AI, or Artificial Intelligence, has been a growing part of how people drive for several years now. Commercial trucking aside, think about how AI affects the way people drive their passenger cars these days? Not sure what I mean by that? That’s okay! Artificial intelligence has been slowly and steadily creeping into vehicles with small tools that seemed novel at first, but now, almost everyone is using them. Lane assist? It’s an AI-powered technology. The GPS that comes standard in most cars now? It uses AI to help predict alternative routes. (And thank goodness! Some of us are abnormally bad navigators.)
Taking these tools and applying them to the trucking industry has been seen as revolutionizing the way trucking is done. There are many applications for AI in the transportation field, and drivers, carriers, and retailers are all waiting to see how these changes affect their businesses. While we did cover this in a previous blog (please see our article from October 23, 2024!) today, the LZBlog is discussing how quickly AI in the trucking industry has progressed over 2025 and the ways trucks and their back offices of trucking companies are already being outfitted with and using artificial intelligence.
“…Ready for It?” And by “It”, I mean AI.
Many drivers understand that AI is making its way into both personal cars and trucks, and researchers from companies and countries all over the world are still scrambling to determine how this will affect the trucking industry. Ones like the trucking website RoadLegends.com, are going as far as saying “AI is revolutionizing the trucking industry by enhancing operational efficiency.” Promoters of artificial intelligence technology promise that this tool will simplify and streamline the jobs of everyone from drivers to dispatchers to back office workers negotiating rates for deliveries. While levels of excitement vary from expert to expert, everyone seems to agree that AI is here to stay in the transportation field. So, what are supporters of artificial intelligence hoping to achieve in the trucking industry?
The first foray of AI into trucking, and the one with the most obvious benefits according to many experts, involves route planning. For decades, drivers depended on dispatchers, paper maps, and their own memories to get from place to place. Millennials will be the first to gripe about the years they had to “print out MapQuest directions” to go somewhere new, but their experiences paled in comparison to the truck drivers who were up and down the roads every single day with their loads and trailers. These days, the GPS in a car seems universal and easy enough to manage, but truck drivers can also access more help than just a faster way to get around town. Everyone is learning that there is so much more that this technology can do for truckers and their day-to-day lives. “The trucking industry thrives on precision and reliability, but weather events and road hazards can introduce uncertainty that jeopardizes safety, efficiency, and delivery timelines.” So, one of the great advantages of AI, according to the many technological experts, is the ability to tell the AI to process large amounts of data in very short order. By taking a driver’s route and analyzing the traffic, construction, and weather information along that road, the GPS can optimize the directions to allow drivers to reach their destination as quickly as possible and, more importantly, as safely as possible. A brokerage company called Sunset Transportation has even taken the tool a step further. When their “technology projects what weather systems might disrupt a shipment… based on information such as the driver’s destination and remaining hours of service,” Sunset’s AI tool will proactively inform the client waiting on the shipment that there could be a delay, making it an ideal tool for customer service as well. Alongside the optimization of directions, these types of AI systems fueling smarter routes can add to a driver’s fuel efficiency in their truck, leading to a cost reduction in gasoline.
Another form of AI in trucks are the tools that allow for predictive maintenance. “AI-driven predictive maintenance is transforming fleet management by optimizing vehicle maintenance schedules.” With both drivers and companies concerned about delays and taking trucks off of the road due to monetary losses, maintenance has always been a problem for truck owners; knowing when to bring a vehicle in for work has been akin to a guessing game for ages. Now, with luck, predictive maintenance will replace preventative maintenance in the coming years. What does that mean exactly, though? Put simply, the dozens of brand new sensors and gauges being placed in today’s semi-trucks mean that there are loads of data coming from all parts of the vehicle. With AI being able to immediately comb through all of the newly available data, truck manufacturers are using this tool to let truck owners know what is going on with the vehicle at all times. Having all of this information allows for carriers and drivers to make plans in advance to bring a truck in for maintenance. “Given that equipment repairs and maintenance are some of the costliest expenses for owner-operators, this not only leads to safer vehicles, but also saves money.” Predictive maintenance allows drivers, as well as larger carriers, to better utilize the truck’s time and also prolongs the life of the vehicle itself.
