ProShip 2025 Parcel Report: Shipping Cost Crisis Drives Strategic Shifts for High‑Volume Shippers
- barboraarendasova
- Dec 11, 2025
- 3 min read
The recent ProShip 2025 Parcel Report reveals that rising shipping costs, fluctuating carrier rates, and network congestion are forcing high-volume shippers to rethink their strategies. Companies are increasingly diversifying across multiple carriers to maintain flexibility, avoid bottlenecks, and protect margins. The report highlights a notable shift in decision-making power: IT and operations teams now lead shipping strategy, reflecting the growing role of technology and data in parcel management. Many companies are also adopting distributed fulfillment models, moving from centralized warehouses to regional networks to reduce transit times and meet evolving customer expectations.
Rising Costs Take Center Stage
Unprecedented shipping expenses have vaulted cost control into the industry’s top strategic priority. Over 75% of high‑volume shippers now cite rising shipping costs as a Top 3 concern, underscoring how financial pressures are forcing leaders to reassess every aspect of distribution and fulfillment.
Carrier rate volatility, surcharges, and fluctuating fuel fees have made budgeting more complex and less predictable than ever before. These financial headwinds are prompting companies to diversify shipping strategies to defend margins.
Diversification Is the New Standard
Faced with cost pressures and network instability, carrier diversification has become the primary defense strategy. The report finds that 76% of shippers actively leverage multiple carriers to avoid bottlenecks, improve service options, and maintain operational flexibility.
This shift away from relying on one or two major carriers reflects broader fears about capacity constraints, delivery delays, and systemic fragility in traditional networks. The ability to distribute volume across multiple partners is now seen as essential to business continuity.
IT and Operations Take Strategic Command
One of the most notable insights from the report is the strategic power shift within organizations. Historically, parcel shipping decisions were driven by senior leadership or supply chain executives. However, the latest data shows that IT and operational teams now own three‑quarters of shipping strategy decision‑making.
This realignment reflects how modern parcel fulfillment depends heavily on technology infrastructure, real‑time data, and systems integration — areas traditionally governed by IT and operations leaders. Technology decisions are no longer tactical; they are top‑tier strategic imperatives.
Scalability Risks Are Escalating
As companies push to meet higher volume demands, concerns about existing technology roadblocks have increased markedly. The report reveals that worries about system scalability limitations have more than doubled year‑over‑year, signaling that many firms recognize their current tools may not be equipped for future growth.
This escalation has triggered renewed investment in modern platforms capable of supporting complex rules engines, automated rate optimization, and multi‑carrier orchestration without compromising performance or uptime.
External Pressures Compound Operational Challenges
Beyond costs and technology, the report identifies a range of external threats that are shaping parcel strategy decisions, including:
Regulatory changes affecting shipping compliance and documentation
Shifting customer delivery expectations, particularly around speed and transparency
Distributed fulfillment requirements, with nearly half of all high‑volume shippers operating across multiple facilities to improve delivery times and meet service expectations
Distributed Fulfillment Becomes Standard Practice
In response to these pressures, the report notes that nearly 50% of enterprise shippers have adopted distributed fulfillment models — a shift away from centralized distribution toward networks of regional fulfillment centers. This model helps reduce transit times, improve delivery reliability, and better align with customer expectations in key markets.
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Image source: proshipinc.com
