C.H. Robinson Q3 Profit Rises 22%, Plus 2 More Trucking Stories

Three stories connect today: a freight broker that earned more while overall market freight volumes slipped slightly, diesel that rose again, and a carrier that says it wants to put hundreds of driverless trucks to work. Each one affects how carriers and brokers plan the next few months.

1. C.H. Robinson Reports Higher Q3 Profit and Revenue

C.H. Robinson reported third-quarter results on October 28. Revenue rose 29.5% from a year earlier to about $5.4 billion, which the company attributes mainly to higher pricing in truckload, ocean, LTL and air. Net income rose 21.8% to $198.5 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 24.6% to $1.67 ($1.80 adjusted). Volume in its North American surface business grew about 3.5%, while the Cass Freight Shipment Index fell 0.3%.

Two details stand out. Operating cash flow fell to $124.1 million from a year earlier, which the company ties to higher transportation rates raising its working-capital needs, and average headcount fell 10.4%. The company also repeated that its proposed $5.8 billion purchase of RXO, announced October 5, is not complete: it still needs regulatory approval and an RXO shareholder vote, and the companies expect it to close in the first half of 2027. Revenue here is gross revenue, not profit. For earlier coverage, see our post on the C.H. Robinson verdict ruling.

Why it matters: Higher pricing lifted this broker’s revenue, while carriers face higher fuel bills up front. If you haul for large brokers, keep an eye on payment terms, and remember that a pending merger can change contacts and systems well before it closes.

2. Diesel Rises to $6.352 a Gallon

The U.S. Energy Information Administration put the national on-highway diesel average at $6.352 a gallon for the week of October 26. That is 7.6 cents above the prior week and $2.634 above a year ago. California remained the most expensive at $8.155, while the Lower Atlantic region was cheapest at $5.890. The Midwest rose 12.8 cents to $6.480. These are EIA’s published weekly survey figures, and prices include taxes.

Last week’s figure was $6.276, so this is a continued climb, not a new spike. Our guides on how fuel surcharges work and the earlier DOE heating oil loan cover the background.

Why it matters: Check that your fuel surcharge schedule or base price still matches the current index, and compare quotes on linehaul rate alone so fuel does not hide a weak load.

3. Charger Logistics Plans Up to 500 Aurora Driverless Trucks

On October 26, Charger Logistics announced it intends to buy up to 500 trucks equipped with Aurora’s driverless technology, with deliveries over 2027 and 2028. According to Trucking Dive and DC Velocity, this is a non-binding memorandum of understanding, so it is a plan, not a final contract. Charger would own the trucks and subscribe to Aurora’s “driver-as-a-service” model, and expects to use them on high-volume routes near the U.S.-Mexico border and elsewhere.

Trucking Dive separately reports that Aurora is targeting more than 200 driverless trucks by the end of 2026 and 30,000 by 2030, and has pushed back its target for positive gross profit to the first half of 2027. Those are company goals, not results. Werner, an Aurora customer, says economics are now a bigger hurdle than technology or safety.

Why it matters: Driverless freight is still small and aimed at long, high-volume lanes. Carriers on those lanes should watch pricing and capacity there, while most local and regional work is unlikely to change soon.

The Bottom Line

One large broker reported stronger earnings while diesel rose again for the carriers that move the freight. At the same time, autonomous trucking is moving from pilots toward larger plans, though still mostly on paper. Watch your fuel recovery, your payment terms and the lanes where driverless trucks may appear first.

Neal’s Take

These stories show different parts of the market moving at different speeds. A large broker is earning more on higher pricing, diesel rose for a second straight week in the EIA data, and the driverless plans are years from full scale and non-binding for now. I would watch whether diesel keeps climbing next week, whether the RXO deal clears its approvals, and whether any carrier or broker commentary shows rates holding once fuel stops rising. One quarter and one week of data are not a trend, so I would avoid big decisions based on them alone.

— Neal Cvetkovski, Founder of LOAD TIDE. Personal opinion, not legal or financial advice.

Stay with LOAD TIDE for daily updates on the freight and trucking market.

Sources: C.H. Robinson, 2026 third-quarter results release (Oct. 28, 2026); C.H. Robinson, RXO acquisition release (Oct. 5, 2026); U.S. EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (week of Oct. 26, 2026); Trucking Dive on Charger and Aurora (Oct. 26, 2026); Trucking Dive on Aurora’s targets (Oct. 26, 2026); DC Velocity (Oct. 26, 2026).