Nearly Half of Transportation Leaders Say AI Saved Their Peak Season

AI is already making an impact in the transportation industry. Nearly half (49%) of U.S. transportation leaders say AI reshaped how they managed this year’s Q4 peak season, according to a survey, Peak Shipping Season Pulse, from Breakthrough

Leaders cited AI’s value in anticipating shifting freight demand (47%) and managing rising transportation and fuel costs (48%) in the survey of 300 industry decision-makers.

As Q4 2025 approached, transportation teams were juggling rising fuel costs, tariffs, and tighter budgets. For many, AI became the tool that kept freight moving efficiently. Nearly every leader surveyed (96%) said their teams are using AI for planning, operations, and decision-making, most often for analytics and reporting (77%), route and load optimization (63%), and freight forecasting (56%).

While many industries are struggling to realize value from AI, transportation appears to be ahead of the curve, and the results speak for themselves: 43% of transportation leaders are already seeing measurable ROI from their AI investments, and another 34% expect returns within six months.

These early wins are driving a mindset shift – 96% of transportation leaders say executives at their organizations now view AI as a core investment pillar, with more than half (59%) “strongly agreeing” their executive team believes it deserves long-term funding.

“It’s a real-time advantage helping shippers manage costs, build resilience, and keep goods moving during the busiest time of year,” said Heather Mueller, chief client strategy officer at Breakthrough, in a statement.

While most transportation teams are leveraging AI for core planning and forecasting tasks, very few have extended its use into rate negotiation or contract management. Only one in three leaders say their organizations use AI for these functions, which signals room for growth as shippers explore how technology can streamline costs, improve carrier relationships, and create network efficiencies.