Freight forwarding is a national business, but hiring is local. The skills a forwarder needs in Houston are not the same as in Chicago, and the pressure on an ocean import team in Los Angeles is different from that on an air export desk in Atlanta.
Here is what is driving air and ocean operations hiring at the five gateways where we see the most demand.
Los Angeles: Record Ocean Volumes and a Busy Air Gateway
The San Pedro Bay ports have had a remarkable 2026. The Port of Los Angeles handled 1,042,652 TEU in September, its busiest month in its 118-year history. Next door, the Port of Long Beach also reported a record September.
That volume feeds straight into forwarders' ocean import teams. Demand is strong for ocean import coordinators, customs entry writers and supervisors who can keep high volumes moving while managing demurrage and detention exposure for clients.
Los Angeles is also a major air gateway for transpacific freight. With IATA reporting Asia–North America air traffic up 17% year on year in September 2026, experienced air import staff in the LAX area are in demand.
Houston: Record Containers and a Diverse Cargo Base
Port Houston handled 2.23 million TEU in the first half of 2026, its strongest first half on record. In June alone, loaded imports rose 27% year on year.
Houston's cargo base is unusually varied. Containers, steel, general cargo and the energy sector all go through the Gulf Coast. That creates demand for ocean operations staff who can handle more than standard FCL, including breakbulk, out-of-gauge and project shipments. Forwarders also want export documentation specialists and operations managers who understand the energy and industrial sectors.
New York/New Jersey: Heavy Compliance Demand
New York has long been a customs and compliance center, and the 2026 tariff changes have made that work more complex. Forwarders here are hiring entry writers, licensed customs brokers and ocean import staff with strong compliance knowledge.
On the air side, JFK opened a new consolidated cargo center in 2025 as part of the Port Authority's redevelopment of the airport's cargo area, and air import and export operations remain a steady source of demand.
Chicago: The Inland Air Hub
Chicago works differently from the coastal gateways. O'Hare is a major international air cargo gateway, and the city sits at the center of the Midwest's manufacturing and distribution base.
For forwarders, that means demand for air export and import coordinators, airfreight station managers and customs staff who can clear air shipments quickly. Strong transpacific and transatlantic air demand in 2026 has kept Chicago air desks busy. People who know both air operations and customs are especially valuable here.
Atlanta and the Savannah Connection
Atlanta forwarders run air through Hartsfield-Jackson and ocean freight largely through the Port of Savannah. Savannah handled 5.67 million TEU in its 2026 fiscal year, and its June volume was up 18% year on year. The Georgia Ports Authority's chairman said cargo is shifting to Savannah.
For forwarders in Atlanta, that means demand for ocean coordinators who can manage Savannah moves from an Atlanta office, air export staff, and branch leaders who can grow a Southeast operation.
What Every Gateway Has in Common
Across all five markets, the same profiles are hardest to find:
- Operations staff who also understand customs. Since the 2026 tariff changes, this skill set is valuable everywhere.
- Supervisors and team leads who can manage people and peak volumes at the same time.
- Bilingual and multilingual operations staff who can work directly with overseas agents and origin offices.
- Air specialists while transpacific air demand is growing at double-digit rates.
Employers should expect strong operations candidates to have more than one option, especially in Los Angeles, Houston and New York.
Hiring operations staff in any of these gateways? Speak with one of our consultants or submit a vacancy. Air or ocean operations professional? Submit your resume.
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At Altius Talent, we believe recruitment should be built on real conversations, not endless email chains. Too many hiring processes fail because important details are missed until late stages. We help freight forwarding businesses and candidates make better decisions early through honest dialogue, market expertise, and a human approach to hiring.