The logistics industry has already lived through its fair share of revolutions. And with Artificial Intelligence (AI) accelerating and regulations shifting, it’s about to go through another. What should we expect? That was the focus of a recent fireside chat I had with Tamara Basic Vasiljev, LinkedIn’s Head Economist for EMEA.
Here, I unpack these challenges in more detail, with a focus on what our shared predictions might mean for the logistics industry across Europe.
Freight networks are changing
For years, many shippers were comfortable relying on a small number of carriers and long, fixed contracts. It felt stable and familiar. But with disruption now the norm, that model is under pressure. Patterns that were once rare have started to repeat, and that is changing how people think about risk.
Today’s shippers are realising that leaning on a single approach makes them vulnerable. They are starting to build more flexible networks, bringing in different partners and looking for ways to move capacity up and down as conditions change.
Policy is changing in parallel. As the European Union (EU) continues to invest in multimodal freight transport, we are likely to see a gradual shift away from thinking in terms of road alone, with rail and inland waterways becoming more central to long‑term planning.
Road freight will still be critical to how Europe moves goods. But the balance will evolve. Over the next few years, the most robust supply chains will be the ones that can knit together different modes, different partners and different types of contracts, with digital tools helping them see and manage the whole picture. For many organisations, this will be a series of small adjustments rather than a single, dramatic move.
AI working alongside people
AI is often discussed in extremes: either as something that will automate everything, or as a threat to jobs. In reality, what we see inside logistics operations today is far more grounded.
At Amazon Freight, AI and machine learning already support areas like network design, routing and load planning. These systems can analyse thousands of options in seconds. They spot patterns and suggest ways to improve performance, but they do not make decisions alone.
Planners use these tools as a starting point. AI generates options; people then bring in what they know to make the final decisions. This is where AI adds the most value: taking care of the heavy analytical work so that people can focus on judgement.
In that sense, AI is less an autopilot and more a second pair of eyes. It speeds up analysis and highlights opportunities, while people stay responsible for the choices that affect customers, costs and safety. The role of the human shifts from manually handling every detail to focusing on the trade‑offs that matter most.
Looking ahead, the businesses that benefit most from AI in logistics are likely to be those that treat it as a tool to support their teams, not to sideline them. That means investing in good data, making sure employees understand how to use AI tools in their own roles, and keeping human judgement at the centre of decisions.
Entrepreneurship, adaptability and the future of work
AI is not only changing how logistics networks run; it is also changing how people build their careers.
LinkedIn’s data suggests that by 2030, a large share of the skills listed in a typical job ad today will have shifted. You can already see this playing out in logistics. Roles that once focused mainly on physical tasks now often involve working with digital platforms and interpreting data, even in parts of the industry that once felt far removed from technology.
At the same time, new tools are making it easier to start and grow a business. Tasks that once required dedicated teams can now be supported by accessible software. For logistics, that lowers the barrier for smaller operators and specialists to enter the market and find a place in the wider ecosystem.
This rise in entrepreneurship can benefit the whole sector. It brings fresh ideas and gives shippers more options when building their networks. The challenge will be to connect this growing pool of capacity into structures that are safe, reliable and aligned with Europe’s broader economic and environmental goals. If that can be done, the result is likely to be a more diverse and resilient mix of providers.
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Threaded through all of this is the idea of adaptability. LinkedIn chose “adaptability” as the word of 2025, and it’s easy to see why. In logistics, deep expertise still matters, but the ability to learn new tools and move between roles is becoming just as important.
Within Amazon Freight, there is a growing focus on this mindset. People are encouraged to keep building their core skills while also staying curious about how their work fits into the wider network. Being open to new technology and willing to update your skill set will be key advantages in a fast‑changing labour market. The organisations that support this will be better placed to adjust as conditions change.
A more resilient, human‑centred logistics system
As Europe moves into a new economic cycle, cost pressure, regulation and uncertainty will continue to shape decisions in logistics. But there is also a larger shift underway.
Handled well, changes like AI and new regulations create opportunities to build supply chains that are not only more efficient, but also more resilient and sustainable. That means designing systems that can cope with shocks and using technology in ways that improve outcomes for workers and the wider community. It is a chance to take lessons from recent disruption and turn them into longer‑term improvements.
Ultimately, the future of European logistics will not be decided by technology or regulation alone. It will come down to the choices made now: about collaboration and investment as we put new tools to work across the industry. Those choices will shape not just how goods move, but how people experience work and opportunity within the sector.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: Top-down aerial image of truck trailers parked in a lot with distinct yellow markings. Cover Photo Credit: Giant Asparagus.
