[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-290923-105":59,"doc-detail-290923-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","shippers-compass-q3-2026-outlook","Shippers’ Compass - Q3 2026 Outlook","","Shippers’ Compass delivers Kearney’s quarterly logistics perspectives for Q3 2026, focusing on budgeting and forecasting. Mid-2026 conditions are shaped by a fragmented freight landscape, with rising surface costs, rebounding ocean rates, and a slowing macro backdrop. Key mode takeaways cover contract strategy, capacity actions, routing and network adjustments, and risk management across truckload, LTL, intermodal/rail, ocean, air, and parcel.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/shippers-compass-q3-2026-outlook/290923/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/shippers-compass-q3-2026-outlook/290923.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Đào","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-17",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",12,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What factors define the mid-2026 freight landscape in this outlook?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Rising surface costs, rebounding ocean rates, and a slowing macro backdrop define mid-2026, alongside tariff-demand fading and policy uncertainty.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How should shippers approach truckload and LTL in Q3 2026?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"For truckload, accelerate contract negotiations and prioritize multiyear or index-linked agreements with surcharge caps while improving routing guide options. For LTL, secure capacity early and deepen carrier partnerships to maintain pricing and service stability, using routing guide-driven competition.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What guidance is given for ocean, air, and parcel procurement?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"For ocean, use the current post-April rate correction to lock in contract rates and limit high spot exposure. For air, reserve capacity for time-sensitive, high-value shipments and audit routes tied to Middle East lanes. For parcel, diversify carrier mix using USPS and select regional carriers to manage risk and cost.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},290923,1789642961,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":130,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},1374402968488,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","Shippers’ Compass Kearney’s logistics perspectives  \nQuarterly executive insights for budgeting/forecasting, service expectations, and optimizing in the logistics space  \nQ3 2026 outlook  \nShippers’ Compass highlights  \nA fragmented  \nfreight landscape: rising surface costs, rebounding ocean rates, and a slowing macro backdrop define mid-2026  \nShipper market  \nDegree shippers are advantagedover carriers in the market  \n– 100% bar = shipper advantage  \n– 0% bar = carrier advantage  \nService quality  \nLane capacity availability and delivery reliability in the market  \n– 100% bar = excellent service  \n– 0% bar = poor service  \n2   \nCompass snapshot – end April 2026  \nFreight segment US domestic in 2023  \nUS 2025 market size $B  \nCarrier concentration  \nShipper market  \nService quality  \n\n| Truckload 397\u003Cbr>|  |  | \u003Cbr>L | | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| LTL | | 64 | \u003Cbr>M | | |\n| Intermodal | | 55 | \u003Cbr>M | | |\n| Ocean |  80 |  | \u003Cbr>M | | |\n| Air | | 86 | \u003Cbr>M | | |\n| Rail |  97.3\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>|  | \u003Cbr>H | | |\n| Parcel | | 241.3 | \u003Cbr>H | | |\n| Last-mile (bulky) | | 10.2 | \u003Cbr>L | | |\n| Last-mile\u003Cbr>(specialty) | | varies by subsegment | \u003Cbr>L | | |\n\n.  \nSources: State of Logistics Report 2025, IANA, A&A; Kearney analysis  \nSummary  \nUS economic growth peaked in Q1 2026 and is forecast to decelerate  \nmeaningfully through H2 2026, as the tariff-driven demand pull fades and prolonged policy uncertainty weighs.  \nTruckload pricing has increased , driven by an uptick in demand, capacity constraints, and increased fuel costs.  \nOcean rates rebounded with a rise in bunker fuel rates, caused by conflict in Iran as well carrier actions, such as blank sailings and GRIs.  \nAir freight outlook hinges on Middle East dynamics, with longer transit times and network inefficiencies driving up costs amid rising fuel prices.  \nParcel volumes remain flat, with growth shifting from national carriers to regional and retailer-owned networks.  \nRail volumes rose ~1 .7% YoY , the strongest gain since 2019, led by grain, chemicals, and petroleum products.  \nShippers’ Compass highlights  \nWhat it means for shippers  \n3   \n\n| Mode |  | Recommended strategic posture |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Truckload | | Accelerate contract negotiations and prioritize multiyear or indexlinked agreements with surcharge caps—the market has already begun tightening structurally and delaying risks materially higher prices in H2 2026; deepen routing guide to develop options |\n| LTL | | Secure capacity early and deepen carrier partnerships for pricing and service stability; deepen routing guide to keep competition |\n| Intermodal and rail | | Actively shift long-haul dry van freight to intermodal to capture a meaningful cost advantage, as the TL-intermodal rate spread is widening and the RRs want to prove themselves |\n| Ocean | | Use the current post-April rate correction as a window to lock in contract rates—avoid high spot exposure as carriers will continue defending rate floors while becoming more opportunistic |\n| Air | | Reserve air freight for genuinely time-sensitive, high-value shipments and audit routing paths for Middle East-linked lanes, where airspace restrictions are inflating transit times and fuel costs |\n| Parcel | | Diversify carrier mix by leveraging USPS or regional carriers like SpeedX, OnTrac, Veho, and Gofo to manage risk and cost |\n\nThe US logistics market outlook for 2026 is tempered by unclear policies, tepid consumer demand, and rising diesel costs  \n4   \n– GDP growth reached its highest point in 18 months in Q1 2026 and is expected to slow significantly in the latter half of 2026 as the tariff-driven demand surge diminishes and policy uncertainty persists.  \nReal GDP (% change YoY)  \nActual  FOR  \n1.91 1.88  \n 1.33   \nQ1  \n2023  \nQ2 Q3 Q4 Q1 2024  \nQ2 Q3 Q4 Q1 2025  \nQ2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4  \n– Consumer confidence continues to be significantly low, driven by concerns about fuel prices and geopolitical instability.  \n– Manufacturing and retail data ","cbCaij26sniJcquj","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaij26sniJcquj","pdf",628526,21,"English","# Q3 2026 outlook\n## Shippers’ Compass highlights\n## What it means for shippers\n## US logistics market outlook for 2026\n## Labor market and inflation outlook\n## Freight capacity and service quality","[{\"question\":\"What factors define the mid-2026 freight landscape in this outlook?\",\"answer\":\"Rising surface costs, rebounding ocean rates, and a slowing macro backdrop define mid-2026, alongside tariff-demand fading and policy uncertainty.\"},{\"question\":\"How should shippers approach truckload and LTL in Q3 2026?\",\"answer\":\"For truckload, accelerate contract negotiations and prioritize multiyear or index-linked agreements with surcharge caps while improving routing guide options. For LTL, secure capacity early and deepen carrier partnerships to maintain pricing and service stability, using routing guide-driven competition.\"},{\"question\":\"What guidance is given for ocean, air, and parcel procurement?\",\"answer\":\"For ocean, use the current post-April rate correction to lock in contract rates and limit high spot exposure. For air, reserve capacity for time-sensitive, high-value shipments and audit routes tied to Middle East lanes. For parcel, diversify carrier mix using USPS and select regional carriers to manage risk and cost.\"}]","Shippers’ Compass - Q3 2026 Outlook | PDF",53]