{"id":25705,"date":"2026-01-26T16:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=25705"},"modified":"2026-01-26T17:04:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T22:04:21","slug":"thriving-in-difficult-conditions-key-shipper-considerations-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/blog\/thriving-in-difficult-conditions-key-shipper-considerations-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Thriving in difficult conditions: Key shipper considerations in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"25705\" class=\"elementor elementor-25705\" data-elementor-post-type=\"blog\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbd2b07 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fbd2b07\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d428b3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d428b3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Shippers can't negotiate their way to resilience. They have to build it.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afc3085 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"afc3085\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>By Tim O&#8217;Connell, Vice President of Sales Operations &#038; Marketing, Odyssey Logistics<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fc96d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fc96d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the 1960s, Thomas Brock discovered organisms thriving in Yellowstone&#8217;s boiling hot springs\u2014lifeforms called \u2018extremophiles\u2019 whose biochemistry was optimized for conditions that should have destroyed them. These extremophiles don&#8217;t merely tolerate difficult environments: they&#8217;re comfortable in them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04c832a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04c832a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 2026, shippers face similar evolutionary pressure. The initial reaction is to negotiate harder with suppliers and carriers, optimize rates, tighten terms\u2014but this approach delivers diminishing returns. Push too hard and service deteriorates, suppliers feel an unsustainable pinch, and when markets rebound you find yourself capacity-constrained with nowhere to turn.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d628980 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d628980\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA more durable lever is gaining clarity on your internal operations: how freight moves through your network, where inefficiencies hide, which decisions create downstream problems. This visibility builds resilience\u2014and it&#8217;s easier to achieve with a partner who understands your needs and can help you act on what you see. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2baa982 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2baa982\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For our customers, this is the role Odyssey plays: <strong>helping your supply chain evolve to thrive under pressure.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcf028a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fcf028a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0390c80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0390c80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Volatility <span style=\"font-weight: 700;\"><em>is<\/em><\/span> the operating environment<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c48b2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c48b2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe number of factors shippers must track is growing steadily. Waiting for stability is no longer a strategy.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-543b92c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"543b92c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFive years ago, supply chain planning meant managing a finite set of known variables. Today the inputs have multiplied\u2014and they shift faster than annual planning cycles can accommodate. Geopolitical pressure now spans multiple continents while tariffs reshape trade flows overnight. Chinese exports have declined sharply. Asia-Europe trade\u2014usually a bellwether\u2014remains depressed. The trucking market faces mounting pressure from driver shortages compounded by tightening CDL and language requirements.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7621c23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7621c23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis increased complexity demands a different approach to planning. Options matter more than ever, and decision-making must accelerate when conditions shift. Scenario planning\u2014asking what happens if trucking capacity contracts, if a polar vortex disrupts northern routes for three months, if tariffs spike again\u2014needs to happen regularly, not once a year.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31bcfea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31bcfea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow can shippers\u2019 supply chains evolve to thrive in these conditions? \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efd9783 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"efd9783\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd5b78a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dd5b78a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The multimodal hedge<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b13b2bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b13b2bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tModal combinations now function as a hedge against disruption, not just a cost play.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a780f45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a780f45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMode selection used to be an execution decision, made after the real strategic work was done. In 2026, that framing will be obsolete. Shippers now use combinations of rail, truck and other modes intentionally, as a hedge against volatility rather than purely a cost play.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ee68d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4ee68d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe logic is straightforward: when trucking costs spike in certain lanes, rail becomes the pressure valve. When driver availability tightens, intermodal options prevent network lockups. This flexibility requires planning\u2014rail moves slower than truck, which means supply chains must be engineered to accommodate different lead times. But companies that do this work gain something valuable: resilience that doesn&#8217;t depend on any single mode staying cheap or available.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c3103f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c3103f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/why-odyssey\/multimodal-advantage\/\">Odyssey&#8217;s network<\/a> spans intermodal services (containerized cargo, metals, ISO tanks), trucking (brokerage, flatbed, full truckload, LTL, drayage) and warehousing (strategic facilities, temperature-controlled storage, transload services). This breadth gives shippers access to multiple levers when conditions shift\u2014the ability to move freight across modes without scrambling to find new providers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b4023b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6b4023b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac721db elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ac721db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Visibility that drives decisions<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f5819a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f5819a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKnowing where a shipment is matters less than seeing your entire network clearly enough to act on what you find.