Hardinger Integrated Logistics

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Women in Manufacturing Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter to Hardinger for an evening of connection, conversation and a behind-the-scenes look at our operations.

It was a great opportunity to bring together women from across our region’s manufacturing community, share what we do at Hardinger and, most importantly, create opportunities for people to connect and learn from one another.

We’re proud to support Women in Manufacturing and the work the Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter is doing to strengthen connections, encourage professional growth and build an even stronger manufacturing community in our region.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. We enjoyed having you at Hardinger!

Manufacturers are asking: Why are freight costs starting to creep back up?

One major factor is fuel.

After remaining relatively stable throughout 2025, diesel prices have climbed significantly in 2026. Even when base transportation rates remain competitive, higher fuel surcharges can quickly impact the total cost of freight.

Add in equipment-specific markets, capacity and seasonal demand, and the picture becomes more complicated.

The takeaway: Don’t just look at the freight invoice. Understand what’s driving it.

Market intelligence helps us help our clients make smarter transportation decisions.

One night. A lasting impact. 💙

Hardinger Integrated Logistics was proud to sponsor the 2026 Spirit of Erie Awards, celebrating the incredible individuals, businesses, and organizations helping shape the future of our region.

It was a wonderful evening filled with great conversations, community pride, and an opportunity to recognize the people who continue to make Erie such a special place to live, work, and grow.

A big thank you to the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership or putting together such a memorable night and for continuing to bring our business community together.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 honorees! Your leadership, service, and commitment to Erie do not go unnoticed.

We’re proud to be part of this community and even prouder to support the people who make it stronger.

And just like that, we are kicking off Career Fair Season!

Last spring, the Organizational Development team met Jabu at the Youngstown Career Fair, and that connection led to something pretty special. Jabu joined interns Kadence and Marin for the launch of Hardinger’s very first summer internship program, IGNITION. Today, Debra and Julia had the chance to reconnect with Jabu as he heads into his final year of school. As always, he brought the energy!

The team had a great day meeting students, making connections, and sharing opportunities to join the IGNITION Internship Program or Management Trainee Program.

A huge thank you to Youngstown State University for being such amazing hosts and giving Hardinger the opportunity to connect with your students.

Jabu is a great example of why career fairs are so important. You never know where one conversation can lead!

A shipment can travel the same lane tomorrow and cost something very different than it did yesterday.

Today, new Canadian counter-tariffs took effect on certain goods originating in the United States.

Depending on the product, the applicable surtax can be 15%, 25% or 50% of the value for duty.

For manufacturers shipping across the border, there is an important reminder here:

The transportation rate is only one part of the cost of moving a product.
The total landed cost can also depend on:
• Product classification
• Country of origin
• Duties and surtaxes
• Customs requirements
• Shipment value
• Transportation mode and routing

That means a freight rate can remain unchanged while the economics of the shipment change significantly.
It also means transportation, procurement, finance and trade compliance should be looking at the same information when cross-border costs change.

The goal is not simply to find the lowest freight rate.

It is to understand the total cost of getting the product where it needs to go.

Manufacturing growth does not stop at the production line.

When a manufacturer adds equipment, production lines, products or volume, the entire supply chain changes with it:

• More raw materials must arrive on schedule
• Suppliers need greater visibility into future demand
• Receiving and storage capacity must support the increased flow
• Inventory must be positioned where it can support production
• Transportation capacity must match output
• Outbound distribution must keep pace with what the operation can produce
• The production investment creates the additional capacity
• The supply chain determines whether that capacity can be used efficiently

That is why transportation, warehousing and inventory planning should be part of the expansion strategy from the beginning.

Before production increases, manufacturers should understand what that growth will require from suppliers, facilities, inventory and transportation partners.

Production growth changes the whole supply chain.

Diesel prices are climbing even as U.S. refineries operate near full capacity.

As of August 26, the AAA national average for diesel was approximately $5.62 per gallon. At the same time, the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration data showed refineries operating at 97.4% of capacity while distillate production declined to approximately 5.1 million barrels per day.

At first glance, those numbers may seem contradictory.
But high refinery utilization does not automatically eliminate fuel supply risk. When refineries are already operating near capacity, the system has less flexibility to respond when production declines or another disruption occurs.

For shippers, the impact can appear through fuel surcharges and higher transportation costs, even when underlying linehaul conditions have not changed at the same pace.

Companies cannot control the diesel market, but they can look for operational opportunities to manage their exposure:
• Understand how fuel surcharges are calculated
• Improve routing and reduce unnecessary miles
• Consolidate freight when practical
• Reduce dwell time and unnecessary idling
• Create more predictable shipping schedules

Rising diesel prices do not automatically mean freight rates will increase.

They do reinforce an important point:

Fuel is an operating variable, not just a line item.

Understanding how fuel affects transportation costs and improving the processes that influence fuel consumption can help shippers respond more effectively when the market changes.

Great teams are built by great people, and we’re fortunate to have some of the best.

This past Saturday, Hardinger Integrated Logistics and our affiliates (Hardinger Warehousing, Hardinger Trucking, Hardinger Brokerage, Hardinger TMS, and EQPT Services) came together for our annual Team Appreciation Picnic at Waldameer!

It was the perfect day to step away from work, enjoy some fun, and celebrate our incredible team and all they accomplish.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out and helped make the day so memorable! We appreciate each and every one of you.

Here’s to great people, great memories, and an even greater team! ☀️🎢

Lower freight volume doesn't automatically mean lower freight rates.

Fresh industry data provides a good example.

DAT reported that dry-van and refrigerated contract linehaul rates posted their largest June-to-July increases on record, even as July load volumes declined across van, re**er and flatbed freight.

Separately, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that overall for-hire freight activity declined for a third consecutive month in June.

For shippers, the takeaway isn't that rates are necessarily moving in one direction.

It's that demand is only one part of the pricing equation.

Available capacity, equipment requirements, lane dynamics, fuel, service expectations, and shipment timing can all affect what it actually costs to move freight.

That means transportation planning should go deeper than a national market forecast.

The better questions are:
- What is happening on our specific lanes?
- How much qualified carrier depth do we have?
- Where is our routing guide working—and where isn't it?
- Would additional lead time or consolidation create options?
- Are we evaluating total service and cost rather than rate alone?

Freight markets change.

The strongest transportation strategies are designed to adjust with them.

Need a transportation strategy built for changing markets? Contact Hardinger: https://hubs.la/Q04t1-ty0

What exactly is integrated logistics?

It’s more than moving freight from point A to point B. Integrated logistics brings transportation, warehousing, inventory management, brokerage, and value-added services together under one trusted partner.

The result? Fewer handoffs, smoother communication, and a supply chain that keeps moving, so you can focus on growing your business.

With support from Trucking, Hardinger Warehousing, Hardinger Brokerage, and EQPT Services, Hardinger Integrated Logistics builds flexible solutions around your needs.

Learn more about how Hardinger can simplify your logistics: https://hubs.la/Q04r_cbW0