Why it matters
Shippers and carriers are using AI to price freight dynamically, supplementing annual contracts with more frequent tendering and automated spot buying.
AI-driven pricing gives buyers more information about market rates, while carriers value predictable volumes. Many shippers combine contracts for stable lanes with automated spot buying where demand varies.
By the numbers
3.5 yearsthat US truckload spot rates had run below contract rates by December 2025 1
5%of organisations report AI agents at scale in supply chain and inventory management, against 12% in IT 2
IT
Knowledge management
Software engineering
Service operations
Supply chain and inventory
Source: McKinsey, The state of AI in 2026: On the road to ROI, 25 August 2026
What's changing
- Pricing tools estimate market rates by lane in near real time.
- Digital freight platforms automate quoting and booking.
- Carriers use AI to price loads and reduce empty miles.
How leaders are responding
- Combining contract and spot strategies according to lane volatility.
- Automating low-value spot purchases within approved price ranges.
- Tracking carrier performance alongside price.
What good looks like
- A planned mix of contract and spot buying, reviewed every quarter
- Rate benchmarks and lane data that buyers trust
- Carrier scorecards that reward reliability as well as price
What to watch
- Dynamic contracts linked to market indices.
- Automated tendering and carrier selection.
- Emissions data in carrier choices.
Where to start
Segment lanes by volume and volatility, then decide where contracts, indexed pricing or spot buying fit best.
Questions for your leadership team
- Which lanes suit dynamic pricing?
- What approval limits should automated buying have?
- How do we keep strong relationships with our core carriers?