One of the best features of AI in trucking is improving the safety of trucking for drivers and the cars around them. Driver monitoring systems and Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly standard issue for semi-trucks, and their inclusion is creating better environments for drivers. These systems rely on the sensors sending information to the AI-driven data processing algorithms, and they are constantly monitoring the data being streamed into them. What do these products do, though? According to one researcher, “Driver monitoring systems (DMS) are specifically designed to detect distracted or tired drivers before an accident happens.” These days, truck drivers are in high demand, and their hours keep getting longer without relief. In this kind of situation, semi-truck drivers can become hazards on the road. Distracted or exhausted driving is a leading cause of accidents in the U.S., requiring special attention to help drivers stay safe and unharmed. DMS sensors can be placed in truck or as wearable devices on the drivers, and they are there to do things like track eye movements or “other human cognitive states,” such as yawning. From there, the system can recommend that the driver stop in the next available safe area, such as a rest area or hotel, for a break.
However, not everyone in the trucking industry is enthused about this new technology. Experts “predict significant change will happen in the labor force for digitally dependent jobs, which, in the trucking industry, include back-office staff and administrative work,” and the use of AI in corporate offices is already starting to concern the workers in that area. While truck drivers may see a lot of practical uses in the new AI tools, their bosses and supervisors back home are seeing them too, and the office workers are concerned. For decades, truckers have been logging their hours and routes with pen and paper. This means that administrative workers have been necessary to file all of this paperwork. Along with log sheets, back office workers negotiate for loads and keep track of current and potential business partners. As stated above, the AI system can pull tons of data and process it quickly, and now, supervisors are starting to wonder if supply chain and logistics can be streamlined as well. Instead of using people, AI could provide drivers with electronic routes that are faster and find loads in different locations to minimize empty miles being driven. On top of that, artificial intelligence can process all of this information much faster. Even if individual owner-operators might struggle with these new tools, companies with hundreds of administrative workers are hoping to save time and eliminate “hours of tedious labor” for their employees. Meanwhile, those same employees worry about losing their jobs to the AI systems. “With improved supply chain visibility and efficiency, trucking companies can enhance customer service, reduce costs, and maintain a competitive edge in the market,” but hopefully not at the cost of thousands of administrative employees losing their jobs.
Conclusion
As many of our readers know, artificial intelligence is already a part of the trucking industry, and as “technologies continue advancing, AI capabilities will become even more powerful.” While some drivers have had difficulties learning and operating new systems, they understand that the new tech is here to stay. From the cabs of their trucks to their wrists and everywhere in between, AI is changing the way the transportation industry functions. The uses above are only a few of the ways that AI is already making waves. However, there are so many more ways that AI is being tested in trucking. Some companies are integrating AI and virtual reality to create better training facilities and truck driving schools. Others are touting the fraud prevention possibilities that can come along with a fast data-processing program that checks up on the viability of companies without being asked.
AI is daunting on the surface. As this blogger has learned from continuing this research, there are so many uses and reasons to invest in AI, and not all of them can be covered in a short blog. There are many concerns put forth by administrative workers about being replaced by AI, and those worries seem more valid by the day and are something to look out for in the near future. While time marches on, the technology we use continues to grow with us. While AI is seen by some drivers as an extra way to “keep tabs” on them, it is important to understand that AI is more about keeping driver safety paramount. Justin King, chief product officer at technology vendor Transflo says “I think the most important thing to do is begin to embrace it… Just getting started is the most important part.”
__________________________________________________________________________
Meaghan Goldberg covers recruitment and digital marketing for Lionzone. A Patterson, GA native, after graduating from both Valdosta State University and Middle Tennessee State University, Meaghan joined Lionzone in 2018 as a digital recruitment strategist before becoming the social media manager.
Resources:
https://roadlegends.com/blog/post/artificial-intelligence-in-trucking
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/new-wave-ai-coming-trucking
https://altline.sobanco.com/how-will-ai-impact-the-trucking-industry/
https://www.platformscience.com/blog/insights-2025-ai-trends-in-trucking
