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Starboard Eyes Technology Edge for Mid-Market Freight Forwarders

Sumeet Trehan, founder of Starboard, contends that smaller freight forwarders remain vital to global trade and possess operational expertise that larger competitors cannot replicate. His startup targets the operational friction that plagues quote desks: managing emails, PDFs, spreadsheets, carrier portals and constantly fluctuating rates. Trehan, formerly with Maersk, BCG and Flexport, argues that mid-sized forwarders should maintain customer relationships while gaining access to technology, procurement capabilities and financial infrastructure typically reserved for larger players. The forwarding sector remains margin-compressed, with smaller operators often posting net margins of 1-2 percent. Labor represents the largest cost burden after freight rates themselves. Trehan characterizes the pressure facing independent forwarders as an existential challenge requiring immediate solutions, not long-term strategic planning.