Todd Florence, chief information officer at Estes, says AI is best used in optimizing processes like routing and load planning. (Estes Express Lines)
key takeaways:
- North America’s largest carriers said in Transport Topics’ Top 100 For-Hire Carriers survey that they are prioritizing AI, security technologies and connected systems to improve efficiency and decision making.
- Carriers emphasized AI-powered automation, predictive analytics and in-cab safety systems to deliver measurable gains in safety, driver retention and operational performance.
- Looking ahead, fleets plan to gradually adopt advanced technologies such as deeper AI integration, expanded security deployments and autonomous and connected platforms as they mature.
North America’s largest motor carriers are focusing more of their technology investments on artificial intelligence to improve back-office efficiency, automate processes and drive better decision-making.
Safety technologies and onboard video systems that help prevent accidents, support driver coaching and strengthen liability protections represent another clear priority for fleet operators.
Several motor carriers presented their views on current and emerging technologies as part of their responses to the annual survey of for-hire carriers for Transportation Topics’ Top 100 list.
The following comments are selected highlights from those survey presentations.
“We believe the most impactful technologies are those that drive our safety culture. Our focus and priority is focused on the fusion of AI-powered hardware with sophisticated back-office automation to fundamentally enhance the safety of our drivers, the motoring public and the communities we serve. Currently, we are in the early stages of fleet deployment of the latest AI camera technology, including both dash and side-view cameras. However, the real The value lies in how we use that data. By leveraging back-office automation, we can automatically deploy personalized coaching and training to our drivers based on their driving habits.” — nfi
“By combining AI-powered cameras, telematics and real-time diagnostics, we have moved from reactive operations to proactive operations, preventing incidents, improving driver performance and increasing visibility across our network. The results have been significant. We have achieved strong revenue growth year-over-year, improved driver retention and maintained stable insurance costs. Safety has become a true differentiator for us, not just a metric. Looking ahead, we are deeply Focusing on AI-powered decision making, predictive maintenance and tight integration to create more responsive, real-time logistics networks for our customers.” — hogland transfer
“AI is something that is very powerful and should be used across all business platforms.” — Cheema Freightlines
“Right now it seems to be all about AI automation, and we are actively investing in using this technology. The biggest early wins seem to be on the billing and reporting sides, where the strength of AI’s pattern recognition really shines. We also use advanced P&D dispatching technologies, have in-cab devices and onboard cameras, and are expanding our use of dimensioners.” — Oak Harbor Freight Lines
“One thing I constantly emphasize is the idea that impactful technology means the biggest or most attractive investment. Often, the most meaningful improvements come from identifying friction in existing processes and asking where people are still working that could be automated, simplified or supported by better tools. That’s where some of the biggest opportunities for efficiency lie. … AI-driven optimization is where we’re putting a lot of emphasis right now. Better routing, smarter cross-dock decisions, load planning that dynamically “Adjusts – these are mixed, the improvements get better as you accumulate more data.” — Todd Florence, Chief Information Officer, Estes Express Lines
“We use in-cab AI to monitor the driver.” — Apex Logistics
“We are investing in AI, security and proactive management systems to prevent accidents and incidents and address risk in a high-risk environment as an asset-based carrier.” — system freight
“There’s a lot of discussion about AI. We’re taking a wait-and-see approach. Of course, we’ll all take advantage of new security technology and leverage some of the AI tools within the Microsoft stack. But jumping into developing AI agents to replace a bunch of tasks is not something we’re keen on yet. I think AI will help employees become more efficient, automate some more tasks in the back office.” — PGT Holdings
“We have invested in safety technology in our ELD systems, including AI capabilities. We see more motor carriers acquiring advanced safety technology to satisfy insurance providers. We think this trend of more technology in or around trucks will continue, making our roads safer.” — Apache Logistics
“In the near term, the most impactful technologies are likely to be those that deliver practical, measurable improvements – AI-driven optimization for routing and pricing, connected vehicle technology that enhances real-time visibility and predictive maintenance, and in-cab safety systems that support drivers while improving compliance. At the same time, while there is a lot of focus on advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous capabilities, we see them as more long-term opportunities that can be harnessed across the industry. “It will take time to scale meaningfully.” — Market Express
“Cameras have made huge improvements in liability. Additional technology on next generation power units should continue this through additional sensors for collision avoidance and recorded incidents.” — Gaurav Transport
