frank korf When it comes to e-commerce logistics, the 2025 peak season was a stress test—and not everyone passed. Skyrocketing volumes, tighter regulatory oversight, and shifting consumer expectations pushed infrastructure and processes to their limits. But with challenge comes clarity.
“For those in the thick of fulfillment, customs clearance, and final-mile delivery, the question is no longer if e-commerce will surge again—it’s how well you’re prepared when it does.” Global CFS President, Steve Panzarella.
At Global CFS, we saw firsthand what broke, what held up, and what forwarders, retailers, and marketplaces need to improve heading into 2026.
What Broke: Bottlenecks That Caught Logistics Off Guard
Peak 2025 revealed some critical failure points across the U.S. import and e-commerce logistics chain:
- Overloaded Type 86 Processing, due to unscalable workflows and under-resourced compliance teams,
- Misaligned sortation timing, with freight arriving after cutoff windows and missing air-side or truck departures,
- Poor last-mile coordination, especially during regional weather disruptions and driver shortages,
- Lack of visibility, particularly on low-value shipments where tracking expectations still remained high,
- Inadequate space, as fulfillment centers ran out of room for staging or reprocessing returns.
What Held Up: Infrastructure That Performed Under Pressure
Not everything buckled. Some systems held steady—even under record pressure:
- Pre-sorted e-commerce cargo, especially freight routed through compliant and pre-cleared Type 86 pipelines.
- Advanced scanning and screening, with sites like Global CFS’s Chicago CCSF operating efficiently under high volumes.
- Scheduled cut-off management, which minimized overnight delays at key hubs, including ORD.
- Established cargo handling SOPs, especially where last-mile partners were already tightly integrated.
At Global CFS, consistent performance was backed by operational readiness at our e-commerce handling facilities, clear communication with forwarders, and data-driven volume forecasting.
What to Do Differently in 2026
The 2025 peak gave us a roadmap for smarter operations:
- Optimize for Type 86 early, including validated entry data, clear product descriptions, and up-to-date broker coordination.
- Plan for multiple entry points, including access to coast-to-coast CFS coverage and redundant routing strategies.
- Stage closer to final-mile partners, reducing delays between clearance and delivery transfer.
- Use bonded facilities for flexibility, allowing you to defer duty and sort by final destination as needed.
- Lean on partners with proven e-commerce capabilities, not just general freight experience.
How Global CFS Supports Smarter E-Commerce Logistics
Global CFS has built specialized capabilities designed for the scale and speed of modern e-commerce.
- Type 86 Entry Support, with deep familiarity in high-volume, low-value entry processing.
- Strategic sorting facilities, including dedicated space in LAX and ORD.
- Integrated final-mile coordination, with direct carrier handoffs to avoid costly staging delays.
- High-frequency cut-off windows, ensuring freight clears and moves faster—even during peak surges.
- Compliance-first mindset, ensuring cargo moves fast and stays compliant with CBP requirements.
Our facilities are designed for throughput. Our teams are trained for volume. And our systems are built for repeatability.
Ready for What’s Next?
It’s important to remember that 2026’s outlook is entirely dependent on the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the constitutionality of IEEPA tariffs. If struck down, expect a strong trade environment, but not a full recovery as losses due to the removal of the de minimis exemption won’t be recovered with the same urgency.
If 2025 was a warning, 2026 is an opportunity. Whether you’re a fast-scaling DTC brand, an established marketplace seller, or a forwarder supporting global retail clients, now’s the time to reevaluate your e-commerce logistics strategy.
At Global CFS, we help clients move from reactive shipping to reliable, repeatable execution—especially when demand spikes.
