Freight contracts keep breaking because they weren’t built for volatility.

Eloisa Tovee sits down with Matthew Gore, Partner at HFW, to unpack why so many agreements fail under pressure and what it really takes to make them hold.

From “gentlemen’s agreements” and glorified rate sheets to the rise of index-linked deals, they trace how contracting has evolved and where it still breaks. They discuss the legal gray zones that leave shippers exposed, the surge in hidden surcharges, and why both sides are chasing certainty in a market that refuses to stay still.

Whether you’re entering tender season or rethinking your risk strategy for 2026, this episode gives you the playbook to build contracts that survive volatility instead of snapping under it.

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