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86a3050 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"86a3050\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor years, visibility meant shipment tracking, i.e., knowing a container&#8217;s location at any given moment. The more pressing question is now: how do I see my entire network\u2014what&#8217;s in motion, what&#8217;s sitting in warehouses, what&#8217;s ready to sell\u2014so I can make faster decisions?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dd3357 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8dd3357\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn a volatile environment, this kind of visibility is essential for scenario planning. It exposes waste that absolute price reductions can&#8217;t touch.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79dbb2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79dbb2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Odyssey has invested over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/why-odyssey\/technology-platform\/\">$40 million in technology<\/a> over the past three years, building a data lake and AI capabilities that combine shippers&#8217; data with Odyssey&#8217;s own to equip customers with a more complete picture of supply chain performance. This foundation powers our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/why-odyssey\/case-studies\/network-optimization\/\">network optimization services<\/a>, which have helped customers identify significant savings\u2014one global manufacturer uncovered $60 million in unseen efficiency through this process.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72ed800 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"72ed800\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-430eecd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"430eecd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The human element remains critical<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd4ce31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd4ce31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAI handles the routine; experienced teams navigate the competing priorities that algorithms can&#8217;t reconcile.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e5bd52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e5bd52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAI and automation handle routine tasks well: dynamic pricing, reducing empty miles, invoicing, accounts payable. This frees experienced logistics professionals to focus on exceptions management, solution building and the consultative work that actually moves the needle.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b5242b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b5242b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAI, however, can&#8217;t navigate the competing objectives that define real supply chains. Railroads optimize for their own priorities, trucking companies have different incentives, and customers have growth targets and shareholder expectations. Coordinating across these actors requires judgment rooted in experience.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a168c50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a168c50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOdyssey has spent over 20 years building deep expertise across intermodal, trucking, warehousing and managed services. Our teams understand the nuances of each part of your supply\u2014and can adapt quickly under pressure, shifting routes and solving problems before they cascade. While our technology supports these decisions, only humans can make them.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f88d4f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0f88d4f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f27d6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0f27d6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Position now for the rebound<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7685ed4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7685ed4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen capacity tightens, shippers who over-squeezed suppliers will have nowhere to turn.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1dd53e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1dd53e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSigns of life are emerging in the industry\u2014automotive and aerospace are showing early recovery signals. While the market remains soft, it will eventually rebound. When it does, capacity constraints will replace cost pressure as the primary challenge, and companies that have pushed suppliers to the breaking point will find themselves without options.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fedd944 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fedd944\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExtremophiles didn&#8217;t evolve in anticipation of hostile conditions. The pressure itself reshaped them. Five years of disruption have offered shippers the same opportunity to let volatility forge them rather than break them. Smart shippers will continue to take that opportunity: investing in visibility, flexibility and partnerships that adapt under pressure instead of chasing rigid low-cost models that break when stressed.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccf13e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ccf13e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you&#8217;re ready to build a supply chain that&#8217;s native to volatility, or want to explore how your network can evolve, schedule a visibility audit with our strategy team today.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shippers can&#8217;t negotiate their way to resilience. They have to build it. In 2026, shippers face evolutionary pressure. The initial reaction is to negotiate harder with suppliers and carriers, optimize rates, tighten terms\u2014but this approach delivers diminishing returns. Push too hard and service deteriorates, suppliers feel an unsustainable pinch, and when markets rebound you find yourself capacity-constrained with nowhere to turn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25707,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"blog_category":[74,68,105],"class_list":["post-25705","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog_category-industry-trends","blog_category-multimodal-services","blog_category-people"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Thriving in difficult conditions: Key shipper considerations in 2026 - Odyssey Logistics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Five years of disruption have reshaped logistics. Odyssey outlines how shippers can build supply chain resilience through multimodal flexibility and visibility.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.odysseylogistics.com\/blog\/thriving-in-difficult-conditions-key-shipper-considerations-in-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thriving in difficult conditions: Key shipper considerations in 2026 - Odyssey Logistics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Five years of disruption have reshaped logistics. 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