Controlling Fluctuating Freight Costs: Strategies for Shippers
Freight costs aren’t just rising—they’re all over the place. Shippers are dealing with a nonstop swirl of global instability, shifting regulations, labor issues, fuel price hikes, and tariff uncertainty. And in this environment, freight has gone from a manageable line item to a moving target that eats into already tight margins.
It’s no surprise that 57% of shippers now say cost is the top factor when choosing a carrier for 2025. And with new tariffs on imported materials and exported goods likely ahead, getting freight spend under control isn’t just smart—it’s essential to staying profitable.
In this blog, we’ll walk through clear, practical strategies that can help you take back control. Whether you’re managing inbound, outbound, or both, these are actionable steps to reduce costs and stay flexible—no matter what the market throws at you.
Why Freight Costs Keep Climbing
If it feels like freight costs are climbing with no end in sight, you’re not imagining things. The biggest 2025 logistics trend is volatility, and it’s hitting both inbound and outbound freight from every direction.
Global conflicts and trade disputes are shaking up sourcing strategies and increasing uncertainty. Tariff policies are in flux, and regulatory shifts—from emissions standards to labor laws—are forcing carriers to adapt quickly, often at a cost to shippers. Add in fuel price fluctuations and ongoing labor shortages, and the result is tighter capacity and higher transportation costs.
Infrastructure constraints, from port congestion to equipment availability, are also contributing to rising rates and longer transit times. Even shippers with strong contracts and long-standing partners are seeing more variability than they’re used to.
For many businesses, freight is no longer a fixed, predictable cost—it’s a constantly moving target. That unpredictability makes it harder to forecast, budget, or hold on to margins. And without a plan to address it, what used to be a manageable expense can quickly turn into a major liability.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Rising costs are tough—but doing nothing about them is worse.
Shippers who still rely on legacy contracts, fixed-rate assumptions, or simply leave shipping decisions to vendors or customers are often missing opportunities to save. Without visibility or control, freight becomes a black hole for spend—one that quietly erodes margins with every shipment.
There’s also a real opportunity cost. Consolidation opportunities get overlooked. Mode optimization doesn’t happen. And carriers are chosen based on habit instead of fit, performance, or value. As a result, you end up paying more for slower service, and nobody's really accountable for it.
Controlling transportation costs starts with taking a more active role. If you’re not evaluating your freight strategy regularly—or worse, not managing it at all—you’re likely leaving serious money on the table.
Smart Strategies for Controlling Freight Spend
There’s no silver bullet for freight savings—but there are a few smart, proven strategies shippers are taking to stay in control in the face of an unpredictable, volatile market.
Take Control of Inbound and Outbound Freight
Leaving shipping decisions up to vendors or customers might seem convenient, but it usually comes at a cost. When you give up control, you give up visibility—and with that goes your ability to manage rates, timing, and carrier selection.
Owning the freight process gives more ability to control costs (or even turn logistics into a profit center). It opens the door to shipment consolidation, which can cut down on touches and reduce costs. You also gain the ability to align service levels with actual needs, instead of defaulting to whatever your vendor chooses. And when you’re the one managing the freight, you can set clear routing expectations and monitor carrier performance to make adjustments when things start to slip. This means fewer surprises and far more control over what you’re spending.
Choose the Right Service Level for Each Shipment
Controlling freight spend starts with choosing the right mode for the move—every time. That might mean avoiding full truckload when volume LTL or partial truckload is a better fit. If your freight isn’t filling the trailer, you’re paying for space you don’t need.
But the reverse is also true. If you’re shipping multiple smaller orders to the same region, consolidating them into a multi-stop truckload can reduce touches, lower costs, and give you more control over delivery schedules.
It’s all about making smarter choices based on size, timing, and destination. Matching the mode to the move lets you avoid waste and hold onto margin in a market where every load counts.
Rethink Mode and Carrier Mix
If your shipping strategy leans too heavily on one mode—or one carrier—you might be setting yourself up for disaster and a lot of unexpected costs. When capacity tightens or carriers fail on loads, you could be left looking for a last-minute option—and get stuck paying whatever it takes to move your freight.
Mixing modes like LTL, partial truckload, and expedited trucking gives you the flexibility to adjust based on volume, urgency, and budget. It’s also a smart way to stay resilient when disruptions hit. One carrier has a service delay? You’ve got backups. Volume pricing isn’t working for a particular lane? You’ve got alternatives. A more diverse mix means less risk and better performance when the market gets bumpy.
Improve Visibility with Modern Tech
You can’t manage what you can’t see—and when freight costs are fluctuating, visibility matters more than ever. According to Breakthrough’s 2025 State of Transportation Report, 42% of shippers say investing in technology to improve visibility and efficiency is a key part of their cost-control strategy in the year ahead.
Modern logistics platforms make it easier to track shipments in real time, compare rates across modes, and identify trends that can drive better decisions. With the right tech in place, you can spot ineffective spending sooner and make changes before they hit your bottom line.
Partner with a Logistics Provider Who Knows the Market
Trying to manage freight manually in today’s environment is like trying to forecast the weather with your smartphone’s built-in app (sorry, Apple Weather). The market moves too fast—and the stakes are too high—to go it alone.
A logistics partner who knows the market can help you make smarter decisions, faster. That means access to a wider carrier network, support negotiating rates, help matching shipments to the right service level, and ongoing cost analysis to spot poor practices before they start racking up unnecessary charges.
When your freight partner is in the trenches every day, you’re not just reacting to the market—you’re staying ahead of it.
TFWW Manchester: A Trusted Freight Partner in Unpredictable Times
Let’s be honest—volatility isn’t going anywhere. Markets will shift. Tariffs will change. Fuel costs, labor, and new, unforeseen challenges will continue to throw curveballs in your best-laid plans. But you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
At TFWW Manchester, we help shippers stay steady in an unsteady market. We do more than move freight—we work alongside you to build strategies that flex with demand, protect your margins, and make freight more manageable.
Here’s what we bring to the table:
A wide network of vetted carriers across volume LTL, partial truckload, Truckload and expedited
Done-For-You Freight Service™ transportation management to handle the day-to-day—from booking and tracking to exception management and carrier coordination
Dedicated support from a team that knows your freight and your goals
A proven track record of helping shippers adapt and thrive through disruption
If you’re ready to get ahead of the chaos and bring more control to your freight operations, let’s talk. Reach out to schedule a consultation or request a freight analysis— we’d love to help you move smarter in 2025.