The Biggest AI Challenge For Freight Forwarders

Excerpt of research report “Freight Forwarding at a Crossroads: Preparing for 2026 and Beyond" by Adelante SCM and Magaya.

Sep 03, 2025

Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt of a research report published this week, “Freight Forwarding at a Crossroads: Preparing for 2026 and Beyond.” The research, conducted by Adelante SCM and commissioned by Magaya, aimed to understand the adjustments, innovations, and strategic bets freight forwarders are making to stay ahead in an increasingly complex and dynamic market. The report includes data and insights from a survey conducted in July 2025 with 110 qualified and verified freight forwarders and logistics service providers. Please download the full report for all the research results, and register for the LinkedIn Live event on October 14 at 2:00 pm ET where Adrian Gonzalez and Magaya executives and customers will analyze and discuss the findings of the report.

The famous management consultant and author Peter Drucker once said, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence — it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”

So far, 2025 has been a relatively turbulent year for freight forwarders and logistics service providers. The tariff war, which began in January after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, has brought added risk, uncertainty, and costs to global trade operations. What makes it especially challenging is the ongoing changes, with tariffs increased, decreased, added, or eliminated, almost on a daily basis.

In addition, effective August 29, 2025, the de minimis exemption for commercial shipments will be suspended. Per the Executive Order issued in July 30, “imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties.” The de minimis exemption was already eliminated for shipments from China and Hong Kong in May 2025.

What will happen next on the tariffs and regulatory compliance fronts?

Using Robots to Load/Unload Trucks

A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted how “new advances in robotics are [enabling the automation of truck loading and unloading]. Improved sensors and algorithms, advancements in AI and faster image-processing technology are making these robots proficient players in tasks that are like a game of 3-D Tetris.” This survey sought to understand industry readiness, key challenges, and opportunities associated with using robots to load or unload trucks.

Download the Report

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