SC Codeworks, a provider of warehouse management software, released its H1 2026 supply chain performance data, revealing a logistics industry that is becoming faster, more efficient, and increasingly resilient despite ongoing economic and transportation challenges. The analysis, based on platform data from the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, found total freight orders increased 6.9% year over year, with June recording the strongest monthly performance at 14.6% growth over June 2025.
At the same time, average order-to-ship cycle times fell dramatically, decreasing 34% year over year, from 19.76 days in H1 2025 to 13.04 days in H1 2026. This trend suggests businesses are placing orders closer to actual demand while expecting significantly faster warehouse execution, reflecting a more agile and responsive supply chain environment. The data indicates a clear shift toward compressed planning horizons and a greater reliance on real-time logistics capabilities.
The report also highlighted improvements in less-than-truckload (LTL) consolidation efficiency during a period of elevated fuel costs. From January through April 2026, average orders per consolidation load increased 19%, rising from 4.87 to 5.79 orders per load. High-density loads carrying 20 or more orders grew from 5.2% of all consolidations in January to 6.5% in February, remaining elevated through April. Overall shipped LTL volume increased 26%, while consolidation rates remained consistently between 74% and 75%, demonstrating that operators maintained shipping discipline even as freight volumes increased.
These trends coincided with a significant increase in diesel prices following geopolitical disruptions earlier this year, suggesting organizations responded by maximizing trailer utilization instead of increasing truck deployments. "The data tells a clear story. Companies are compressing their planning horizons, ordering closer to actual need and expecting the supply chain to keep pace," said Amy Dean, Vice President of Operations at SC Codeworks. "On the LTL side, operators are responding the right way, packing more work into every load rather than adding trucks. And underneath all of it, volume is growing. That combination tells us the logistics industry is not just surviving a demanding environment. It is adapting to it."
SC Codeworks, headquartered in Columbus, OH, offers multiple warehouse management system platforms including Codeworks Essentials and Codeworks Enterprise, which can be tailored to meet the needs of warehouse logistics companies of all sizes. Built by logistics experts for logistics experts, the platforms provide a fully integrated, one-stop solution that includes essential modules like yard management and inventory control, coupled with more advanced features such as line-side knitting and CODI, the company’s AI-powered orchestration engine that supports day-to-day warehouse decisions. The company has been recognized recently by the Institute for Supply Management's Supply Chain Trailblazer Awards, Inbound Logistics' Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Providers list, and the SupplyTech Breakthrough Awards as Warehouse Automation Platform of the Year.
