By addressing issues & well-being of key stakeholders, social sustainability may offer operational advantages and benefit society at large. However, due to gaps in current knowledge, it is challenging to determine which practices will be beneficial and which managerial orientations will maximize effect of these practices upon operational performance. Study aimed to determine the mediating role of societal behaviors of employees amid social sustainability orientation and operational performance of freight forwarders. It recognizes strength of forces that oppose social change. Data was collected on complex questionnaire from freight forwarders, managers across developing country and analyzed through SEM using AMOS (23). Paper confirmed the mediating role of employee societal behavior amid socially sustainable freight transport orientation and operational performance. Findings suggest that SSI should be designed and implemented through positive behavioral changes, with the organization's employees themselves as primary target. It is the employees’ positive attitudes and behaviors that translate SSI into effective operational performance.