Inside Serbia: The Hidden Hub of U.S. Freight Outsourcing

Last March, we traveled to Serbia for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the country’s outsourced freight scene. We interviewed professionals—from dispatchers to managers—about the realities of working and outsourcing in Serbia. They shared insights on everything from the local mentality to outsourcing trends, and what anyone considering relocation should know.

During our trip, we had the chance to interview several young and talented individuals who brought us behind the scenes of the Serbian logistics market and talked about the advantages of outsourcing.

One of them was Aleks Bates, Office Manager & Recruiting at PGT Northside, Co-Host of PODcast Asset Based, and a Canadian dispatcher previously based in Serbia. According to him, this country is a freight broker’s paradise. He shared some of the reasons why so many American companies decide to outsource here.

“The labor and office spaces are not too expensive, we have great internet and people who want to work. Pretty much everyone speaks English. Before the internet, there wasn’t much to do out here. Once the internet boomed, that gave everyone opportunities.”

Work-Life Balance in Serbia

He also highlighted the differences in mentality between Serbians and North Americans. While the latter tends to prioritize work over free time, Serbians strive for a work-life balance.

“They work just enough to have as much free time as possible. In North America, our mindset is 'work first'. Here it’s, ‘I just don't want to work so hard. I want to have enough money for my bills, and time to drink coffee.’ Work is not the most important thing.”

We later met up with Vidak Tamindzic, General Manager at Juzni Vetar Logistics Inc., to talk about Serbian mentality when it comes to running a trucking company.

“Companies are mostly run by owners that were truck drivers before. They have the mentality of a truck driver– he wants to get paid, he wants to get his drivers a fair pay, and that’s it.”

Double Brokering In Freight

When asked to set the record straight when it comes to double brokering in Serbia, this is what Aleks had to say:

“I mean, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t know a single office that operates as a double brokerage. All of our logistics is set up from American companies that send work here for us, and it’s all legit companies. As far as I know, there’s no dedicated double brokerage office in this country.”

We were invited to stop by the HMD Transport office, based in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, for a chat with their Regional Director, Nikola Stanojevic, about his insights on the realities of working in the trucking industry in Serbia. 

“This industry gets you hooked. It just depends on if you are lucky to meet the people who are willing to give you the knowledge they have.”

The Role of the Internet in Serbia’s Logistics Boom

He also explained, that with the rise of the internet in the early 2000s, many young, highly educated individuals have gained opportunities to work for companies abroad, thanks to brokerages outsourcing to Serbia. It’s not unusual for them to bring together people from all backgrounds, from economics to journalism, even law to management, to work in logistics. It’s a win-win situation: companies benefit from employees with diverse skill sets, while employees have the opportunity to hone and develop their skills throughout the years. 

For those thinking of relocating or outsourcing to Serbia, it’s clear that hard-working and talented individuals are the driving force behind its thriving logistics sector. This well-oiled machine shows no signs of slowing down soon.

Watch the entire interview on our YouTube channel.