Transportation Pulse Report 2026: Smarter. Faster. Still Human.

An industry-wide shift is upon us – but how is the impact of AI actually materializing for shippers, logistics service providers and carriers?

While the industry talks about the "future" of AI, some industry players are already using it to rewrite the rules of logistics. Right now, 44% of shippers are actively revolutionizing their transportation planning and optimization, while 42% of carriers are using AI to lock in higher margins through lane and pricing optimization. The window to stay ahead is closing.

The 2026 Transportation Pulse Report gives you the direct blueprint to move from curiosity to implementation.

We’ve cut through the noise by collaborating with analyst Adrian Gonzalez and 230+ logistics executives from brands like ArcelorMittal Steel, ASICS Europe B.V., Shell, Fercam, Hegelmann, and technology providers like Rail-Flow and Peripass. It’s data-rich and delivers a  clear picture of AI deployment in the industry, empowering you to understand the key challenges, and to take your first steps towards integrating AI in your supply chain.

Key insights for Shippers

Shippers view AI as a powerful tool for strategic control and operational excellence across their supply chain.

• AI's biggest impact: A massive 86% of shippers believe that, in the next 3-5 years, AI will have the greatest impact on planning and optimization.

• Main barrier: Despite the clear benefits, poor data quality remains the number one obstacle, cited by a significant 49% of respondents.

• Key capabilities desired: Shippers claim that real-time scenario simulation (55%) and forecast-based planning aligned with demand variability (50%) would bring the most value to their transportation planning. 
  
  

Key insights for Carriers & Logistics Service Providers

For carriers, AI is already proving its immediate value in enhancing efficiency and utilization.

• AI's biggest impact: 59% of respondents believe AI will significantly impact pricing and lane optimization in the upcoming years .

• Biggest barrier: Mirroring the shipper side, overcoming poor data quality and system gaps is the biggest obstacle for more than 57% of carriers.

• Key capabilities desired: To improve route planning and fleet optimization, carriers are prioritizing real-time rerouting based on conditions (54%), predictive route and load planning (52%), and reducing fuel costs and empty miles (42%).

Regardless of where you sit in the market, the transformational potential of AI delivers the most value when combined with network-based Transport Management Systems. Both shippers and carriers expect that AI implementations will significantly reduce manual workload, drive faster decisions and dispatch, and most importantly, generate cost savings and increased revenue.

For detailed insights into AI's impact on logistics, including survey results and testimonials, explore the full report, which also constitutes as a roadmap for successful AI adoption, addressing challenges like data readiness, network connectivity, the need for foundational TMS systems, and organizational mindset shifts necessary for successful AI-human interaction.

Read the full report