In this episode of The Freight Debate, Rajesh Bhol, Principal Product Manager - Indexing at Xeneta, sits down with Mads Drejer, Global COO & CCO at Scan Global Logistics, to unpack one of the biggest shifts reshaping forwarding today: the rise of index-linked contracts. As post-COVID volatility shattered the reliability of traditional 12-month RFQs, forwarders now find themselves caught between shippers demanding transparency and carriers pushing for predictability — with both sides expecting more than ever.

Mads takes us inside this commercial squeeze and explains why indexing has surfaced as one of the few credible ways to restore stability. He contrasts the pressures on the buying and selling sides, revealing how indexing reduces rate firefighting, builds trust, and pushes forwarders to prove value through service rather than arbitrage.

Throughout the conversation, Mads breaks down what makes an index truly usable: representative long-term data, sensible floors and ceilings, system compatibility, and rules simple enough that both shipper and carrier can “believe the math.” He also outlines a clear definition of success — longer, calmer contracts with no mid-term renegotiations — and shares a pragmatic vision of how indexing will evolve alongside RFQs rather than replace them.

A sharp, timely episode for any forwarder, shipper, or procurement leader rethinking freight contracting in 2026 and beyond.