The US will see the rise of 1000+ big logistics companies by 2030, with their EBITDA margins crossing 15%, according to a new survey, Eye on the Last Mile from FarEye. The reason for this is the influence of AI innovations.
“America’s supply chain is entering its most transformative decade in a century," said Kushal Nahata, CEO of FarEye, in a statement. "Manufacturing is returning home, tariffs are redrawing trade maps, and AI is rewriting the rules of logistics.
“Together, these forces are creating the conditions for an entirely new generation of logistics leaders - 1,000 companies that will rise by 2030, with the strength to deliver margins above 15%. The last mile is no longer a challenge to be solved; it is the arena where the winners of tomorrow will be created.”
Several factors are at play that will increase the importance of logistics companies. Half of the 500 companies surveyed reported that cost pressure has resulted in a 12% increase in delivery expenses. Some routes are rising by up to 70% due to fuel, wages, and inefficiencies.
Additionally, the emphasis on speed makes it a non-negotiable issue. Around 70% of leaders target 99%+ on-time, damage-free deliveries, and two-thirds of shipments will be same-day by 2027.
With these pressures, nearly 90% of companies plan to maintain or increase reliance on third-party logistics providers by 2030, highlighting flexibility and scalability as decisive factors.
The report offers some advice on trends:
AI With Humans in the Loop: AI is here and will enable our industry to operate at EBITDA margins well above the industry average. Companies must build Trust by Design into AI applications and keep humans in the loop to ensure the right outcomes.
Ecosystem Between Shippers and Carriers: Technology can bridge gaps and create stronger partnerships by enabling training, gamification, and incentivization.
Consumer Journey: As supply chain professionals, work starts when a consumer is discovering products, not only at fulfillment. Companies need to take ownership by bringing expectations, delivery, and inventory promises as far forward as possible in the customer journey, and design efficient supply-chain networks driven by consumer behavior
