Transport Topics | Iran Conflict Turns Fuel into Freight Market’s Wild Card
Originally published by Transport Topics on April 3, 2026.
Rising fuel prices in Q1 2026 created new implications for the freight market, and in particular, for supply chains. Ryan McDermott, Director in Lincoln International’s Business Services Group, shared his perspective with Transport Topics.
Higher oil prices and war-risk premiums, according to Ryan, are both factors in the increased costs in ocean freight, bunker fuel and insurance costs. Rising diesel prices are additionally putting upward pressure on contract and spot trucking rates.
“Carriers / brokers with lagged surcharge mechanisms may see temporary margin compression, but cost pass-through should normalize over time,” McDermott said. “The opposite is true for carriers that have fuel cost-plus models.”
Summary
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Lincoln International’s experts shed light onto the impact of the Iran conflict on the freight market.
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