Supply Chain
Supply Chain Updates for Multifamily
May 2026
Updated May 12, 2026
The Perfect Storm: What’s Impacting Shipping Right Now
Supply chain pressures often come from multiple directions at once. Costs are volatile, they’re moving faster than they used to, and they’re becoming harder to predict. On top of that, DOT Blitz Week is approaching, which will add another layer of potential disruption. Here’s what’s happening and why it matters.
Parcel Shipping: The Base Rate Isn’t the Real Cost
Carriers like UPS and FedEx are increasing costs primarily through surcharges rather than headline rate hikes, which is resulting in higher shipping invoices and price volatility.
Fuel surcharges are currently running between 22% and 27% for most shipments, and they’re recalculated weekly based on fuel prices. That means shipping costs can change quickly without formal announcements.
Trucking and Ocean Freight: Volatility Is the Norm
Freight markets are equally unstable. Diesel prices remain elevated, keeping trucking fuel surcharges high and pushing up overall transportation costs. Because fuel is a direct pass-through expense, even small increases quickly show up in freight rates.
Ocean shipping has also been unpredictable. Spot rates continue to swing in response to capacity shifts and global disruptions. Prices can spike quickly when capacity tightens and fall just as fast when demand softens. This lack of consistency makes planning more challenging.
Tariffs: Some Costs Are Being Passed Through
Another factor impacting pricing is tariffs. As costs continue to fluctuate, many companies across the supply chain are adjusting pricing to offset increased expenses. While some businesses may absorb these costs, others are passing them through in the form of price increases.
DOT Blitz Week: A Short-Term Capacity Shock
Adding to current pressures, DOT Blitz Week (May 12–14) will temporarily disrupt trucking capacity. This annual enforcement event, run by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, involves intensive inspections across North America.
During this 72-hour period, inspectors conduct Level I inspections focusing on both driver compliance and vehicle safety. This year’s emphasis includes hours-of-service compliance and cargo securement.
In 2025, over 56,000 inspections resulted in more than 13,000 vehicles and 3,000 drivers being placed out of service. That’s a meaningful reduction in available trucks over a short period.
This can lead to lower carrier acceptance rates, routing disruptions, and delays, particularly for mid-range freight lanes.
What This Means for Customer Conversations
Given these conditions, proactive communication is critical. Customers with time-sensitive shipments during this window should be identified early, and expectations should be set in advance.
Key actions include:
- Flagging shipments with firm delivery deadlines between May 12–14
- Moving pickups earlier where possible to avoid the inspection window
- Communicating the potential for minor delays
- Building flexibility into delivery appointments
- Paying extra attention to loads that may face stricter inspection scrutiny
A small amount of planning now can prevent larger issues down the line.
In times like these, staying ahead of disruption requires more than simply reacting to changes as they happen. It takes close monitoring, strong relationships, and the ability to adapt quickly as conditions evolve.
At Chadwell Supply, we remain committed to staying vigilant, communicating proactively, and responding quickly as these pressures arise. Our focus remains the same: helping our customers minimize disruption by delivering what they ordered on time.
Supply Chain News by Category:
See a breakdown of product categories and specific items affected here.
