EP 170: Freight Is Eating the Lumber Market

This week on The Lumber Word, the crew tackles the biggest issue in lumber today: freight. From Buffalo reloads buried under railcars to Southern Pine mills struggling with transportation costs, the conversation centers on how logistics—not mill prices—are driving the market. The team discusses tightening inventories, shrinking North American supply, species substitution, and why prompt wood may be worth more than ever. Gregg doubles down on his bullish lumber outlook, while the group debates whether SPF is significantly undervalued heading into the second half of 2026. If freight remains tight and supply stays constrained, the market could be setting up for a stronger move than many expect.

Timeline

0:00 – Back From the Road – Travel stories, reload visits, and market observations.

2:00 – Buffalo Is Jammed – Railcars are arriving fast and unloading slowly.

5:00 – Chicago Reload Expansion – New capacity could become a major advantage.

7:00 – Freight Is the Story – Higher trucking costs are changing lumber economics.

11:00 – Pine Mills Hit the Brakes – Transportation issues may be limiting production.

15:00 – Contract Pricing Gets Tested – Suppliers are absorbing freight pain.

18:00 – Rail vs. Truck – Why transportation knowledge is becoming a competitive edge.

23:00 – Greg's Bull Case – Less supply, steady demand, and higher prices ahead.

29:00 – Prompt Wood Wins – Inventory ready to ship is commanding a premium.

32:00 – Lean Pipelines Everywhere – Buyers may be more undercovered than they realize.

35:00 – Second Half Setup – The crew sees more reasons for lumber to rise than fall.

Advertiser

Fastmarkets RISI

Tiranth Amarasinghe

Product Marketing Manager

Tiranth.Amarasinghe@fastmarkets.com

www.fastmarkets.com

Show Contacts:

Gregg Riley: Gregg@sitkainc.com

Charles DeLaTorre: cdelatorre@ifpwood.com

Matt Beymer: mattbeymer@hamptonlumber.com

Ashley Boeckholt: ashley@sitkainc.com