Freight Market Volatility: How Shippers Can Stay Ahead

If you’ve been in the shipping game for a while, you already know one thing: freight costs are never steady. One month, everything’s running smooth and predictable—next month, prices are up, capacity is tight, and everyone’s scrambling to adjust.

That’s just the reality of today’s freight market. Fuel prices, trade policies, seasonal demand, even the weather—it all plays a role in how much you’ll pay to move your goods.

The good news is there are ways to take control. In this post, we’ll break down why freight costs can swing so much and, more importantly, what you can do to keep your shipping expenses in check.

Why Freight Costs Keep Changing

Before we dive into solutions, let’s talk about what’s behind the volatility.

Shipping costs don’t move randomly. They’re driven by real factors like:

• Fuel prices: When diesel goes up, so do freight rates.

• Capacity: If there aren’t enough trucks or drivers, carriers raise their prices.

• Trade policies: Tariffs or new regulations can add costs—sometimes overnight.

• Weather events: Hurricanes, snowstorms, floods… all can delay freight and drive rates higher.

• Demand swings: When demand spikes, so do shipping prices. When it drops, rates follow.

None of these factors are in your control—but how you respond to them is.

5 Smart Ways to Keep Freight Costs Under Control

1. Consolidate Your Shipments

One of the simplest ways to save money is to stop sending partial loads when you don’t have to. If you can bundle multiple orders into one shipment, you’ll reduce the number of moves—and lower your overall shipping costs.

This is especially useful if you’re sending freight regularly to the same customers or regions.

2. Mix Up Your Shipping Modes

You don’t have to stick to one way of moving freight. Sometimes, a mix of LTL, FTL, intermodal, and drayage can make a real difference in both cost and flexibility.

For long distances, intermodal might save you money. For quick, short runs, FTL could be the way to go. The key is knowing when to use which option.

3. Think Long-Term with Carrier Contracts

Sure, it can be tempting to chase spot rates when they’re low—but when the market flips, you’ll feel the pinch.
Negotiating solid, long-term agreements with trusted carriers can protect you from big rate swings and give you more predictable costs month to month.

4. Get Your Packaging & Classification Right

Incorrect freight classification or poor packaging isn’t just an operational headache—it’s expensive.
It can lead to accessorial charges, reclassification fees, or even rejected shipments.

Take the time to double-check your freight class and make sure your packaging meets carrier standards. It’ll save you money and a few headaches down the line.

5. Use Your Data

Your shipping history is a goldmine—if you know how to use it.
Look at your data to see where you’re spending the most, which lanes cost you more, and where delays or damages are common.

That information helps you make smarter decisions about carriers, routes, and shipping schedules. And if you’re working with a good 3PL, they’ll help you use that data to improve performance and lower costs.

Let’s face it—there’s no way to make freight costs predictable. The market moves, and rates will always go up and down.

But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless.

A few smart moves—like consolidating shipments, mixing up your shipping modes, locking in solid contracts, and paying attention to the details—can make a real difference in how much you spend and how smoothly your freight moves.

At WTS, we’re here to help you do exactly that. We believe that managing your shipping costs shouldn’t feel like guesswork.