The freight market has entered a new phase and for shippers, 2026 isn’t about waiting for “normal” to return. It’s about adapting to a permanently more complex logistics environment.
Understanding what’s driving the market today is essential to controlling cost and maintaining service reliability tomorrow.
While trucks may appear available on paper, reliable capacity is far more limited. Carrier exits over the last few years have reduced the safety margin shippers once relied on.
What this means for shippers:
The days of predictable year-over-year freight rates are gone. Fuel costs, labor shortages, regulatory changes, and global disruptions continue to drive fluctuations.
Shippers who rely solely on spot pricing face:
While port congestion makes headlines, inland bottlenecks are increasingly the real issue. Rail dwell times, container shortages, and limited last-mile capacity can stall freight long after it leaves the coast.
This is why inland transloading and regional distribution are becoming essential not optional.
Driver shortages aren’t temporary. Long-haul routes are increasingly difficult to staff, while regional and short-haul lanes remain more sustainable.
Freight strategies that rely heavily on long-haul trucking are more vulnerable in today’s labor environment.
In 2026, successful shippers are:
Transloading helps shippers:
It’s no longer a niche option, it's a core component of modern freight planning.
At RMT Companies, we understand that shippers don’t need more promises they need solutions that work in real conditions.
Our trucking and transload capabilities are designed to help shippers:
The freight market will continue to evolve. The shippers who succeed in 2026 will be the ones who adapt early and partner wisely.
