long-term goals.

We know how important it is to balance industry experience with cultural fit, especially in a high-stakes field like logistics. That’s why we act as a true hiring partner, working collaboratively with your team from the first conversation through onboarding and long term retention.

Here’s how we do it:

Intake and scoping– We start with a deep-dive intake call to understand your business, team structure, and hiring goals. This helps us align on priorities so we can identify the right profile for your open role.
Candidate sourcing – Our recruiters tap into our proprietary database and passive candidate networks to surface top talent. We don’t wait for applications to come to us. We actively seek out the best candidate for every role.
Screening and alignment– We vet candidates thoroughly, focusing on relevant experience, soft skills, and long-term potential. Every candidate we present is qualified and aligned with your needs.
Interview coordination and support– We manage interview logistics, prepare candidates, and keep communication flowing. We act as a liaison between both sides to prevent delays or misalignment.
Offer and onboarding support– We assist with offer negotiations and provide insight to ensure acceptance. Even after the hire, we check in to ensure a smooth transition and onboarding experience.

To explore our end-to-end support model, we invite you to contact us for a conversation about your next freight forwarding hire.

Industries We Support in Freight Forwarding & Logistics

CS Recruiting partners with companies across a wide spectrum of logistics operations. Our freight forwarding recruitment services support:

Domestic and international freight forwarders– Whether you handle regional shipments or global air and ocean freight, we source candidates with the right operational knowledge.
Customs brokerage firms– We find talent with in-depth knowledge of import/export documentation, tariffs, and customs clearance.
3PL, 4PLand non-asset-based logistics companies– Our recruiters understand how to hire for service-driven logistics providers that rely on carrier relationships and tech platforms.
Import/export businesses– We recruit logistics and trade lane professionals for companies shipping goods across borders and managing vendor relationships.
Technology providers– From TMS software companies to digital freight marketplaces, we help staff teams at the cutting edge of freight forwarding innovation.

Read our client testimonials to see how we’ve helped companies across these sectors build winning teams.