E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing shipping truckload segments of the U.S. economy and has seen continued growth and expansion for the past several years. Consumer habits continue to change and adapt while the power and versatility of the internet fuel e-commerce as people make more and more purchases online. According to the latest report from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, transportation brokerage services are essential to accommodate these growing trends: “Advances in economic activity have led to increasing volumes of imports of small, just-in-time packages, creating inspection challenges. E-Commerce shipments pose the same health, safety, and economic security risks as containerized shipments, but the volume is higher and growing.” But even in that case, customs experience is only a portion of the factors setting winning brokerages in e-commerce apart from the laggards. Furthermore, one of the easiest ways to account for shifting market trends and consumer demands involves partnering with a skilled and experienced broker to help transportation companies manage and monitor the supply chain network more efficiently. And that begins with identifying the three essential pillars or qualities of service to look for when selecting a brokerage for your import needs.