Transportation leaders are continuing to prioritise sustainability investment despite regulatory rollbacks, political scrutiny and ongoing inflationary pressures, according to new research.
Breakthrough’s 2026 State of Transportation Report found that both shippers and carriers increasingly view emissions reduction as a practical strategy to strengthen network resilience, manage cost exposure and reduce disruption risk.
The survey shows 58% of shippers made progress towards their sustainability goals over the past 12 months, with 21% describing that progress as “exceptional” — a 10-percentage-point increase compared with 2025. Looking ahead, 69% expect to cut transportation-related emissions in 2026, reflecting deeper integration of sustainability into fuel efficiency, network planning and procurement decisions.
Confidence in disruption preparedness remains high. Some 91% of transportation leaders across shippers and carriers said their organisations are agile and equipped to manage future shocks, signalling a more disciplined approach to volatility.
Heather Mueller, Chief Client Strategy Officer at Breakthrough, said leaders are operating in an environment where tariff policies, energy markets and regulation are shifting rapidly. “What we’re seeing in the data is that cost management and sustainability are becoming much more closely intertwined, with sustainability playing a growing role in how leaders manage cost exposure and build long-term resilience into their operations,” she said.
Tariffs now rank as the top economic indicator shaping transportation decision-making, followed by energy prices and regulatory policy. Nearly half of respondents expect tariffs to disrupt the industry in 2026, with concerns linked to broader economic slowdown risks.
In response, companies are adopting more dynamic and financially disciplined strategies. These include wider use of flexible contracts, increased deployment of AI-powered freight optimisation tools, reduced reliance on short-term market signals, and expanded fuel hedging to manage price volatility and improve budget certainty.
The findings suggest the sector is shifting towards a more integrated operating model in which sustainability, cost control and resilience are addressed through the same strategic decisions.
Breakthrough surveyed 500 US transportation leaders, including both shippers and carriers, on their priorities and goals for 2026.
