The Logistics Labor Shortage: How Rapido’s Nearshore Staffing Solutions Fills the Gap

People are at the heart of operations for third-party logistics providers. Even with the introduction of AI to help streamline operations, the human touch remains imperative in logistics operations. Carrier and customer support teams ensure loads are covered and the supply chain continues to drive forward. But in today's market, finding and keeping that talent has become one of the industry's biggest hurdles. High turnover, difficulty recruiting, and stretched teams are impacting 3PL's ability to provide quality service. However, with nearshoring, 3PLs have a scalable solution to address their recruitment and retention challenges.

The Logistics Labor Shortage Facing 3PLs

Carrier and customer support teams keep freight moving. They're responsible for securing carriers, managing quotes, coordinating shipments, and keeping shippers informed. But in today's labor market, keeping those teams staffed has become a significant challenge. Turnover remains high, recruiting takes longer, and the cycle of hiring and retraining slows down operations when speed and reliability matter most.

The broader transportation labor market compounds this issue. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.6% in March 2025, down from 5.4% the previous year but still above pre-pandemic levels. That means the pool of available, qualified talent remains tight. On top of this, Tech.co's 2025 Logistics Report shows that 63% of freight companies report driver recruitment and retention has stagnated or worsened, which puts even more strain on 3PLs. With fewer resources to rely on, support teams are stretched thin, creating service delays, slower communication, and missed opportunities to win or retain business.

Why Nearshore Staffing Makes Sense for 3PLs

With domestic labor markets tightening, many 3PLs are turning to nearshore staffing as a way to scale support operations without sacrificing quality. Nearshoring — building teams in nearby countries like Mexico — offers a unique balance of accessibility, cost efficiency, and talent availability that traditional U.S. hiring struggles to match. Instead of spending months recruiting and retraining new hires stateside, 3PLs can quickly tap into a growing pool of professionals — many who already have freight brokerage experience.

Benefits of Nearshoring for 3PLs

Nearshore staffing offers more than just a means to fill open roles — it provides strategic advantages that directly address the challenges 3PLs face today. By building teams in Mexico, 3PLs gain access to reliable talent while also improving efficiency, scalability, and service quality. Some of the key benefits of nearshoring include:

• ‍Scalability: Quickly ramp up support teams to match freight cycles and customer demand without long domestic hiring delays.

• Cost efficiency: Reduce staffing costs compared to U.S.-based roles, freeing up resources to reinvest in other growth areas.

• Real-time collaboration: Shared time zones ensure nearshore teams work seamlessly with U.S. staff, carriers, and customers.

• Lower turnover: Stronger employee retention compared to typical U.S. entry-level logistics roles, reducing the constant churn of hiring and retraining.

• Service continuity: Consistent coverage and communication help avoid delays, missed opportunities, and strained customer relationships.

• Focus on growth: Nearshore teams handle day-to-day execution, allowing U.S.-based employees to dedicate more time to strategic accounts and higher-value initiatives.

Together, these benefits create a stronger, more resilient staffing model — one that allows 3PLs to maintain high service levels even as domestic labor challenges persist.

Addressing Common Concerns of Nearshoring

While the benefits of nearshore staffing are clear, many 3PLs have questions about how it works in practice. Concerns about quality, security, and team integration are common — but with the right partner, these challenges are effectively addressed and no longer present barriers.

• ‍Quality control: Nearshore employees can be trained on the same systems, processes, and performance metrics as U.S.-based staff, ensuring consistent service and accountability.

• Data security and compliance: Reputable nearshore partners follow strict security protocols and compliance standards, giving 3PLs the confidence to entrust sensitive information.

• Team integration: With overlapping time zones and strong English proficiency, nearshore teams work in real time and function as seamless extensions of domestic operations.

• Customer perception: Since nearshore teams are fully aligned with U.S. hours and workflows, customers and carriers experience the same level of responsiveness and professionalism they expect.

Partnering with Rapido to Address Labor ShortagesThrough Nearshoring

Labor shortages aren't a temporary setback for 3PLs — they're a structural challenge that continues to impact service levels, growth, and competitiveness. Nearshore staffing offers a practical, proven way to ease that pressure by providing 3PLs access to reliable talent, real-time collaboration, and long-term stability.

At Rapido, we work with you to understand your challenges and operations, fill gaps in your hiring and retention strategy, and grow with your business. Our average time-to-fill is two to three weeks, compared to the industry norm of 45 days or more. Plus, we bring talent with logistics experience — approximately 80 percent of our placements have at least one to three years of experience in freight brokerage.

Are you facing challenges due to the logistics labor shortage? Reach out to Rapido to learn more about how nearshoring can help.

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