The Loadstar

AI is everywhere in logistics right now, but what does it actually mean for freight forwarding? 

In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, host Charlotte Goldstone speaks to Erik Muttersbach, founder of Zauber and former Forto technology executive, about where AI and agentic AI really stand today, what is already happening in forwarding, and what could change over the next three to five years. 

Erik shares what he is learning from real-world deployments with customers, tackles some of the biggest misconceptions around AI, and explains why adoption and change management may be just as important as the technology itself. They also discuss the buy-versus-build question, the patterns Erik has seen across a decade of technology adoption in forwarding, and how companies can separate genuine AI capability from the hype. 

Looking ahead, what will AI actually change across the forwarding value chain - and which parts of the industry will prove hardest to transform? 

A profitable quote does not always become a profitable shipment. In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, host Charlotte Goldstone asks where freight forwarders lose money between booking and delivery, and what they can do to protect their margins.

Emma Crumpton, enterprise solutions director at Portcast, explains how detention and demurrage charges, mismatched buy and sell rates, and costs that are never billed back to customers can erode the return on a job.

The problem is often the volume and complexity of information operators must manage across carriers, ports and contracts. Ian Powell, tech and solutions director at Metro, brings the forwarders' perspective. He discusses the cost of manual processing and rework, and describes how Metro pilots technology before rolling it out across its operations.

The conversation also examines what AI can realistically do with shipment data. Both guests argue that reliable data, clear processes and human oversight matter more than simply adding another tool. For forwarders wondering where to start, their advice is to identify the cause of a margin leak first, then decide whether a process change or technology can fix it.

What’s keeping Transpacific freight rates elevated as the peak season approaches? This week, Gavin van Marle joins us to discuss the latest rate movements, the changing US-Canada trade relationship and a significant leadership shake-up at PIL. 

Plus, Awery’s Tristan Koch joins us to examine the latest airfreight data, the continuing decline in China-Europe ecommerce volumes, shifting rates and capacity, and how new technology could help the industry navigate an increasingly volatile market. 

All this and more, in under 20 minutes on this week's News in Brief Podcast!  

Airfreight markets are facing constant disruption, from shifting ecommerce flows and changing rates to tight capacity and growing uncertainty across major trade lanes.

In this special sponsored episode, Tristan Koch, Chief Commercial Officer at Awery Aviation Software, joins us to discuss the latest China-Europe ecommerce trends, how airlines and forwarders are responding to volatile demand, and why different booking platforms can show very different rates and capacity for the same flight. He also explains how Awery’s new AI-powered data search and reporting functionality can help air cargo professionals make sense of an increasingly complex market.

Sponsored by Awery Aviation Software.

Transpacific freight rates are on the rise — but is capacity really the problem? This week, Stephanie Loomis of Noatum Logistics joins us to unpack the latest rate increases, booking risks and service reliability, as well as the shifting outlook for Asia-Europe trade and global vessel capacity. 

Plus, Loadstar Publisher Alex Lennane looks at the latest upheaval in airfreight, from Amazon’s network reshuffle to airlines redrawing freighter routes amid tight aircraft availability. And we explore whether shippers are outgrowing the traditional 3PL model. 

All this and more, in under 20 minutes on this week's News in Brief Podcast!  

This week on News in Brief, we look at Hapag-Lloyd’s latest proposals in its bid for ZIM, the impact of renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and the resilience of global container trade despite ongoing disruption, plus what all the external factors mean for rates. 

We also bring you key takeaways from the EU CBEC Ecommerce Forum in Liege with Rotate's Jonathan Mellink, including the impact of the EU’s new low-value parcel customs rules, changes in ecommerce volumes and air cargo capacity, and Rotate’s outlook for demand over the next 12 months.

Geopolitcal tensions, port congestion and shifting freight rates dominate this week’s News in Brief.  

Host Charlotte Goldstone chats to ex-liner exec Nils Roche about the latest US-Iran escalation, the impact on the Strait of Hormuz and the return of shipping via Suez, alongside berthing disruption at Shanghai and Ningbo. 

We also examine falling Asia-Europe air freight capacity following the EU’s de minimis changes, the latest rate movements, and growing concerns over Russian and Middle Eastern airspace. 

Plus, Loadstar Publisher Alex Lennane discusses her recent interview with WiseTech Global CEO Zubin Appoo and rounds up the biggest stories on The Loadstar Premium. 

The freight forwarding industry is changing fast, with consolidation, growing competition from major carriers and integrators, and a volatile geopolitical landscape reshaping the market. 

In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, we speak to Dan March, CEO of WCAworld, about what these changes mean for small and medium-sized forwarders. Are SMEs being squeezed out by industry consolidation, or does their size give them an advantage when it comes to agility, flexibility and personalised service? 

Dan also shares his perspective on the biggest challenges facing independent forwarders, the opportunities emerging from today’s disruption, and how the sector could evolve over the next decade, all in just 20 minutes.  

What’s really driving freight rates in 2026? In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, we’re joined by Judah Levine, Head of Research at Freightos, to discuss the latest trends across global ocean and airfreight markets. 

Judah shares his insight on rate movements across the major lanes, the balance between supply and demand and the impact of external factors on freight markets. We also discuss the shifting nature of peak seasons, when the current Transpacific peak could ease, and what shippers should consider when negotiating contracts. 

Plus, we look ahead to the rest of the year, including the prospects for a Q4 airfreight peak and what the market could have in store for shippers and forwarders. 

What do the first six months of 2026 tell us about the state of global container shipping?

In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, Charlotte Goldstone is joined by Container Trades Statistics CEO Nigel Pusey and The Loadstar managing editor Gavin van Marle to dig into the numbers behind the biggest stories shaping the market.

From an 8.9% surge in Far East exports and continued growth in intra-Asia trade, to tariffs, shifting sourcing strategies and the impact of the Middle East conflict, the trio explore how geopolitics and disruption have reshaped global container flows.

They also revisit predictions made earlier this year - including whether the European peak season came early, how long Red Sea diversions would last, and whether carriers would begin returning to Suez - before looking ahead to what could shape the second half of 2026.