Cost concerns overtake capacity as top challenge in logistics, an ECG tech Board survey finds

Cost concerns overtake capacity as top challenge in logistics, an ECG tech Board survey finds

ECG — 2026-05-21

News from ECG

A newly released FVL industry survey by the ECG Tech Board, reveals shifting priorities and ongoing challenges for Logistics Service Providers (LSPs) and OEMs.

The survey’s central finding is that cost has now surpassed capacity as the top concern in logistics. "While the 2024 survey highlighted capacity shortages, respondents in 2026 quote cost as the primary obstacle, driven by unpredictable markets, fluctuating transport rates and volume volatility," explains Neringa Jasiulionienė, the ECG Tech Board co-chairwoman and Director of Finished Vehicle Logistics at Manvesta.

The ‘FVL Industry Survey’ (FVL, Finished Vehicle Logistics) updates findings from 2024, when the sector was grappling with a severe capacity crisis.

“The survey aims to pinpoint industry challenges and identify where technology, especially AI, can provide solutions," says Szilvi Kiss, Senior Research & Projects Manager at ECG. "Our goal is to use these insights to support strategic initiatives and foster dialogue among stakeholders as the logistics landscape evolves rapidly.”

Rising energy prices following the onset of the war in Iran have likely intensified cost pressures since the survey was conducted, further straining already volatile transport rates. While LSPs face strong pressure on transport rates, the OEMs are facing increasing pressure on transport budgets.

Planning remains complex. OEMs continue to struggle with supply chain visibility, while LSPs report urgent needs for improved predictability, forecasting and planning efficiency amid rising costs. Extended lead times, delays at unloading points, and the challenge of handling vehicles of varying weights and sizes all contribute to potential disruptions. Half of the responding LSPs experience significant impact from long payment times, making financial processes a major bottleneck.

Additional challenges include adapting to new vehicle designs and decarbonisation efforts, which complicate operational strategies and add new layers to the evolving logistics landscape. 85% of the OEM respondents state that the transparency about fuel and CO2 emissions had a high impact on them, and almost 2 out of 3 OEMs experience additional costs for more CO2-efficient transport solutions. On the other hand, the LSPs are uncertain about the life cycle costs of CO2-efficient transport solutions.

At the same time, the survey also points to a sector that is actively adapting to a more volatile environment. Companies increasingly focus on resilience, operational flexibility and closer cooperation across the supply chain in order to manage rising complexity and cost pressure.

AI Adoption Expands Despite Uncertainties 

Nearly half of the surveyed companies are already leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise operations. Yet, uncertainty around return on investment (ROI) remains a significant barrier to broader adoption. Industry leaders stress that poor data quality is a fundamental issue. "AI clearly offers support for certain LSP challenges," says Szilvi Kiss, "but investments carry risks without reliable data and clear ROI."

Respondents increasingly see AI as a practical tool to improve forecasting, planning efficiency and operational visibility. Rather than large-scale transformation projects, many companies currently focus on targeted applications with measurable operational benefits.

As cost pressures mount, purchasing departments have become more influential than in 2024, when securing capacity through partnerships took precedence. LSPs are cautious about investing in new initiatives, such as enhanced data sharing, sustainability efforts and AI tools, unless clear operational benefits and ROI are evident.

Long-term contracts of three to five years are seen as encouraging investment and partnership, but flexibility is essential as market conditions continue to shift.This highlights the growing importance of stable partnerships and transparent cooperation models to support investment, innovation and decarbonisation in Finished Vehicle Logistics.

These aspects will be further analysed at the second edition of the AI-Day ECG is organising in Karlsruhe, on 23-24 June.