Autumn Freight in Ukraine: Which Cargo Moves Most, According to SAMO-TRANS Data

Which cargo moves most across Ukraine in autumn — we answer this question not with general reasoning but with data from the freight listings that shippers publish on SAMO-TRANS. In September the demand structure changes noticeably: summer vegetables and fruit give way to grain, sunflower seeds and mineral fertilizers, while firewood, pellets and briquettes start appearing in listings.

Where the data comes from

We analysed public freight listings on SAMO-TRANS created from 1 to 17 September 2026 — both active and already closed. For comparison, we took the listings from August.

• The cargo category was determined from the description in the listing.
• Listings without a cargo description were excluded from the share calculation.
• One shipper may post several identical listings — for example, a separate one for each truck. Such listings were counted as they are, because each one represents a separate trip.

These are statistics on listings posted on the platform, not nationwide official reporting. Shares are rounded to whole numbers.

Which cargo moves most across Ukraine in autumn: SAMO-TRANS data

Cargo category	Share of listings in September 2026
Empty pallets and containers	≈21%
Manufactured goods, equipment, spare parts, furniture	≈20%
Grain and oilseeds (sunflower, grain, rapeseed, malt)	≈19%
Mineral fertilizers	≈12%
Building materials and timber	≈10%
Firewood, pellets, briquettes, peat	≈7%
Metal and rolled steel	≈6%
Food, vegetables, fruit	≈4%
Fuel	≈1%

If you combine grain, oilseeds and mineral fertilizers, the agricultural sector accounts for almost a third of all September listings — more than any other group. Another fifth is returning packaging: empty wooden pallets and containers travelling back to manufacturers and ports after the summer season.

What changed from August to September

Category	August 2026	September 2026
Food, vegetables, fruit	≈23%	≈4%
Grain and oilseeds	≈9%	≈19%
Mineral fertilizers	0%	≈12%
Metal and rolled steel	≈14%	≈6%
Firewood, pellets, briquettes, peat	≈7%	≈7%

In August, watermelons from the south, vegetables and fruit made up a noticeable share of listings. By September they had almost disappeared, while the share of grain and oilseeds doubled, and mineral fertilizers, which did not appear in listings at all in August, climbed to fourth place.

Why demand for these particular cargoes grows in autumn

Sunflower and grain harvest

The harvest of sunflower, corn and late grains continues through September. The crop has to be moved quickly from fields and farm grain yards to elevators, oil extraction plants and port terminals on the Danube. In SAMO-TRANS listings this shows up in the typical routes: Pervomaisk, Oleksandrivka or Hurivka to Reni and Izmail, hauled in bulk in dump trucks and grain trucks.

Winter crop sowing and mineral fertilizers

At the same time, farms are preparing to sow winter crops, so mineral fertilizers in big bags are hauled from plants and warehouses to villages. This is urgent cargo: sowing deadlines cannot be moved. In September, fertilizer transport listings had some of the highest rates per trip — see our ranking of the most expensive freight routes in September for details.

Preparing for the heating season

Firewood, fuel pellets, peat and wood briquettes steadily hold around 7% of listings in both August and September. Households, local communities and businesses build up fuel stocks in advance, without waiting for the cold weather and possible power supply disruptions.

Returning packaging after the season

Empty wooden pallets and containers are an inconspicuous but high-volume autumn cargo. After summer deliveries, packaging is returned to manufacturers, and empty containers go back to ports and terminals. For carriers, this is a chance to avoid driving back empty: such cargo is light, requires no special equipment and often travels in the right direction.

Which vehicles are most in demand in autumn

The cargo mix also determines demand for body types. According to September listings on SAMO-TRANS:

• ≈73% of listings accept a curtain-side truck — it remains the universal choice for pallets, sacks and big bags;
• ≈18% of listings require a grain truck or dump truck — for bulk grain, sunflower seeds, rapeseed, kaolin and expanded clay;
• ≈14% of listings — cargo in big bags, most often fertilizers and grain, which are convenient to load from the side;
• ≈68% of listings — a full truckload of 18 tonnes or more;
• ≈29% of listings — international trips: to Turkey, Poland, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Baltic states and Central Asia.

For carriers, September is a profitable month: for every offer of available transport on the platform there were about four freight listings. Owners of side-loading curtain-side trucks, grain trucks and dump trucks have the best chances of finding a load.

What to keep in mind about autumn logistics in Ukraine

Weather and road conditions

Rain, fog and early frosts reduce driving speeds and increase the risk of delays, especially on secondary roads leading from fields to elevators. After rainfall, access roads to farm grain yards and villages can be difficult for heavy vehicles, so plan departure times and fuel reserves with a margin.

Queues at elevators and terminals

At the peak of the harvest, elevators and port terminals operate at the limit of their capacity. The queue to unload can last a day or longer, so agree on payment terms for waiting time before departure, not after.

Restrictions on routes and at the border

Trip duration is affected by curfews in certain regions, checks at checkpoints and congestion at border crossings. International trips carrying grain and sunflower seeds also require phytosanitary and veterinary documents, without which the cargo will not cross the border.

Frequently asked questions about autumn freight transport

Which cargo is transported most often in autumn?

According to SAMO-TRANS listing data for September 2026, the largest number of listings are for empty pallets and containers, manufactured goods and equipment, as well as grain and oilseed crops. Together with mineral fertilizers, agricultural cargo makes up almost a third of all listings. The share of fuel cargo — firewood, pellets and briquettes — is also growing noticeably.

How do freight rates change in autumn?

There is no single seasonal tariff. At the peak of the harvest there are not enough trucks for bulk cargo, so rates for grain trucks and dump trucks rise. Costs are also affected by diesel prices, queues at elevators and road conditions. The rate is agreed between the cargo owner and the carrier, and SAMO-TRANS helps them find each other. Current benchmarks are collected in the article “How Much Does a Truck Cost in Ukraine in September 2026”.

What documents are needed and how do you prepare a shipment?

For domestic transport you usually need a consignment note (TTN), cargo documents and the sender's and consignee's details. International trips also require an invoice, a packing list, certificates of origin and, for grain, a phytosanitary certificate. It is worth stating the weight, packaging type (bulk, sacks, big bags), loading method and preferred date in the listing right away: that way a carrier will find a suitable truck faster.

Conclusion: what the SAMO-TRANS autumn statistics show

In September 2026, the cargo mix on SAMO-TRANS shifted from summer vegetables and fruit to the agricultural season: grain, oilseeds and mineral fertilizers together account for almost a third of listings. The share of packaging, manufactured goods and equipment remains consistently high, while firewood, pellets and briquettes are a reminder of preparations for the heating season.

For cargo owners, this is a signal to book grain trucks, dump trucks and curtain-side trucks in advance and to allow time for queues at elevators. For carriers, it is an opportunity to secure loads in both directions: you can find suitable listings in the cargo search on SAMO-TRANS.