Amazon Freight and LinkedIn explore the future of Europe’s logistics economy

In a new fireside chat, Amazon Freight UK’s Managing Director Chris Roe and LinkedIn’s Head Economist for EMEA, Tamara Basic Vasiljev, discuss the outlook for Europe’s economy, the future of work, and how AI and collaboration are reshaping freight and logistics. Watch the full conversation below, or read on for the key takeaways.

The conversation opens with cautious optimism about the economic picture across Europe. Vasiljev noted that after a challenging period in the region, early indicators were pointing to a gradual recovery in Eurozone growth.

She highlighted that Germany, Europe’s largest economy, remains a focal point for the industry. After several tough years, it is now expected to return to modest growth, underpinned by a significant public investment programme. She points to a planned €1 trillion German fiscal package over ten years—roughly 2% of GDP per year—as a potential catalyst for Europe-wide growth, thanks to Germany’s tightly integrated supply chains and high fiscal multiplier.

Roe adds that from a freight and logistics standpoint, customers are experiencing a more stable operating environment. Inventory levels and supply chain reliability have normalised after the shocks of COVID-19, and many of the pandemic-era disruptions and fuel price spikes have now been absorbed into long-term planning.

Roe highlights a clear lesson from recent years in the value of collaboration across supply chains. Rather than operating in isolation, more freight businesses are now looking for shared solutions: combining volumes, aligning peaks, and using networks like Amazon Freight’s to unlock efficiencies they could not achieve alone.

He cites intermodal freight (combining road with rail or short sea legs) as a prime example of how shippers can significantly reduce carbon emissions on key lanes. Roe notes that Amazon Freight typically sees carbon savings of around 50% when moving from pure road freight to intermodal options, while maintaining high service levels for customers.

“Whenever I’m speaking to customers, I can’t remember a new conversation where we didn’t talk about sustainability,” says Roe. “Intermodal is enjoying a renaissance. Finding those opportunities that reduce carbon and improve reliability is a win for everyone.”

With discussion turning to the labour market, Vasiljev describes a “once-in-a-generation” shift in employment dynamics experienced over the last five years in Europe. She notes, “If you started a career 15 years ago, you might have expected to hold eight jobs over your working life,” she explains. “If you start today, that number is closer to 16.”

For companies like Amazon Freight, this shift is an opportunity to attract talent from diverse backgrounds. Roe explains that Amazon Freight recruits strongly on culture and leadership principles such as customer obsession, earn trust, and deliver results – then, providing

structured training to build domain expertise over time. Roe’s own career path—from finance to supply chain to leading Amazon Freight UK—is a great example of that internal mobility in action.

Vasiljev also observes an important trend in job requirements: the rise of human‑centric skills. As technical requirements evolve more quickly, employers are increasingly prioritising capabilities like communication, teamwork, negotiation, project management, and relationship-building. These skills sit at the heart of modern logistics, where cross-functional collaboration and customer-centric problem solving are essential.

AI is another central theme of the conversation. Vasiljev shares LinkedIn’s projection that by 2030, around 70% of the skills listed on a typical job ad today will have changed—either because they are replaced, redefined, or made implicit. That does not mean people must forget what they know; rather, they need to keep learning and adapting as new tools emerge.

Roe emphasises that AI should be seen as a tool to augment people, not replace them. At Amazon Freight, AI and machine learning are already embedded in areas such as network routing and optimisation. Instead of manually crunching numbers, planners work with AI‑generated options and apply their judgment to choose the best plan for customers.

“What’s important is that AI is there to help the human, not to replace the human,” says Roe. “The most valuable contribution people can make is deciding what matters, what the trade‑offs are, and how to create the best outcome for the customer.”

Vasiljev echoes this view, and emphasises the importance of understanding how to use AI tools in one’s own field. Whether it’s logistics planning, sales, or operations, AI literacy will be key to staying competitive.

Looking ahead, both speakers are optimistic about the opportunities created by AI, and note the rise in entrepreneurship as an impact. Vasiljev explains that AI lowers the barriers to starting and scaling a business. Tasks that once required entire teams—from bookkeeping to marketing—can now be supported by accessible digital tools.

LinkedIn has chosen “adaptability” as the word of 2025. The ability to learn continuously, pivot between roles, and build transferable skills is becoming a core advantage in a fast-changing labour market.

Roe sees this mindset as central to careers within Amazon Freight. “We will all need to grow, adapt, and change,” he says. “Depth still matters, but understanding context, working across teams, and being open to new tools and ideas will matter even more.”

As Europe navigates a new economic cycle, the conversation between Amazon Freight and LinkedIn underlines a shared conviction: the future of logistics belongs to those who can combine collaboration, technology, and human‑centric skills to build more resilient, sustainable supply chains.

Watch the full conversation here.

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