#transportation-costs
(176 articles)Truckload Capacity Shows No Recovery Signs Into 2027
The U.S. truckload market is entering the peak season with historically tight capacity and few signs of relief. The Accepted SONAR Truckload Volume Index has fallen to 9,518 over four weeks, the lowes
7 Critical Cost Factors for Heavy Shipment Budgets
DHL has published guidance on seven key cost considerations that procurement teams should factor into heavy shipment budgets. This educational resource addresses the complexity of budgeting for freigh
Freight Volumes Rise for Second Month: Supply Chain Recovery Underway
The September Cass Freight Index indicates a meaningful shift in freight market conditions, with shipments rising for the second consecutive month after a 3.5-year decline cycle. This marks a structur
J.B. Hunt Q3 Beats Expectations Despite $50M Cost Headwinds
J.B. Hunt Transport Services delivered Q3 2025 results that marginally exceeded analyst expectations following a September earnings warning, reporting $3.68 billion in revenue versus a $3.59 billion c
OPEC+ Warns Shipping Costs Disrupting Global Oil Trade
OPEC+ has issued a warning that rising shipping costs are disrupting global oil trade flows. This signals that transportation cost inflation is now a material concern for energy exporters and could co
Parcel Shipping Costs Hit Record High as Carriers Hike Surcharges
Major parcel carriers FedEx, UPS, DHL, and others are implementing unprecedented pricing increases that are pushing 2026 toward being the costliest year on record for parcel shipping. While fuel price
US Freight Rates Set to Rise in 2027, Say Market Analysts
The US freight market is anticipated to experience rising rates as 2027 approaches. This outlook reflects broader market dynamics affecting trucking and transportation capacity, presenting a cost head
LTL Rates Hit 8-Year High in Q3, Expected to Rise Further
Less-than-truckload rates have hit new record highs in the third quarter and are projected to climb even further by year-end, according to the TD Cowen-AFS Freight Index. The rate-per-pound metric fin
Russian Diesel Deal Unlikely to Ease U.S. Fuel Prices
The Trump administration's announced deal to purchase Russian diesel totaling over 2.2 million barrels appears to be having minimal effect on fuel prices and market volatility. The initial transaction
Russia Routes Arctic Grain Exports as Southern Ports Collapse
Russia is pivoting to Arctic shipping through Murmansk for grain exports, reflecting structural strain on traditional southern routes that have seen exports plunge 13-fold. This unprecedented logistic
Vietnamese Logistics Face 11.67% Transport Cost Surge Amid Oil Price Crisis
Vietnamese transportation and logistics businesses face mounting cost pressures as global oil prices remain elevated due to Middle East geopolitical tensions. September 2026 data shows the transportat
Trucking Industry Shifts in 2026: Driver Crisis, Rising Costs, Cargo Theft Surge
The 2026 trucking sector is experiencing a critical inflection point, marked by the end of a four-year freight recession, capacity contraction, and emerging operational challenges. Driver-related issu
Shipping Cost Surge Threatens Consumer Price Hikes
An industry body has warned that escalating shipping costs pose a significant risk of consumer goods price increases. The report highlights how transportation cost pressures are propagating through su
Silent Profit Killer in Transportation and Logistics Exposed
FreightWaves identifies an unrecognized cost factor in transportation and logistics that operates beneath the surface of most carrier and shipper analyses, systematically reducing profit margins. This
Freight Cost Surge Pushing Higher Prices Through Retail and Grocery
Higher freight costs are beginning to manifest in elevated prices for groceries and retail goods. This cost pass-through reflects sustained pressure in transportation markets, affecting consumer-facin
Iran war drives beauty industry packaging and transport costs
Ongoing tensions involving Iran are raising costs for the beauty and cosmetics industry across multiple supply chain functions. The article reports that expenses for plastic jars, packaging components
Freight Costs and Capacity Shifts Force Supply Chain Restructuring
Supply chain professionals face a critical inflection point as freight costs and transportation capacity signals are fundamentally reshaping sourcing and logistics strategies. The article highlights h
McCormick Raises Inflation Forecast on Freight and Input Costs
McCormick has increased its inflation forecast, citing elevated freight costs and input material expenses as key drivers. This development reflects persistent supply chain pressures affecting the food
Maersk Raises Canadian Drayage Costs 24% Starting Nov 2026
Maersk announced a substantial 24% fuel surcharge on its Canadian drayage operations starting November 1st, 2026. This pricing adjustment affects all shippers utilizing Maersk's ground transportation
South Africa Road Freight Faces October Fuel Price Shock
South Africa's road freight sector faces significant cost pressures as fuel prices increase in October, creating immediate challenges for logistics providers and supply chain operations across the reg
African Corporate Margins Squeezed by Fuel and Logistics Cost Surge
African corporations are experiencing margin compression driven by escalating fuel prices and logistics charges across the continent. The combination of elevated energy costs and increased transportat
Trucking Capacity Crisis: Rejections Surge 4x Despite Flat Volume
The U.S. trucking market is experiencing an unprecedented structural capacity crisis that differs fundamentally from typical demand cycles. Tender rejection rates have surged to approximately 14% (tri
Truckload Rates Surge Despite Soft Demand: What's Really Driving Prices
Dry van truckload spot rates have climbed to $3.55 per mile, up more than 10 percent since late August and approximately 50 percent year-over-year, yet the conventional demand-supply explanation does
September PMI Signals Manufacturing Growth Amid Pricing Pressures
The Institute for Supply Management's September PMI came in at 54.5, maintaining the ninth consecutive month of US manufacturing expansion and signaling approximately 2.4% GDP growth. However, the dat
Geotab Fleet Card Tackles Fuel Fraud as Diesel Prices Surge
Geotab has launched a fleet card integrated with telematics data to help trucking companies control fuel spending and prevent unauthorized purchases during a period of elevated diesel prices. The card
