Every shipment a forwarder handles crosses at least one border, and usually a language barrier with it. Operators deal with overseas agents, carriers, customs authorities and customers in different countries and time zones every day. Technical knowledge and operational experience will always come first, but the ability to work in a second language is increasingly what moves a candidate from the longlist to the shortlist.
It isn’t only freight. In a survey of 1,200 US employers by Ipsos for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), 9 in 10 said they rely on employees with language skills other than English. One in three said they already had a language skills gap, and 56% expected their need for language skills to grow over the following five years. In an industry built on international trade, those pressures are sharper still.
Languages Follow the Trade Lanes
The languages employers ask for aren’t random. They follow where the freight is moving.
Spanish in the US. Mexico was the United States’ largest trading partner for the third year running in 2025, with two-way trade of $872.8 billion, according to a WorldCity analysis of US Census Bureau data. For forwarders handling cross-border road freight, Mexican customs documentation or Latin American trade lanes, Spanish is often close to essential. Portuguese adds value for South American trade, particularly with Brazil.
Mandarin and German in Germany. China was Germany’s largest trading partner again in 2025, with trade worth €251.8 billion, followed by the US at €240.5 billion, according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Destatis. German forwarders working the Asia-Pacific lanes value Mandarin, while English and German together remain the baseline for most commercial roles.
Dutch, French and German in Benelux. The Netherlands was Germany’s third-largest trading partner in 2025 (Destatis), and freight moves constantly between the Benelux ports and Germany. In Belgium, many roles need Dutch and French, and German is a strong advantage across the region. Luxembourg’s air cargo market regularly calls for French and German alongside English.
Where Language Skills Make the Biggest Difference
In our experience, language skills add the most value in four areas.
- Agent and partner networks. Operators who can speak directly to overseas agents resolve problems faster, because they’re not relying on translated emails or second-hand updates when a shipment is delayed.
- Customs and documentation. Misreading a customs requirement or a document instruction is expensive. Candidates who can read and query documents in the original language reduce risk on cross-border moves.
- Key accounts. For Key Account Managers and Global Account Managers, speaking a customer’s language builds the trust that keeps an account when a competitor is offering a lower rate.
- Business development. Sales Executives and Business Development Managers who can open conversations in a prospect’s language often get meetings that others don’t.
Language Is Often the Deciding Factor
Even when a language isn’t listed as essential, it frequently decides between two otherwise similar candidates. When we present a shortlist, the candidate who can also speak to the employer’s agents or customers in their own language often gets the offer.
Many bilingual operators also progress into commercial roles sooner, moving into positions such as Freight Sales Executive, Key Account Manager, Business Development Manager, International Operations Manager or Branch Manager, because they can build relationships across markets from day one.
Language Skills Work Best Alongside Technical Expertise
A second language on its own won’t secure a role. What employers want is the combination: air or ocean freight experience, import or export operations, customs brokerage, CargoWise or trade lane knowledge, with the ability to use it across markets. A bilingual ocean export operator with strong CargoWise skills is a very different proposition from a candidate with only one of the two.
How to Make Your Language Skills Count
Language skills are one of the things recruiters search for on CVs and LinkedIn, so make them easy to find. List each language with a clear level rather than just its name. For example:
- Fluent German (professional working proficiency)
- Native Spanish speaker
- Business-level Dutch
- Fluent French for commercial negotiations
Then show where you’ve used it: the trade lanes, agents or customers you worked with in that language. That turns a line on your CV into evidence an employer can picture.
Final Thoughts
Technical expertise will always be the foundation of a freight forwarding career, but language skills are increasingly what separate a strong candidate from an exceptional one. For employers, they mean faster problem-solving, stronger customer relationships and less risk on cross-border moves. For candidates, they open up more roles, faster progression and international opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
At Freight Appointments, we recruit across the US, Canada, Germany, Benelux and Australia, and we know which languages each market’s employers value. If you’re bilingual and wondering how to make it count in your next move, talk to our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bilingual skills important in freight forwarding?
Yes. Forwarders work with overseas agents, carriers, customers and customs authorities every day, so a second language makes candidates more attractive and often decides between similar profiles.
Which languages are most valuable in freight forwarding?
It depends on the market. Spanish is in high demand in the US because of trade with Mexico. Mandarin and German are valued in Germany. Dutch, French and German are sought after across Benelux.
Do bilingual freight forwarders earn more?
Not automatically, but language skills open up commercial, international and key account roles that often offer stronger earning potential.
Should I include language skills on my CV?
Yes. List each language with your level, and show where you’ve used it, alongside your freight forwarding experience, systems knowledge and trade lanes.
What other skills do employers look for alongside languages?
The most sought-after candidates combine language skills with air or ocean freight experience, customs brokerage, CargoWise, and import or export operations.
