Volatility has ceased to be a passing phenomenon and has become a permanent condition that is transforming the operation of supply chains worldwide , according to the State of Logistics 2026 Report prepared by Kearney and presented by Penske Logistics during the annual conference of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) .
The study concludes that carriers and logistics providers face an environment of persistent disruption , in which cost pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, energy volatility and labor restrictions have ceased to be temporary factors and have become structural conditions that demand continuous adaptation.
Among the main findings, the report notes that logistics costs for US companies amounted to $2.4051 billion in 2025, a decrease of 1.0% compared to the $2.4302 billion recorded in 2024.
It also identifies five forces that continue to define the macroeconomic environment : asymmetric global growth; tighter financial conditions due to persistent inflation and rising public debt; the accelerated realignment of trade flows; labor market and productivity constraints; and energy price volatility.
The document also highlights that artificial intelligence has moved beyond the experimental stage to become a tool capable of generating measurable business returns through four capabilities: interpreting, predicting, recommending, and executing. However, it cautions that its adoption remains uneven, as some companies have integrated it into their core operations while others continue to use it only in isolated solutions.
In response to this environment, the report notes that companies are accelerating automation and digital investment to address labor constraints . It also recommends strengthening supply chain resilience, prioritizing asset productivity, expanding end-to-end visibility, and accelerating the return on investment in technology.
“This year’s report comes at a time when the forces reshaping global supply chains are no longer temporary disruptions, but permanent features of the operating environment,” said Korhan Acar, Kearney partner and lead author of the State of Logistics Report.
He added that rising costs stemming from energy volatility, inflation, and geopolitical instability are forcing companies to rethink their operating models, while technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous transportation are moving toward large-scale implementation.
For his part, Mark Baxa, president and CEO of CSCMP, noted that supply chains require constant adjustments due to the speed at which the business and geopolitical environment evolves, and therefore anticipated that logistics networks will continue to transform in the coming years.
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