Sizing up reasons for why 2026 demands a new freight playbook

The freight environment heading into 2026 is unlike anything the industry has faced. A tight economic climate has demand patterns shifting, risk is rising, and regulatory pressure is intensifying. At the same time, high-value and high-risk goods are surging across global and regional supply chains, particularly in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation notes that the value of freight is forecast to increase faster than tonnage—in other words, fewer goods are moving, but the average shipment is worth far more.

That shift raises the stakes. When the cargo in transit is expensive, highly desirable, or tightly regulated, even minor disruptions carry major consequences. Traditional “ship-and-forget” models no longer suffice when a single container delay, tamper event, or theft can cause millions in losses, invite regulatory scrutiny, or permanently damage a brand.

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