Marten profit falls on costs; rail and equipment results diverge

· Logistics · United States

Refrigerated truckload carrier Marten Transport reported a disappointing third quarter, sending its shares down 7% in midday trading Friday, as rising fuel and health insurance costs outweighed improving supply-demand fundamentals. Rail equipment supplier Wabtec, by contrast, raised its outlook after higher third-quarter revenue and earnings on stronger freight and transit sales. Truck leasing and fleet operator Ryder posted solid third-quarter results that lifted its stock 10%, while it weighs fleet growth ahead of the EPA '27 nitrogen oxide rules for heavy-duty vehicles. Rail executives, meanwhile, are looking to the 2027 bid cycle to raise intermodal contract rates for the first time in four years, encouraged by sharp truck pricing increases this year.

Why it matters：These results show cost inflation still squeezing truckload carriers while equipment and rail suppliers benefit from freight demand, and the coming EPA '27 rules and rail rate ambitions signal where transport pricing and fleet investment head next.

Key points

  • Marten shares fell 7% on rising fuel and health insurance costs despite better supply-demand.
  • Wabtec raised its outlook on higher freight and transit sales.
  • Railroads target the 2027 bid cycle for the first intermodal rate increase in four years.

Sources (original reporting)

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