At SHIP8, global logistics starts locally.
While our freight moves across continents and coastlines, the people who power those movements live, work, and raise families right here in the Savannah–Charleston region. From warehouse associates and equipment operators to engineers, analysts, and leaders, our growth is directly tied to investing in the communities we call home.
This commitment sits at the center of our Community & ESG strategy, because sustainable logistics isn’t just about technology or throughput. It’s about people.
Hiring Locally, Building Long-Term Careers
Savannah and Charleston are two of the fastest-growing logistics hubs in North America, and with that growth comes responsibility.
SHIP8 prioritizes:
- Local hiring across operations, leadership, and support roles
- Career pathways that allow associates to advance without leaving the region
- Competitive wages and stable, year-round employment in a traditionally volatile industry
Rather than treating warehouse roles as temporary labor, we design jobs with longevity in mind—roles that grow as our customers grow. Many of our supervisors, CI leaders, and operations managers began their careers on the warehouse floor, gaining firsthand experience before moving into leadership roles.
Training Beyond the Basics
Logistics is evolving fast. Automation, data, and process design now sit alongside forklifts and pick carts. To keep pace, SHIP8 invests heavily in training and upskilling.
Our Savannah and Charleston training programs focus on:
- Safety-first operations and equipment certification
- Process excellence rooted in Lean and Theory of Constraints principles
- Technology adoption, including WMS, automation interfaces, and analytics
- Cross-training to reduce operational silos and increase resilience
This approach doesn’t just improve productivity—it creates a more adaptable, confident workforce that can grow alongside automation rather than be displaced by it.
Retention Through Internal Growth
Retention in logistics is often treated as a labor challenge. At SHIP8, we view it as a leadership outcome.
Across our operations, employees who grow into leadership roles internally remain with the company at significantly higher rates than external hires. Internal promotions show retention rates 25–30% higher, reinforcing the value of investing in people who already understand our culture, systems, and customers.
By developing leaders from within, we shorten learning curves, strengthen accountability, and build teams led by people who have lived the work firsthand.
Tenure That Drives Operational Consistency
That investment shows up clearly in tenure.
Team members who begin in entry-level roles and advance within SHIP8 average 5–7 years of tenure, more than double typical industry norms. In an industry known for turnover, that continuity matters.
Longer tenure translates directly into:
- More consistent execution on the floor
- Stronger customer experience
- Safer, more predictable operations
- Stable leadership teams that know their customers’ businesses deeply
For our customers, this means fewer handoffs and fewer surprises. For our teams, it means real careers—not just jobs.
Automation That Supports People, Not Replaces Them
As automation expands across ports and warehouses, a common concern is job loss. Our philosophy is different.
At SHIP8, automation is deployed to:
- Reduce unnecessary physical strain
- Eliminate wasted motion and excess touches
- Improve safety and consistency
- Free teams to focus on higher-value work
By pairing automation with training, we create better jobs, not fewer jobs—roles that are safer, more skilled, and more sustainable over time.
Strengthening the Local Economy
When we hire locally and invest in training, the impact extends far beyond our buildings.
- Families gain stable income
- Local schools and training programs gain industry partners
- Small businesses benefit from economic ripple effects
- The region becomes more attractive to global brands
Our customers often choose Savannah and Charleston because of infrastructure—but they stay because of people.
ESG in Action, Not Just on Paper
Environmental, Social, and Governance goals only matter if they’re practiced daily.
For SHIP8, Community ESG means:
- Creating opportunity where we operate
- Building skills that last beyond any single job
- Supporting regional growth responsibly
- Treating people as the most critical part of the supply chain
Global freight may move through Savannah, but the future of logistics is being built here.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re a brand looking for a logistics partner rooted in community or someone interested in building a career in modern supply chain operations, SHIP8 is proud to grow with you in the Savannah and Charleston regions.
