The US auto transport market is undergoing significant transformations in 2026, driven by geopolitical events and shifting consumer behaviors. A comprehensive report by SGT Auto Transport reveals notable changes in carrier pay and consumer pricing, offering valuable insights into the current state of the industry.
The report, titled The State of Auto Transport 2026 analyzes 30 months of shipment data from January 2024 through June 2026, covering all 49 US states and 1,581 distinct state-to-state lanes. The findings highlight a substantial increase in carrier pay per mile, which rose by 22.8% year over year in the first half of 2026, following two years of minimal movement.
The Impact of Geopolitical Events on Carrier Pay
The increase in carrier pay began in March 2026, coinciding with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. This geopolitical event had a ripple effect on the auto transport market, leading to a significant rise in carrier pay. The report notes that carrier pay for car shipping rose every month from March 2026, reaching a peak of 34.7% in June.
While fuel prices played a role in the cost jump, they were not the sole cause. Retail diesel prices increased from $3.72 a gallon in February to $4.92 in March, peaking at $5.60 in May. However, the earlier increases in carrier pay were not solely attributable to fuel costs, indicating other underlying factors at play.
Consumer Pricing and the Role of Brokers
The prices consumers paid for auto transport services rose by 14.6% over the same period, roughly two-thirds of the increase in carrier pay. This disparity suggests that brokers are absorbing part of the increase rather than passing it through in full. The report’s central finding is that the gap between carrier pay and consumer pricing is a critical story in the 2026 car shipping market.
The report also reveals that the share of completed shipments finishing above their booked price rose by 46%, while cancellations increased by 24.8%. Orders cancelled because the booked rate was too low to attract a carrier rose from 1.45% of all bookings to 4.64%, indicating a shift in market dynamics.
Changing Consumer Behavior and Vehicle Preferences
The report highlights a significant shift in consumer behavior and vehicle preferences. SUVs reached 43.9% of vehicles shipped, while sedans fell to 27.9%. Electric vehicles accounted for 5.5% of shipments, and pickups ran at roughly half the share reported from dealer-focused load board data.
Among shipments with a recorded origin type, 76.9% were picked up at a residential address, suggesting that the dataset reflects consumer vehicle shipping rather than dealer and auction traffic. This mix provides valuable insights into the preferences and behaviors of individual consumers.
The report also covers enclosed transport premiums by haul length, booking urgency, state-by-state inbound and outbound flows, and Florida’s seasonal reversal, which swings from 2.25 inbound-to-outbound in October to 0.44 in April.
For a detailed analysis of the month-by-month rate progression, consumer pricing across seven distance bands, supporting charts, and the complete methodology, readers are encouraged to explore The State of Auto Transport 2026 report.
