Road freight transport entered 2026 with a difficult equation to balance. On one hand, operating costs continue to rise. On the other, the ability to pass these increases on to freight rates remains limited by a still cautious market, pressured by interest rates, irregular consumption, and tight margins in industry, retail, and agribusiness.
Diesel, the sector's main input, represents on average 35% of the operational costs of Brazilian transport companiesAccording to NTC & Logística, any fluctuation in fuel prices has an almost immediate impact on freight prices and the profitability of transport companies.
In March 2026, the cost of road freight registered an increase of 3,36%, getting at R$ 7,99 per kilometer driven, according to the Edenred Repom Road Freight Index. During the same period, ANTT updated the minimum freight rate table due to the increase in diesel prices, raising the displacement coefficient of R$ 5,986/km to R$ 6,368/km.
According to Célio Martins, new business manager at Transvias, the problem lies not only in the high costs, but also in the speed at which these costs reach the transporter.
“The transportation sector feels everything very quickly. When diesel prices rise, when credit becomes expensive, when consumption slows down, the transportation company feels it before many others. The problem is that it can't always pass on these costs at the same speed. The profit margin is gradually eroded,” he says.
The international scenario also adds pressure. The recent global energy crisis, triggered by the war in Iran and the surge in oil prices to near zero. US$110 per barrelThe crisis has led Latin American countries to adopt measures to reduce the impact on fuel prices. In Brazil, the government announced support for diesel, gas, and the aviation sector, as well as tax reductions on biodiesel and cooking gas, according to El País.
In practice, even when there are attempts to cushion the impact on the consumer, the production sector remains exposed to volatility. Trucks depend on diesel, parts, tires, maintenance, insurance, labor, and financing. When these items rise simultaneously, the operation becomes more burdensome.
The difficulty also appears in fleet renewal. Data published by Transporte Moderno shows that truck sales had accumulated a drop of more than... 15% in the first four months of 2026reflecting an adverse environment for road transport, marked by high interest rates, the cost of diesel, and greater caution in investments.
“The truck is the main asset of the transport company. When truck sales fall, it shows that the sector is postponing investment. Many companies continue to operate, but with an aging fleet, more expensive maintenance, and less capacity to modernize operations,” analyzes Martins.
Another point of concern is infrastructure. A survey by CNT indicates that poor road conditions increase the operational costs for transporters. By 2025, this scenario would have generated additional consumption of 1,2 billion liters of diesel, with a direct impact on the sector's costs.
For shippers, the risk is treating freight only as a cost line to be squeezed. According to Martins, this view can have the opposite effect.
“When freight costs are artificially low, someone pays the price. It could be the carrier, with a negative margin. It could be the shipper, with delays and loss of quality. It could be the consumer, with a higher price later on. Freight costs need to be negotiated intelligently, not just based on the lowest price,” he says.
It is in this context that data and planning become relevant. Transvias tracks freight inquiries across different regions and cargo profiles, allowing for the observation of behavioral changes before they appear in official indicators.
“In our database, we can see when a sector starts to see a decrease in inquiries, when a region loses strength, or when the search for freight alternatives increases. This type of analysis helps shippers and carriers make better decisions,” says Martins.
Transvias recorded an increase of 21,95% The total volume of freight inquiries increased compared to the previous year. This growth indicates that, faced with rising costs, shippers are intensifying their quoting efforts and searching for new partners to optimize budgets.
Data from the platform shows that the sector of E-commerce and Consumer Goods The demand for transportation is leading the increase, with a 12% rise. In contrast, the sector of Engineering It showed the biggest decline, with an 8% drop in inquiries for high-volume freight and heavy loads.
We observed a clear change in behavior: the search for Less-than-truckload (LTL) freight and transshipment grew by 18%. In recent months, this signals that companies are avoiding stockpiling large volumes and preferring smaller, more frequent shipments to preserve cash flow.
By 2026, the trend points to a more selective market. Carriers will have to better control costs, choose healthier operations, and avoid freight rates that don't cover the minimum operational structure. Shippers, in turn, will need to understand that logistical efficiency depends not only on price, but also on predictability, partnership, and planning.
"Road transport is one of the first sectors to feel the impact of the real economy. If it's under pressure, it's a sign that the entire chain needs to pay attention," Martins summarizes.
