Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are rapidly reshaping global and domestic freight networks, offering the promise of enhanced resilience, agility and operational efficiency, according to the 2025 State of Logistics report published by the US Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).
Compiled by Kearney, the annual report provides a snapshot of the US logistics sector and wider economy, revealing that business logistics costs in 2024 reached US$2.6tn – 8.7% of national GDP – up from US$2.3tn the previous year.
Despite a return to pre-pandemic patterns in some areas, the sector experienced flat volumes, surplus truck capacity and escalating costs.
E-commerce remained a strong growth driver, with global online retail sales approaching US$6.3tn, pushing innovation in last-mile delivery, warehousing agility and air freight demand.
Geopolitical instability and shifting trade rules disrupted freight flows, slowed delivery times and heightened reliance on third-party logistics providers.
Notably, Mexico overtook China as the US’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$840bn – a 6% year-on-year increase.
Technology investment was a recurring theme throughout the report, with data analytics, AI, robotics and automation identified as critical tools in futureproofing supply chains.
Korhan Acar, Kearney partner and report lead author, said: “The logistics industry must move beyond short-term fixes and fundamentally rethink resilience – not as a luxury, but as a strategic imperative embedded in networks, technology and decision-making.”
Speaking at a launch event in New York, Acar emphasised that AI’s “solving capacity” is accelerating at pace.
“The speed is incredible,” he said. “The level of data intake and images combined with immense processing power will create dynamic solutions for this sector.”
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