Artificial Intelligence and safety have moved past the trend stage and become a real priority for transportation fleets across North America.
That is the key takeaway from the annual Transport Topics survey of the Top 100 carriers on the continent, released in June 2026.
The survey gathered insights from the largest companies in the sector, and the results are clear: those who were still on the fence about adopting technology are now putting real money on the table.
And the two main areas of focus are well defined:
- AI to make operations smarter, automating back-office processes, optimizing routes, and supporting real-time decision-making
- Onboard safety technologies, including AI-powered cameras, advanced telematics, and in-cab driver monitoring systems
This is not some far-off future talk. These companies are already implementing, seeing results, and in some cases redefining what it means to be competitive in the logistics industry. 🚛
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Throughout this article, you will see how this transformation is playing out in practice, which companies are leading adoption, and what industry executives themselves have to say about all of it.
From theory to practice: what the largest fleets are doing right now
For years, the conversation about artificial intelligence in transportation was stuck in slide decks and industry conferences. The talk was exciting, but execution moved slowly. The 2026 Transport Topics survey changed that narrative. The largest carriers in North America reported that they are directing a significant share of their technology investments specifically toward AI, with the goal of improving back-office efficiency, automating processes, and making smarter decisions. This represents a cultural and financial turning point within a sector that has historically been conservative when it comes to adopting new technologies.
What stands out is not just the volume of investment but the diversity of applications. Companies are not betting on a single magic solution. They are building layers of technology that complement each other: route optimization systems that learn from historical data and real-time traffic conditions, fleet management platforms that anticipate mechanical failures before they happen, and algorithms that help balance loads, reduce idle time, and increase overall operational efficiency. It is a systemic approach, not a one-off fix, and it is generating concrete results on a daily basis.
A great example of this mindset came from Estes Express Lines. For Todd Florence, the company’s chief information officer, impactful technology does not always mean the most expensive or flashiest investment. According to him, the most meaningful improvements often come from identifying friction in processes that already exist, asking where people are still doing tasks that could be automated, simplified, or supported by better tools. Florence highlighted that AI-based optimization is where Estes is focusing a good deal of its energy right now, with smarter routing, more efficient cross-dock decisions, and load planning that adjusts dynamically. These are improvements that, according to him, only get better as more data is accumulated. 📊
Onboard safety: cameras, sensors, and AI inside the cab
If there was one topic that dominated the survey responses, it was safety. And when we talk about safety in the context of modern fleets, we are talking about a complete technological ecosystem, a far cry from the rearview mirrors and backup cameras of the past. Leading carriers are adopting systems that combine inward- and outward-facing cameras, proximity sensors, telematics, and artificial intelligence platforms that process all of this data to prevent collisions, support driver training, and strengthen protection against legal liabilities.
NFI summed up this philosophy well. The company stated it believes the most impactful technologies are those that strengthen a culture of safety, with a focus on the fusion of AI-powered hardware and sophisticated back-office automation. NFI is in the early stages of a fleet-wide rollout of the latest AI cameras, including dash and side-view models. But according to the company, the real value lies in how that data is used: by combining back-office automation, they can deliver personalized coaching and training to drivers based on each individual’s driving habits.
Hogland Transfer reinforced that the combination of AI cameras, telematics, and real-time diagnostics allowed them to shift from a reactive operation to a proactive one, preventing incidents, improving driver performance, and increasing network visibility. The results, according to the company, were significant: strong year-over-year revenue growth, better driver retention, and stable insurance costs. In Hogland’s own words, safety became a true differentiator, not just a metric. 🔍
Other carriers are following the same path. Apex Logistics uses in-cab AI for driver monitoring. Pride Transport highlighted that cameras have delivered a major improvement on the liability front and that additional collision-prevention sensors should keep that progress going. Meanwhile, United Petroleum Transports is investing in smart cameras facing both the driver and the road but makes a point of noting that, despite the power of AI, they do not believe the technology will replace their professional drivers anytime soon.
Route and back-office optimization: where AI is also gaining ground
Beyond safety, operational optimization is another front where artificial intelligence is proving its value. Oak Harbor Freight Lines shared that, for them, the hot topic right now is AI-driven automation, and that the biggest early win appears to be in billing and reporting, where AI pattern recognition really shines. The company also uses enhanced dispatch technologies, in-cab devices, onboard cameras, and is expanding its use of freight dimensioners.
On the back-office side, the transformation is equally significant. Processes that once required entire teams working with spreadsheets and legacy systems are being automated with AI-based tools. PGT Holdings, for example, is taking a more cautious wait-and-see approach. The company says it will take advantage of new safety technologies and some AI tools within the Microsoft ecosystem but is not yet excited about developing AI agents to replace entire tasks. PGT’s view is that AI will help employees become more efficient and automate some office tasks.
That same caution showed up in the words of Alina Savo, marketing director at Highlight Motor Group. In her view, while AI continues to attract attention, its most immediate value in transportation will come from optimizing workflows, analyzing data, enabling predictive maintenance, automating repetitive administrative functions, and improving operational forecasting, rather than from fully automated decision-making. She believes that companies combining technology adoption with strong operational execution and human oversight are the ones that will come out ahead. 🚀
What executives reveal about the near future
The data from the Transport Topics survey reveals something pretty straightforward: the adoption of artificial intelligence and safety technologies in North American fleets is no longer a question of if, but of when and how. Several companies already see AI as a central piece of their strategy. Cheema Freightlines stated that AI is extremely powerful and needs to be used across all business platforms. PS Logistics shared that it has implemented AI company-wide, from maintenance to operations, from safety to finance, while also purchasing the most advanced safety technology for its trucks, including AI cameras and mirror-eye systems.
Among the executives surveyed, a recurring point was the relationship between safety, insurance, and costs. Koch Cos. emphasized that safety remains a key area of focus from a technology standpoint, since avoiding accidents means reducing higher insurance premiums, legal costs, and settlements. The company believes AI will play an increasingly larger role not only in the industry but in the economy as a whole, and that embracing it better is what will set carriers apart from the competition. Apache Logistics, for its part, noted that more carriers are adopting advanced safety technology to satisfy insurers, a trend that should continue and make roads safer.
Looking ahead, many companies are already positioning themselves for emerging technologies. Transervice Logistics, in partnership with Lily Transportation, said it is focusing its current investments on immediate operational value while positioning the business to adopt autonomy and electrification as those technologies mature and become economically viable. Gulf Winds International captured the moment well, saying the transportation industry is at a turning point, moving from basic visibility to real automation and real-time decision-making, with AI, connected fleets, and advanced safety systems leading the charge.
Companies like STG Logistics, Hurricane Express, C.R. England, Southeastern Freight Lines, System Freight, and Dayton Freight Lines reinforced, each in their own way, that technology turning data into action is the way forward. For those who understood this early, now is the time to consolidate the advantage. For those still evaluating, the message from North America’s Top 100 carriers in 2026 is pretty clear: timing matters, and it is moving fast. ⏱️
