Sustainability has become a bottom-of-the-list priority for U.S. logistics providers, with as few as 7% of companies citing environmental initiatives as a primary focus in 2025.

According to a survey of nearly 1,600 U.S. transport and shipping professionals from technology media outlet Tech.co, most firms are concentrating on more pressing and immediate challenges, including vehicle maintenance, financial pressures, labor shortages and adapting to shifting regulations. Between 19% and 23% of survey respondents said vehicle upkeep was their top concern, while financial stress ranked second at 16%-21%. Additionally, staffing and retention issues were reported by as many as 26% of companies.

"Our research has shown that sustainability is not a core consideration for the logistics industry at the moment, as it struggles to deal with a volatile year," said Tech.co editor Jack Turner. 'The investment of time and resources needed for progress in this area are being spent elsewhere."

When companies do adopt green measures, they overwhelmingly favor low-cost, quick-return options. Forty-three percent said they reduce idling times to save fuel, while 40% rely on route optimization to cut costs and emissions. More disruptive sustainability investments — such as electric fleets, alternative fuels or charging infrastructure — have become less common.

Interest in electric vehicle adoption has also dropped sharply in the face of declining government support. In April, more than 40% of companies said they were exploring EV trials — by late summer, that number had fallen to 13% to 17%. Analysts link the decline to shifting policy, including the repeal of California’s Advanced Clean Fleets mandate earlier this year.

The report highlights the strong influence of regulation on industry behavior. Policy stability and infrastructure support, it concluded, are critical to moving sustainability from “optional” to “essential.” But without predictable rules and stronger incentives, many logistics firms have been hesitant to prioritize costly environmental initiatives.