DAT 2026 Freight Focus: Gradual recovery expected for transportation providers as AI reshapes industry operations

Key Terms

digital freight matching technical

A digital freight matching service is a software platform that connects companies needing to ship goods with truck drivers or carriers, like an “Uber” for freight. It matters to investors because these platforms can cut shipping costs, reduce empty trips and improve delivery speed and visibility, which can raise profitability and create recurring revenue and data advantages for firms that operate or partner with them.

dynamic bidding technical

Dynamic bidding is an automated process where buy or sell offers are adjusted in real time based on incoming data—such as price moves, inventory, demand, or user behavior—rather than staying fixed. For investors it matters because it can change how quickly and at what price trades, ad impressions, or auctions are executed, affecting revenue, costs and execution quality much like a live auctioneer who raises or lowers the asking price as more people bid.

factoring financial

Factoring is a financing arrangement where a company sells its unpaid invoices to a third party for immediate cash, with the buyer taking on the job of collecting payments and bearing some credit risk. For investors, factoring matters because it can quickly improve a company’s cash flow and working capital but also reduce profit margins and signal dependence on outside liquidity—similar to selling future paychecks at a discount to get money today.

automation technical

Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, often replacing manual work with machines or software. It matters to investors because it can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enable faster decision-making, potentially leading to higher profits and competitive advantages for businesses.

AI technical

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

dynamic pricing financial

Dynamic pricing is a strategy where the cost of a product or service changes frequently based on factors like demand, time, or availability. It’s similar to how airline tickets or hotel rooms can become more expensive during busy periods and cheaper when demand is low. For investors, understanding this approach is important because it affects a company's revenue, competitiveness, and overall market behavior.

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Truckload transportation providers should not expect a dramatic rebound in the freight market in 2026, according to the latest annual Freight Focus: Transportation & Logistics Outlook report from DAT Freight & Analytics.

DAT 2026 Freight Focus: Gradual recovery expected for transportation providers as AI reshapes industry operations

Truckload pricing has remained inverted—with spot rates below contract rates—for three and a half years, creating unsustainable pressure on motor carriers where expenses have risen far faster than inflation, the report said.

The good news for carriers is that more shippers are prioritizing stability and service over incremental savings on freight transportation.

“In this extended buyer’s market, shippers are making a fundamental shift in their approach to procurement,” said Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at DAT. “They’re putting carrier viability on par with, or even above, savings. They’re balancing cost efficiency with reliable capacity.”

Technology as a competitive advantage

While pricing changes will be incremental, the rapid acceleration of AI and automation is reshaping how freight brokers, carriers, and shippers operate. The report highlights several areas of technological change:

- For brokers: Success means reducing operating expenses per load through new forms of broker automation; bolstering security through efficient, effective carrier vetting; and enabling dynamic bidding. Brokers will expand their use of digital freight matching to manage loads more efficiently and at scale.

- For carriers: The first half of 2026 will require the same financial and operating discipline as the past three years. Technologies that improve cash flow, deliver the visibility customers expect, and maximize utilization will be essential.

- For shippers: Rather than waiting for annual RFPs, efficient mini-bids and dynamic pricing for low-volume lanes can keep truckload rates aligned with the market.

DAT’s transformational year

The 2026 Freight Focus report ranks the top markets for dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed freight and details DAT’s transformational year in 2025, including its acquisitions of Trucker Tools for freight visibility, the Convoy Platform for automated freight matching, and Outgo for factoring and financial services for truckers.

The report also previews a new DAT iQ product that will help shippers manage mini-bids more efficiently.

The 2026 Freight Focus report is free and available to download at: DAT.com/FreightFocus

About DAT Freight & Analytics

DAT Freight & Analytics operates the DAT One truckload freight marketplace; Convoy Platform, an automated freight-matching technology; DAT iQ analytics service; Trucker Tools load-visibility platform; and Outgo factoring and financial services for truckers. Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions.

Founded in 1978, DAT is a business unit of Roper Technologies (Nasdaq: ROP), a constituent of the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Fortune 1000. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, DAT continues to set the standard for innovation in the trucking and logistics industry. Visit dat.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210197499/en/

Georgia Jablon, Corporate Communications, DAT Freight & Analytics

PR@dat.com

Source: DAT Freight & Analytics