With 2026 just a couple of days away, the finished vehicle logistics sector finds itself at a defining crossroads. This past year we have seen massive technological opportunities clashing with serious economic headwinds. For vehicle shippers and fleet managers the landscape is complex and risky to navigate.
Recent data from Precedence Research tells us the global finished vehicle logistics market is estimated to hit an impressive $202.4 billion USD in 2025. The trajectory shows it climbing to over $307.8 billion by 2034. That growth is driven by a compound annual growth rate of 4.77% and it suggests the industry is thriving.
However, those big headline numbers hide the chaotic reality we see on the ground. We see workforce adjustments rippling through the automotive sector along with logistical headaches coming from shifting trade tariffs. Vehicle shippers are asking themselves a simple question. How do we find certainty?
This is where RPM stands apart. We service our shippers by combining the scalable capacity of our non-asset model with a full suite of lifecycle solutions. Our recent acquisitions of Professional Automotive Relocation Services (PARS) and Dealers Choice Auto Transport allow us to do this. We can now step in to manage complex tasks like vehicle storage and titling while simultaneously providing enterprise-grade technology to dealerships. We are building the infrastructure of confidence that shippers desperately need by ensuring we have a solution for every single step of the journey.
Economic Challenges
Reports from late December 2025 by FreightWaves highlight a deepening wave of layoffs across the manufacturing and logistics sectors. We are seeing major OEMs announce permanent adjustments at key facilities, signaling erratic production schedules and volatile volume flows. When assembly plants shutter shifts or pause production unexpectedly the ripple effect through the supply chain is instant. Fixed assets sit idle while carriers lose revenue and shippers face penalties.
Compounding this is the regulatory climate documented by ACT Research. Their forecast for the industry heading into 2026 points to persistent uncertainty stemming from tariff-driven cost inflation and soft freight demand. The trucking industry is bracing for a difficult year where policy risks and regulatory shifts could further pressure volumes. Experts warn that unresolved questions regarding trade policies and tariffs are now firmly embedded in 2026 pricing structures.
For a vehicle shipper relying on traditional and rigid logistics models this environment presents inherent constraints. A carrier with a fixed fleet cannot easily pivot when a trade lane dries up due to a new tariff or when a factory goes offline. This is where RPM’s non-asset-based approach becomes a strategic shield. Because RPM aggregates capacity from a massive network of vetted carriers in the network it is not tethered to specific lanes or equipment types. When the market zigs RPM can zag. RPM reallocates resources to where demand is active without the burden of idling our own fleet.
Expansion
With PARS now part of the RPM family the service portfolio expands dramatically. RPM can now offer a much wider range of solutions based on PARS twenty-five years of experience.
- Driveaway Services
- Vehicle Storage
- Titling and Registration
- Reconditioning and Make-Ready
- Mechanical Repair
Empowering Dealerships with Dealers Choice Alongside PARS, RPM has also acquired Dealers Choice Auto Transport. This addition is vital for the retail side of the equation. Dealers Choice brings enterprise-grade technology to the dealership market. This sector has traditionally relied on manual processes and fragmented carrier networks. By integrating Dealers Choice RPM connects the final piece of the puzzle. We now provide seamless visibility and capacity not just for OEMs and fleet managers but for the dealerships that serve the end consumer.
Why does this matter for confidence? Imagine a fleet manager in early 2026 who needs to de-fleet 500 vehicles from a region hit by economic downturn and move them to a region where demand is higher. In the past this would require coordinating a transport company finding a storage yard and hiring a title agency to process the transfer. They might even need a mechanic to fix up the cars before they could be reissued. Today, RPM can do it all.
Confidence is a Service
2026 will continue to be a challenging landscape for vehicle shippers. Their goal is no longer just lowest price per mile. It’s assurance. RPM has spent over a decade building a reputation for handling the transportation others can't. With the integration of PARS and Dealers Choice that capability has evolved from simple transport to total lifecycle management. By aggregating capacity, integrating enterprise-grade technology, and expanding into fleet services, RPM moves more than just vehicles. RPM moves the heavy burden of uncertainty off its shippers’ shoulders.
Sources and References
- Precedence Research. (2025). Finished Vehicle Logistics Market Size, Share & Growth By 2034.
- RPM Freight Systems. (2025, December 9). RPM Acquires PARS, Uniting Market-Leading Logistics with Premier Vehicle Relocation Services.
- RPM Freight Systems. (2025, December 18). RPM Acquires Dealers Choice Auto Transport, Delivering Enterprise-Grade Tech to the Dealership Market.
- FreightWaves. (2025, December 16). From factories to fulfillment centers, more layoffs hit U.S. supply chains.
- YouTube (WXYZ-TV Detroit). (2025, November 26). GM to lay off 1,140 at Detroit's Factory Zero.
- ACT Research. (2025, December 22). Trucking Industry Forecast for 2026.