{
  "id": 19387972,
  "title": "Rising Q3 transportation costs squeeze manufacturers, reward railroads and reshape trade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/rising-q3-transportation-costs-squeeze-manufacturers-reward-railroads",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-10T19:22:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "FreightWaves",
    "slug": "freightwaves",
    "url": "https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rising-q3-transportation-costs-squeeze-manufacturers-reward-railroads-and-reshape-trade"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rising fuel prices and freight rates are impacting corporate supply chains, with particularly significant consequences for automakers and an opening for railroads. Executives from Ford, Union Pacific, XPO, and Valero have shared insights on how transportation inflation affects their businesses. While automakers like Ford feel the pressure on both freight and energy costs, they are not yet seeing a decline in customer demand for trucks and fleet vehicles. The overall cost burden for manufacturers extends beyond delivering finished products, as automotive parts may cross borders multiple times, exposing supply chains to higher fuel costs at various stages. Railroads are benefiting from increased freight costs, as they are more efficient in moving products across the U.S. compared to trucking. However, railroads still face their own challenges due to rising fuel prices. Less-than-truckload specialist XPO and crude oil refiner Valero are managing the effects of higher fuel costs by controlling their transportation capacity and sourcing supplies closer to export markets, respectively. These actions demonstrate that owning and operating transportation capacity can provide a buffer when market rates become more expensive. The rising freight costs are not only affecting margins but also reshaping where companies buy, how they move goods, and which markets they can serve competitively.",
  "summary": "Higher fuel costs and freight rates are pressuring supply chains, but produce varied consequences. The post Rising Q3 transportation costs squeeze manufacturers, reward railroads and reshape trade appeared first on FreightWaves .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}