“(We are) currently reviewing all AI opportunities.” — Dayton Freight Lines
“We believe the most impactful technologies in trucking are those that turn data into action – particularly AI, telematics and predictive maintenance. Our current investments are focused on delivering immediate operational value, while we strategically prepare the business to embrace emerging technologies like autonomy and electrification as they mature and become economically viable.” — Transservice Logistics/Lily Transportation
Refrigerated carrier Hurricane Express highlights investment in its TMS. (Toofan Express)
“The most impactful technologies in trucking will be those that improve visibility, speed of decision-making, and safety. We are investing in our TMS to increase efficiency and scalability while increasing real-time data collection so we can better track performance and respond more quickly. Across the industry, and through conversations at carrier conferences, we are seeing increased adoption of predictive analytics for routing and planning. Looking ahead, back-office functions “More automation and AI-supported decision tools will continue to streamline operations.” — Toofan Express
“(We are) investing heavily in security tools and carefully investing in AI.” — raider express
“We have installed in-cab event recorders and are working on optimizing the routing software to improve efficiency. Additionally, AI is coming into greater role and will continue to in the coming years.” — Peninsula Truck Lines
“We believe the technology will bring some efficiencies to dispatch processes and decision making in our field. Incorporating self-driving tractors requires accident-mitigation technology on tractors to have the greatest impact.” — Andrews Logistics
“The trucking industry is at a critical point where technology is shifting from basic visibility to true automation and real-time decision making. While many innovations will shape the future, the most impactful will be AI-powered operations, connected fleet technologies and advanced safety systems.” — Gulf Winds International
“I believe AI and predictive analytics will have the greatest impact, particularly in route optimization, maintenance forecasting, pricing, and operational decision making.” — Chief Express
“Artificial intelligence is already transforming areas such as route optimization, predictive analytics, exception management, pricing and workflow automation. We see AI helping operations teams move from reactive decision making to more predictive and proactive planning. Connected vehicle technologies and telematics are also becoming important, providing real-time visibility into equipment health, shipment status, driver performance and maintenance requirements. Security technology will also continue to play a major role. In-cab devices, onboard cameras and advanced driver-assistance systems help fleets improve compliance, reduce accidents and better support drivers… Ultimately, logistics is still an execution business, and companies that combine strong operations with practical technology adoption will have the biggest benefits. STG Logistics
CR England stressed the importance of emerging technologies to improve safety. (CR England)
“At our company, we are actively investing in these areas by deploying onboard security technology, leveraging data analytics to optimize operations, and automating manual processes where possible. Looking ahead, we see the gradual adoption of more advanced automation technologies with the goal of improving security, efficiency, and operational visibility.” — CR England
“While artificial intelligence continues to garner attention, we believe its most immediate value in trucking will come through workflow optimization, analytics, predictive maintenance, automation of repetitive administrative tasks, and improved operational forecasting, rather than fully automated decision making. …Looking ahead, we expect the industry to continue to move toward increasingly connected operations with transportation, warehousing, security, maintenance and customer visibility systems on more integrated, intelligent platforms. Companies that have strong operational execution and human oversight Those who successfully integrate technology adoption will ultimately have the greatest competitive advantage.” — Alina Savo, Marketing Director, Highlight Motor Group
“We believe AI will be a useful back-end tool to assist with load processing, billing and more office processes. When it comes to our equipment, we are state-of-the-art with smart cameras for both the driver and the road – and we invest in the latest tractor and trailer technology on the market. Although AI is a powerful tool, we don’t think it will replace any of our professional drivers any time soon.” — United Petroleum Transports
“We’ve implemented AI across the entire business, from maintenance to operations and safety to finance. We also buy all the latest, greatest safety technology into trucks, including in-cab AI technology and Mirror Eye cameras.” — PS Logistics
“AI will continue to evolve and become more prevalent and useful. Technological advancements will continue to be used throughout the LTL sector.” — Southeastern freight lines
“There is an increasing emphasis on security from a technology perspective. With the growing importance of avoiding accidents (which lead to higher insurance premiums, legal bills and settlements), security in our devices is a big part of our business. AI will continue to play a bigger role not only in our industry but in the entire economy. The more and better we can adopt it, the more we can differentiate ourselves from our competition and better serve our customers.” — Coach Cos.
