still relying on DDU should be evaluating whether it’s costing them more than they realize. Flexibility Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage Merchants should also assess whether their logistics setup allows the flexibility to shift volume when disruption hits. Historically, disruptions were treated as isolated events. A weather issue, labor action, or a carrier outage would create temporary challenges before operations returned to normal. However, volatility is becoming part of the operating environment. As a result, resilience is becoming just as important as efficiency. The Shipping Intelligence Report also found that shipment rerouting across its network surged by more than 2,400% in 2025, with no signs of returning to baseline. Being able to move volume between carriers and customs channels quickly is becoming a basic operational requirement. The easiest way to build flexibility into cross-border operations is with a multi-carrier setup. A multi-carrier approach also gives businesses the ability to match the right carrier to the right market. Some carriers excel at customs clearance in specific regions. Others perform better in certain delivery networks or have stronger infrastructure for DDP programs. Maintaining access to multiple options allows businesses to adapt as regulations, costs, and service levels evolve, rather than becoming dependent on a single provider's capabilities. Having more than one shipping partner means a disruption doesn’t shut down an entire lane, and volume can move to another network without starting from scratch. The Middle Mile Is No Longer Running Quietly Customs and regulatory changes is a wave that's still building. By 2028, the EU will eliminate the €150 IOSS cap entirely, and full customs declarations will apply to all consignments — affecting a majority of cross-border parcel volume into Europe. Beyond the EU, many countries are watching the rollout closely and taking note of what revenue each new fee generates. The UK still maintains a £135 duty-free threshold, but is widely expected to be among the next to change it. Governments are seeing how much money they've been leaving on the table through customs exemptions, and adjusting accordingly. The middle mile has become the point where customs policy, carrier performance, fulfillment strategy, inventory placement, and customer experience intersect. Knowing which markets are modifying rules, understanding the financial impact on a specific product mix, deciding where inventory should be positioned, choosing carriers with genuine customs expertise, and building the flexibility to reroute when conditions change are all decisions happening in the middle mile of the logistics chain.
Find the EQUIPMENT you need SOFTWARE you need SERVICES you need
Carlos Barbosa is Vice President of eCommerce Solutions at ePost Global.
JULY-AUGUST 2026 PARCELindustry.com 25