New Study by INFORM Reveals 84% of Vehicle Logistics Professionals Face Unprecedented Cost Pressures
Market Outlook: The next five years will be defined by rising transport volumes (projected by 79% of respondents), but this expansion brings significant margin risk. Operational complexity is severely testing current networks, with leaders pointing to three critical vulnerabilities: unsustainable cost increases (84%), mounting pressure for operational efficiency (68%), and network instability due to fluctuating volumes (52%).
Cost pressure isn’t just the top operational challenge—it’s compounding. Tracking against previous surveys from the past decade (2013–2023), financial strain has reached a new peak. This pressure is magnified by blind spots within the supply chain. Growing network complexity and limited transparency are actively eroding planning quality and execution reliability. Bogged down by fragmented data, too many organizations are still playing catch-up—forced into a reactive posture instead of driving proactive decisions.
Management Summary: Growth Continues, but Complexity Accelerates Based on insights from over 110 industry professionals, the study identifies a definitive structural shift in vehicle logistics:
- Volume is scaling: The majority of respondents anticipate continued growth in transport volumes.
- Pressure is mounting: Operational strain is intensifying across all network nodes.
- Complexity is outpacing growth: The logistical intricacies of moving vehicles are scaling much faster than the volumes themselves.
Consequently, vehicle logistics has transformed into a high-stakes decision-making challenge bounded by strict cost and coordination constraints. The primary barrier to overcoming this is a chronic lack of network transparency:
- 76% report insufficient visibility into delivery times and ETAs.
- 68% struggle with blind spots regarding network capacity.
- 66% lack real-time visibility into transport statuses.
Simultaneously, a widening gulf has emerged between operational demands and current IT capabilities. Although a near-unanimous 95% of respondents rely on their IT systems to drive efficiency, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Operations remain heavily bottlenecked by fragmented data silos, poor system integration, and a severe lack of actionable decision support.
From Visibility to Decision Intelligence
Modern vehicle logistics is a highly fragmented ecosystem. OEMs, carriers, terminal operators, and dealers all operate within their own technological silos. As these networks become more interdependent, coordination scales in complexity, driving a critical shift in industry priorities.
Transparency alone is not the final objective. The real challenge is turning operational data into better decisions across the logistics network.
To bridge this gap, the industry is turning toward Artificial Intelligence. An overwhelming 94% of respondents anticipate AI and machine learning will fundamentally reshape the sector. Crucially, AI is viewed as an augmentation tool—designed to evaluate complex scenarios and empower human expertise rather than replace it. Yet, despite the enthusiasm for advanced AI, the study reveals that foundational hurdles must be cleared first. Organizations are still prioritizing immediate, ground-level needs: seamless system integration, real-time visibility, and agile planning capabilities.
A Long-Term Structural Trend Data from the INFORM study series (2013–2026) reveals a consistent and undeniable pattern: as vehicle transport volumes trend upward, operational environments are becoming exponentially more volatile and complex.
“While many companies still expect growth, what we currently observe in the market is a more differentiated picture across regions,” notes Hartmut Haubrich, Senior Vice President of Vehicle Logistics at INFORM. “But regardless of these short-term regional developments, the fundamental need to improve planning capabilities and decision-making remains unchanged.”
Study Methodology & Demographics This report is based on an anonymous, structured 25-question online survey conducted between December 2025 and January 2026. It captures insights from 111 professionals and managers across the global vehicle logistics industry.
- Sector Representation: Logistics Service Providers (46%), Automotive Manufacturers (37%), followed by carriers, terminal operators, and port authorities.
- Regional Breakdown: Europe (62%) and North America (18%), with remaining participation spanning South America, Asia, and Africa.
- Operational Focus: The vast majority operate in finished vehicle logistics, handling new vehicles (98%), used vehicles (50%), and high and heavy transport (30%).
About INFORM
INFORM develops software systems to improve decision-making in industrial and logistics operations and in financial services for risk, fraud, and compliance. Founded in 1969, we serve over 1,000 active customers worldwide as a trusted partner. Rooted in decades of experience in AI and operations research, we combine scientific rigor with practical industry expertise. Our approach bridges human expertise and machine intelligence to turn data into actionable guidance and integrate with existing processes, creating durable operational advantage while respecting data privacy and ethical standards. INFORM supports organizations in mastering complex operations and using AI as a natural, trusted part of their business. www.inform-software.com