Trimble
Transportation has reached an AI inflection point: the ways companies respond to the rapid development of AI within the sector may define their competitive edge for years to come, according to Trimble’s annual Transportation Pulse Report.
"The true value of AI lies not just in the technological innovation itself, but how quickly and effectively it can be operationalized and integrated throughout your supply chains. The companies that embrace AI across their systems, partners, and people, will deliver faster, smarter and more efficient operations and better business outcomes for their customers," says Jonah McIntire, chief product and technology officer, transportation and logistics at Trimble.
Key takeaways:
- 44% of survey respondents are already using AI in transportation planning and optimization, with additional applications in freight procurement and real-time visibility.
- 42% are deploying AI for pricing and lane optimization, with 39% using it for real-time tracking.
- When asked where AI will have the greatest effect over the next 3-5 years, shippers and carriers are using AI to fine-tune transportation planning, prizing and execution. But their priorities differ. 86% expect AI to significantly impact this area. 59% identify this as AI's main value driver.
- Respondents note a shift from early-stage experimentation with AI to now focusing on leveraging the technology for measurable efficiency gains.
- Survey respondents pointed to distinct opportunities for Agentic AI, autonomous software agents that monitor data, make decisions and execute tasks within defined boundaries:
- For shippers, opportunities to improve workflows through the use of Agentic AI include real-time ETA monitoring (52%), with route/network optimization and carrier selection and tendering also emerging as priorities.
- For carriers, the priorities are ETA calculation and alerting (59%), with route and fuel optimization and spot quote negotiation also ranking high on the list.
- The report emphasizes that AI's full potential emerges within connected ecosystems that enable seamless data exchange, not locked in company silos:
- 43% of shippers cite enhanced predictive capabilities (ETA accuracy, disruption risk management) as the top benefit of combining AI with network-based TMS, while 55% of carriers see the biggest benefit in smarter load matching.
