2026 Fuel Market Outlook: What it Means for Your Transportation Budget
Fuel is the second largest and most volatile operating expense in transportation, and traditional fuel surcharge programs expose your budget to unnecessary costs and risks. Forecasts for 2026 signal continued volatility, making it critical for transportation leaders to move beyond outdated, average-based reimbursement models.
Our 2026 Fuel Outlook provides the data-driven insights you need to navigate market complexities and turn your fuel spend from a volatile cost center into a powerful strategic advantage.
Key Takeaways from the Report:
- An emerging global supply surplus is creating downward pressure on crude oil prices, yet regional disruptions are adding significant volatility.
- Refinery closures on the West Coast and continued U.S. diesel exports are tightening domestic supply and creating complex pricing dynamics.
- Traditional fuel surcharge programs based on the weekly DOE index are inaccurate, leading to missed savings opportunities.
Learn why Fuel Recovery is the definitive solution for fair and accurate fuel reimbursement.
More Guides
Guides
May 7, 2025
Understanding the Foundation of Visibility
Most organizations talk about visibility—but few truly achieve it. Are you one of them? In today’s fast-paced, disruption-prone environment, having real-time visibility across your supply chain isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Yet, fewer than 10% of companies surveyed can say they have end-to-end insight into their supply chain operations. So what’s standing in the way? And more importantly—how do you overcome it? “Understanding the Foundation of Visibility” is the first whitepaper in a powerful new series by NCS Partners, designed to help supply chain leaders break down silos, align teams, and turn fragmented data into actionable insight. Download this white paper to learn how to: Identify the five most impactful focus areas for building end-to-end visibility Align leadership and secure cross-functional buy-in to drive transformation Build a clear vision and roadmap to avoid common visibility pitfalls Integrate distributed data sources to enable real-time, actionable insight Promote continuous improvement and communication across teams Whether you’re just beginning your visbility journey or ready to refine your approach, this foundational guide offers expert-backed strategies used by top-performing organizations. Download the “Understanding the Foundation of Visbility” white paper here to learn more
Supply Chain Disruptions
Guides
July 1, 2024
Supply Chain Now’s Guide to Supply Chain Disruptions
The modern supply chain landscape is defined by constant disruption, demanding a proactive approach to challenges. In our guide to supply chain disruptions, we delve into the critical sources of disruption reshaping the industry: climate change, global conflict, and labor disputes. Through data-driven insights and expert analysis, we offer strategies for building resilient supply chains, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology, supplier management, and collaboration. Read on to learn how to navigate the complexities of supply chain disruptions and thrive in this era of uncertainty. Working in an Era of Supply Chain Disruption At the onset of the supply chain crisis spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, many in the industry thought that the time of constant disruptions and delays would resolve with the pandemic. This, however, has proven far from true. Instead, our increasingly global supply chain — ever more reliant on a complex network of international transportation partners — is more vulnerable than ever to disruptions. In this section, we’ll look at three sources of disruption transforming the industry. 1. Climate Change Takes its Toll on Normal Operations Climate change is leading to new supply chain vulnerabilities. One significant example is the Panama Canal, a critical artery in global…