UAE Shipping Costs Spike 300-500% Amid Maritime Disruptions
Shipping costs from and through the UAE have surged dramatically by 300% to 500%, driven by ongoing maritime disruptions affecting one of the world's most critical trade hubs. This unprecedented spike
Manufacturing PMI Shows Expansion Despite Inflation Headwinds
U.S. manufacturing activity maintained its expansion streak in September with the Institute for Supply Management's Manufacturing PMI at 54.5, signaling continued economic growth consistent with 2.4%
Freight rates surge as trucking capacity tightens amid weak demand
The trucking market is experiencing a paradoxical situation where freight rates are increasing even as overall demand remains weak. This suggests that capacity constraints are becoming the dominant fa
Diesel Prices Drop as Gulf Oil Production Nears Normal Levels
Crude oil production from the Persian Gulf is approaching pre-war output levels, creating downward pressure on global energy markets and providing relief to transportation and logistics operations. Th
Freight Cost Surge Threatens Japanese Economic Growth
Elevated freight costs are emerging as a material headwind for Japan's economic performance, with implications extending across export-dependent manufacturing sectors. This development reflects broade
Manila Port Congestion Worsens: Shipping Lines and Aging Roads to Blame
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has identified shipping lines and aging road infrastructure as primary contributors to persistent congestion at Manila port, one of Southeast Asia's critical trade hubs. Th
Diesel prices hit all-time high, pressuring supply chain costs
Diesel fuel has reached unprecedented price levels, creating significant operational and financial stress across the logistics and supply chain industries globally. This development affects all transp
Farmers Oppose UP-NS Merger Over Rail Rate & Service Concerns
The National Farmers Union has formally opposed the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern before the Surface Transportation Board, arguing that further rail consolidation would ex
Retailers Push USTR to Keep China Shipping Fee Pause
The National Retail Federation and allied trade groups are lobbying the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to maintain a moratorium on fees tied to China-linked maritime shipping. This pause has provide
Transportation Costs Surge: What Supply Chain Teams Need to Know
Transportation costs remain persistently elevated across all shipping modes, ocean freight, air cargo, trucking, and last-mile delivery, showing no signs of significant relief. This structural shift r
US Freight Rates Surge as Capacity Crisis Intensifies
The US freight market is experiencing significant rate escalation driven by a structural capacity shortage in trucking and logistics infrastructure. This capacity crisis reflects persistent imbalances
Freight Brokers Transform Rate Quoting Into Pricing Infrastructure
The freight brokerage industry is undergoing a significant operational transformation as leading companies shift from manual rate quoting to fully automated pricing infrastructure. Industry leaders ar
Old Dominion Raises LTL Rates 4.9% Effective October
Old Dominion Freight Line, one of North America's largest less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, has announced a 4.9% general rate increase effective October 5. This increase applies to a selection of se
Rail Freight Recovers 16% But Revenue Falls, What's Happening?
Spain's freight railway sector is sending contradictory signals: while transportation volumes recovered by 16% in the second quarter, revenues declined 2.7% year-on-year. This divergence, more tonnage
Diesel Hits Record $6.53 as Iran Crisis Roils Energy Markets
The diesel market has reached unprecedented volatility, with the Department of Energy benchmark price hitting an all-time high of $6.529/gallon, up $1.951/gallon since early July. This spike directly
DSV Stock Plunges 5% on Road Transport Challenges
DSV experienced a sharp stock decline exceeding 5% to reach a 17-month low following mounting challenges in its road transport operations. The company's performance deteriorated even as the broader tr
Rhine Water Levels Drop, Shipping Costs Rise Across Europe
Declining water levels on the Rhine River, a critical European inland waterway, are driving up cargo shipping costs as barge operators reduce payload capacity to navigate shallower channels. This seas
Hidden Costs of Dual Shipping Systems Drain Logistics Budgets
Many supply chain organizations maintain legacy and modern shipping systems in parallel, creating redundant infrastructure, inflated operational costs, and coordination challenges. This dual-system ap
Amazon's Air Fleet Challenge: Absorbing Aircraft Retirements
Amazon's ability to absorb the retirement of aging air cargo aircraft presents a significant operational challenge for the e-commerce giant. While the company possesses sufficient financial resources
Freight Inefficiencies Widen Cost Gap for Small Businesses
Recent analysis reveals that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) face structural disadvantages in freight operations that widen their cost burden relative to larger competitors. Inefficiencies
Rail Freight Volumes Drop First Time Since February, Supply Chain Alert
North American rail freight volumes turned negative for the first time since February, with carloads declining 3.3% and intermodal dropping 3.8% year-over-year in week 36. The breadth of decline is pa
J.B. Hunt Q3 Earnings Miss: Fuel & Driver Costs Squeeze Margins
J.B. Hunt Transport Services announced a significant third-quarter earnings warning, projecting a 5-10% sequential decline in EPS driven by sharply rising diesel fuel prices and elevated driver-relate
Diesel hits record high: Supply chain costs surge nationwide
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported that the national diesel average has reached an unprecedented record level, marking a critical inflection point for supply chain economics. Thi
$6 Diesel: What Rising Fuel Costs Mean for US Freight
Rising diesel prices to $6 per gallon represent a critical cost inflection point for the US trucking industry, directly cascading into freight pricing and supply chain economics across all consumer-fa
Diesel Hits Record $6.29/gal as Refinery & Supply Crises Collide
The Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration diesel benchmark reached an unprecedented $6.285 per gallon on Tuesday, shattering previous records and signaling severe structural pressures