Freight Transport Market Report 2026

The freight transport market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $38.72 billion in 2025 to $43.47 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of global trade activities, development of transportation infrastructure networks, increasing reliance on third-party logistics providers, adoption of basic freight forwarding services, growth in cross-border shipments.

The freight transport market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $68.44 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in smart freight technologies, rising demand for low-emission transport modes, expansion of automated logistics systems, growing adoption of advanced TMS platforms, increasing focus on resilient supply chains. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of digital freight management platforms, rising demand for multimodal transportation solutions, growing integration of real-time shipment tracking, expansion of sustainable freight transport options, enhanced focus on supply chain visibility.

The expansion of the e-commerce industry is expected to drive the growth of the freight transport market in the coming years. Freight transport refers to the movement of goods through inland transportation networks. As e-commerce continues to grow, the demand for efficient logistics and freight transport services has increased to support higher order volumes and faster delivery expectations. For example, in August 2023, according to reports published by the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, US retail e-commerce sales reached $291.6 billion in the second quarter of 2024. This represented a 1.3% increase from the previous quarter and a 6.7% rise compared to the same period in 2023. Total retail sales were estimated at $1.82 trillion, reflecting a 0.5% quarter-over-quarter increase and a 2.1% year-over-year increase, with e-commerce accounting for 16% of total sales. Therefore, the growing e-commerce industry is driving the freight transport market.

Companies operating in the freight transport market are increasingly focusing on the development of advanced autonomous transport solutions to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and supply chain reliability. Autonomous transport solutions are systems that enable vehicles to navigate and operate without human intervention by using artificial intelligence, sensors, and advanced perception technologies to optimize freight movement. For instance, in March 2024, according to Highways Today, an industry platform covering transportation infrastructure and policy, Plus, a global autonomous driving software provider, formed a strategic partnership with Scania, MAN, and Navistar of the TRATON Group to accelerate the deployment of SAE Level 4 autonomous freight trucks. Vehicles equipped with Plus’s SuperDrive autonomous driving software were tested on public roads across the US and Europe. These trucks are designed to optimize logistics operations, improve safety through AI-driven perception, and enable driverless operation on long-haul routes, demonstrating progress toward large-scale commercial adoption of autonomous freight transport.

In April 2025, DSV A/S, a Denmark-based transport and logistics company, acquired Schenker for approximately $15.8 billion. Through this acquisition, DSV aims to substantially expand its global freight forwarding operations, strengthen its presence across air, sea, and land transport, and enhance its end-to-end logistics capabilities by combining networks, customer bases, and operational expertise. Schenker AG is a Germany-based logistics and freight forwarding company that provides international air freight, ocean freight, road and rail transport, contract logistics, and integrated supply chain solutions for industrial and commercial customers worldwide.

Major companies operating in the freight transport market are CEVA Logistics, CJ Logistics Corporation, Nippon Express Holdings, Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, DSV Panalpina A/S, Deutsche Post DHL, FedEx Corporation., United Parcel Service of America Inc, Schneider National Inc., C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc, GATI-KWE, DB Schenker Logistics, XPO Logistics, Expeditors International of Washington Inc., Agility Logistics, Geodis, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Bolloré Logistics, Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd., Sinotrans Limited, Toll Group, ArcBest Corporation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., Saia LTL Freight, Werner Enterprises Inc., Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., Landstar System Inc., Swift Transportation Company.

North America was the largest region in the freight transport market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the freight transport market during the forecast period. The regions covered in the freight transport market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the freight transport market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The freight transport market includes revenues earned by entities such as expedited freight, and fully truck load freight. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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