Shippers Face Ongoing Freight Market Struggles

Shippers Face Ongoing Freight Market Struggles

FTR's Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) indicates that despite a rebound, shippers still face significant challenges as it remains in negative territory. The analysis covers influencing factors such as fuel costs, freight volume, capacity utilization, and freight rates. It suggests strategies for shippers to navigate these challenges, including optimizing supply chains, diversifying transportation modes, strengthening collaborations, and leveraging technological innovations. The aim is to help shippers find opportunities amidst the difficulties in the current freight market.

01/20/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Inefficient Packaging Raises Air Freight Costs

Inefficient Packaging Raises Air Freight Costs

Retailers and manufacturers incur higher logistics costs, known as 'shipping air,' due to inefficient packaging. The increasing emphasis on dimensional weight in the logistics industry compels businesses to optimize their packaging strategies. By improving packaging design, selecting appropriate materials, and collaborating with logistics providers, companies can reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and achieve sustainable development. This proactive approach addresses the challenges posed by dimensional weight pricing and promotes a more streamlined and cost-effective supply chain.

01/20/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Evans Transportation Launches Freight Brokerage Service

Evans Transportation Launches Freight Brokerage Service

Evans Transportation Services (ETS) launches its freight brokerage division, EFS, to address capacity shortages and declining service quality faced by manufacturers. Leveraging 25 years of industry expertise, advanced technology, and a robust carrier network, EFS aims to provide clients with broader capacity options, competitive pricing, and reliable service quality. EFS will help businesses optimize their supply chains, reduce costs, and improve efficiency by offering tailored solutions and expert support in navigating the complexities of freight transportation.

01/20/2026 Logistics
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Shippers Prioritize Safety in Freight Transportation

Shippers Prioritize Safety in Freight Transportation

Shippers play a crucial role in ensuring driver safety. By optimizing appointment systems, improving loading/unloading processes, providing comfortable waiting areas, enhancing communication, re-evaluating contract terms, investing in technology, and training staff, shippers can reduce driver downtime, improve operational efficiency, lower transportation costs, and increase customer satisfaction, creating a win-win situation for all parties involved. These measures contribute to a safer and more efficient transportation ecosystem, benefiting drivers, shippers, and ultimately, the end consumers.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Freight Data Signals Potential Recession Risks

Freight Data Signals Potential Recession Risks

This paper delves into the intricate relationship between freight logistics and macroeconomics, analyzing the impact of shifting consumption patterns, inventory levels, inflation, and interest rates on freight volume. The study emphasizes that in the current economic climate, businesses should closely monitor economic indicators, flexibly adjust operations, invest in technology, and strengthen risk management to navigate uncertainty. These strategies are crucial for mitigating potential negative impacts and maintaining operational efficiency during periods of economic downturn and volatility.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Digital Freight Matching Transforms Logistics Industry

Digital Freight Matching Transforms Logistics Industry

Digital Freight Matching (DFM) technology is reshaping the logistics industry. This paper delves into the current state of the DFM market, technological advancements, future trends, and competitive landscape. Experts highlight that the DFM market is undergoing consolidation and specialization, with scale and automation being crucial for success. Investors are increasingly focused on profitability. Looking ahead, DFM will continue to grow and capture a larger share of transportation budgets. The future looks bright for DFM as it becomes more integral to the logistics ecosystem.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Freight Futures Strategies for Effective Hedging

Freight Futures Strategies for Effective Hedging

This article provides an in-depth analysis of freight futures hedging strategies, covering key steps such as risk assessment, correlation studies, and position sizing. It offers various hedging solutions tailored to different market participants, including corporate-level and active route-specific approaches. The article also introduces both exchange-traded and over-the-counter execution methods. Emphasizing the importance of professional advisors, it aims to help businesses effectively manage risk amidst freight market volatility. The strategies discussed enable companies to mitigate potential losses and stabilize their financial performance by leveraging freight futures for hedging purposes.

01/21/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Asiapacific Air Cargo Demand Rises on Global Trade Shifts

Asiapacific Air Cargo Demand Rises on Global Trade Shifts

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported a 5.6% year-on-year increase in air cargo demand in the Asia-Pacific region for June, accompanied by rising freight rates. This growth was primarily driven by manufacturing recovery and advanced shipments. Passenger traffic also experienced significant growth. However, the AAPA cautioned that declining business confidence could impact the future market. Airlines need to be vigilant about cost pressures and actively seek growth opportunities to navigate potential challenges and capitalize on emerging trends.

07/30/2025 Logistics
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Chinas Port Growth Signals Global Trade Rebound

Chinas Port Growth Signals Global Trade Rebound

China's port container throughput surged by 10% year-on-year in Q1 2024, with Shanghai port leading the way. The China-Europe Railway Express and China-Russia railway freight volume also experienced significant growth, reflecting a global trade recovery. Regional imbalances in port development and potential influencing factors warrant attention. This growth highlights the increasing importance of China's ports in facilitating international trade and the effectiveness of initiatives like the China-Europe Railway Express in connecting China with global markets.

01/16/2026 Logistics
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Supply Chain Experts Address Transportation Recovery at CSCMP EDGE

Supply Chain Experts Address Transportation Recovery at CSCMP EDGE

The CSCMP EDGE conference focused on the "State of the Transportation Industry." Experts discussed the freight recession, LTL market dynamics, and the impact of port strikes. Walmart suggested a return to seasonality as a turning point, while Grainger emphasized strong industrial demand. Dohrn Transfer highlighted self-discipline within the LTL market. Experts predicted that interest rate cuts could boost demand and drive industry recovery. The discussions provided insights into navigating current challenges and potential future growth in the transportation and supply chain sectors.

01/15/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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