7
Shipper Market Insights: Rate and Volume Expectations
Survey data reveals that transportation costs
remain the dominant concern for shippers.
Specifically, 51% of respondents cited rising
transportation expenses as their biggest
challenge for 2025. Economic uncertainty
and labor shortages, unsurprisingly, are also
contributing to concerns.
36.34% of shippers expect freight rates to
remain stable in 2025, while 29.73% anticipate a
1-5% increase in rates.
With gradual increases in both pricing and
volume, these projections suggest a cautiously
optimistic market outlook.
Market forces such as rising fuel costs and
supply chain bottlenecks likely contribute to
these expectations. Shippers anticipate higher
freight expenses due to increased carrier
operating costs, while carriers plan for gradual
demand increases driven by economic recovery
and seasonal fluctuations.
Many industry participants are hedging against
potential price volatility by seeking long-term
contracts with stable pricing agreements, and
many companies are focusing on strategies such
as nearshoring and supplier network optimization
to reduce vulnerability to supply chain shocks.
SHIPPER RESPONSE
What are your expectations for pricing in 2025?
Rates will increase greater than 5%
9%
Rates will increase 1-5%
29.73%
Rates will remain the same
36.34%
Rates will decrease 1-5%
17.72%
Rates will decrease greater than 5%
7.21%
0% 20% 30% 10% 40%
