U.S. Q3 Freight Spending Rises 32.1% Year on Year
U.S. transportation spending increased 32.1% year on year in the third quarter, reaching its highest level since 2021, while nationwide freight volume rose only 0.5%.
What are the key facts?
- 1U.S. Q3 transportation spending increased 32.1% year on year
- 2U.S. Q3 freight volume rose only 0.5% year on year
- 3U.S. shipper transportation spending reached its highest level since 2021
What happened?
Reuters reported on October 29 that the Bank of America Freight Payment Index showed U.S. shippers’ transportation spending increased 32.1% year on year in the third quarter of 2026, reaching its highest level since 2021, while nationwide freight volume rose only 0.5% year on year. The report said diesel prices above $6 per gallon, a reduced supply of truck drivers and tightening transportation capacity together pushed up road and integrated logistics costs. Transportation spending in the U.S. Southwest rose 51.6%. For cross-border ecommerce sellers, last-mile costs for deliveries from U.S. ports, overseas warehouses or third-party fulfillment centers to consumers may continue to rise even without a significant increase in order volume. Sellers of bulky, low-average-order-value or high-return-rate goods also need to recalculate U.S. local delivery, return transportation and parcel surcharges.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
U.S. transportation spending increased 32.1% year on year in the third quarter, while freight volume rose only 0.5%, indicating that logistics costs may be rising faster than demand. Sellers using U.S. ports, overseas warehouses or third-party fulfillment centers should especially recalculate last-mile, return and parcel surcharges for bulky, low-average-order-value and high-return-rate goods.
What should sellers do now?
- 1This week, enter current delivery, return-transportation and parcel-surcharge costs for each bulky, low-average-order-value and high-return-rate product on the U.S. site; produce a SKU gross-margin table and flag products requiring further review after cost increases.Profit calculator
- 2This week, organize delivery options through U.S. ports, overseas warehouses and third-party fulfillment centers; calculate break-even points covering last-mile and return costs for key products and create a comparison table for pricing reviews.Breakeven calculator