Logistics Outlook 2026

In a recent article, Transportation and Logistics Outlook: From Shock to Stragegic Reinvention from FTI Consulting, offered some insight into 2026. 

(excerpted below)

Margin Recovery Through End-to-End Productivity – The next wave of value creation will come from linking commercial, operational and financial levers — from quoting to delivery to settlement. Integrated margin management, continuous forecasting and working capital optimization will be essential.

Strategic Use of AI and Advanced Analytics – AI’s role will expand from operational prediction to enterprise orchestration — optimizing cost-to-serve, automating bid responses and enabling dynamic scenario planning for network risk and capacity pricing.

Structural Realignment of Global Supply Flows – Nearshoring, friendshoring and regionalized manufacturing will alter demand corridors. Chief operating officers (“COOs”) must redesign network footprints; CFOs must model new capital structures that support these shifts.

Regulatory Momentum in Sustainability – More stringent emissions and reporting requirements are coming, accelerating investment in electric and alternative fuel fleets, digital reporting and modal shifts where feasible.

Consolidation Pressure and Merger and Acquisition Opportunity – Operators with scale, technology capabilities and pricing sophistication will accelerate acquisition strategies. Distressed or under-optimized carriers may become targets as capital costs rise.

Labor Stability vs. Scarcity – Automation, training, and talent retention will remain central issues — particularly in warehousing, last-mile operations and maintenance functions.

"COOs and CFOs now share a mandate: convert volatility into value by building systems that are faster, smarter and more resilient than those of the past," the article states. "The companies that embrace this moment of reinvention will not only stabilize performance — they will create durable advantage in an industry where the next disruption is always just ahead."