Insights from Jacob Niemiec, Shipco’s Regional Head of Trade Lane Management – Americas
Trade lanes are the backbone of global supply chains. At Shipco, Trade Lane Management (TLM) ensures that services – across ocean, air, and land – are competitive, reliable, and responsive to market shifts. It’s a discipline that drives customer success by optimizing routing, visibility, and service design.
In the Americas, TLM is led by Jacob Niemiec, Shipco’s Regional Head of Trade Lane Management, who oversees strategy and develops trade lane services that support forwarders across the region.
Optimizing services across every product line
TLM refines service offerings across the entire supply chain. From strengthening routings to launching new services and enhancing visibility for forwarders. Jacob describes it as both a daily discipline and a long-term strategy: “Our primary goal is to optimize the services we provide so our clients receive a better product – one they can offer confidently to their own customers.”
This client-oriented approach extends throughout Shipco’s product lines. While LCL remains the core focus, the team collaborates closely with the different product divisions, such as FCL and Airfreight. In addition, the Shipco TLM team assists with other specialized services including but not limited to, USA domestic trucking, Warehousing, Hazardous cargo, Project cargo; along with region-specific requirements (ex: Australia/New Zealand BMSB) and more.
The value for forwarders is tangible. Enhanced routings, new direct services, and better visibility translate into stronger offerings for their own customer base.
How TLM creates measurable value for forwarders
Much of TLM’s work takes place behind the scenes, but its impact is felt directly. Improved services, tailored to client needs, help forwarders expand into new markets and adjust their service mix.
“We see a clear advantage when clients interact with the TLM team, especially when they [freight forwarders] are developing new services or expanding their scope,” Jacob explains.
This proactive support enables forwarders to react more quickly to opportunities, differentiate their services, and strengthen relationships with shippers.
Anticipating challenges in a volatile market
Global trade is constantly evolving. Tariffs, geopolitical shifts, and regional disruptions can ripple through freight networks with little warning. For Jacob, anticipation is part of the job. He notes, “In today’s market, there are many pain points that the freight forwarding community is experiencing. These range from tariffs to geopolitical unrest in different regions of the world. All of this has a massive effect on everyone’s business. That is why we always try to stay ahead, to anticipate what could happen next, and ensure that we already have solutions ready for our clients.”
The ability to act quickly, without lengthy delays or chains of correspondence, has become a defining feature of Shipco’s approach. Jacob emphasizes, “One of our guiding philosophies when working with clients is to determine how we can reach a ‘yes’ for them as quickly as possible. The faster we can provide a positive answer, the faster they can respond to their own customers.”
Partnership as the foundation of reliable services
TLM is built on strong partnerships and a deep understanding of client needs. “Our goal is to gain a close understanding of both our clients and our partners, their opportunities and struggles, so that we create a product that sells itself – reliable, functional, and trusted,” Jacob affirms.
This philosophy extends beyond service design. By working closely with top management and gathering constant feedback, the team ensures continuous improvement. “We make sure there is visibility across everything, and we collaborate with leadership to enhance our product. This setup allows us to receive constant feedback from clients,” he adds.
This cycle creates a service culture that is both agile and resilient. Clients are treated as strong partners, and their success directly shapes Shipco’s success.
When helping clients expand on opportunities across global markets, the TLM team collaborates closely with Shipco’s worldwide offices and trusted overseas partners. Solutions are co-developed with local experts who bring deep market knowledge and operational insight. For clients, the benefit is services that are relevant, adaptable, and consistently dependable.
Why Trade Lane Management sets Shipco apart
TLM gives Shipco the capacity to tailor services while maintaining scale. This balance allows the organization to deliver solutions that reflect both market demands and client needs. “Trade Lane Management lets us deep dive into our portfolio, monitor performance, and tailor services to client needs. That is what helps us bring unique services to the market and remain aligned with what the market requires,” Jacob states.
Success in TLM means more than maintaining services. It means creating new solutions, taking calculated risks, and helping forwarders succeed. “Trade Lane Management is not only about launching and optimizing services. It is also about creating new solutions, handling value, and continuously finding ways to improve what we offer to clients and partners. Of course, this involves taking calculated risks. But we believe that those risks are necessary in order to achieve greater rewards and ensure our clients succeed in their markets,” he highlights.
For Jacob and the TLM team, success is reflected in the confidence clients bring to every engagement with their own customers, knowing that Shipco has already built the foundation for reliable, responsive service.