READING, PA — Shippers are adopting artificial intelligence for predictive analytics and risk planning at a substantially higher rate than third-party logistics providers, according to the 2027 Third-Party Logistics Study supported by Penske Logistics and NTT DATA, highlighting technology integration challenges across the U.S. supply chain.
The study found that 66% of shippers use AI for predictive analytics and risk planning, compared with 43% of third-party logistics providers, or 3PLs.
The findings underscore differences in how companies responsible for moving goods and their logistics partners are incorporating AI into operations, even as both groups face mounting pressure to improve efficiency and manage disruptions.
The research, released in conjunction with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ annual EDGE conference, examines AI adoption, strategic partnerships, supply chain resilience and freight fraud.
John Langley, emeritus professor at the University of Tennessee and founder of the annual study, developed the research program to assess trends in the third-party logistics industry through surveys of supply chain executives.
The latest findings identify data quality and availability as the leading barriers to broader AI adoption, cited by 61% of respondents.
Integration with legacy technology systems followed at 54%, while 46% identified budget constraints.
The results suggest that technology infrastructure remains a significant obstacle to expanding AI applications beyond existing operational uses.
“The study shows data quality and legacy integration remain the top barriers to scaling AI, and that should be a wake-up call,” said Jonathan Whitaker, managing director of supply chain consulting at NTT DATA. “The technology is ready — what’s lagging is the foundation underneath it.”
Third-party logistics providers are applying AI across generative AI, machine learning, optimization and autonomous decision-making functions, according to the research.
The study also found that strategic partnerships account for a substantial portion of business relationships between shippers and logistics providers.
Shippers reported that 39% of their outsourced logistics expenditures are associated with strategic partnerships with 3PLs.
Logistics providers, meanwhile, attributed 54% of their revenue to strategic customer relationships.
The difference illustrates the financial importance of long-term customer arrangements to logistics providers, whose operations depend on maintaining relationships with companies outsourcing transportation and distribution functions.
Shippers identified trust and open communication as the most important elements of those partnerships, followed by operational performance and flexibility.
Supply chain resilience emerged as another central concern, with transportation capacity disruptions ranking prominently among risks identified by both shippers and logistics providers.
Shippers are responding through more flexible transportation networks, including multiple carriers, different transportation modes, alternative sourcing arrangements and additional inventory reserves.
Cybersecurity concerns also differed between the groups.
The study found that 42% of third-party logistics providers emphasized cybersecurity risks, compared with 29% of shippers.
The disparity points to differing risk priorities as logistics operations become more dependent on interconnected technology systems.
Freight fraud and cargo theft represent another area of concern, particularly as companies seek to accelerate shipments without compromising security procedures.
Approximately 69% of third-party logistics providers reported being extremely satisfied with their technology defenses against freight theft, compared with 36% of shippers.
The gap indicates substantially lower confidence among companies shipping goods than among the logistics providers responsible for handling their transportation.
Researchers emphasized that technology alone is insufficient to address freight fraud, with consistent operating procedures remaining essential to preventing theft.
The study identified pressure for faster shipments as a challenge to maintaining those safeguards.
Vishwa Ram, vice president of data science and analytics at Penske Logistics, said the findings demonstrate opportunities to use AI to improve supply chain performance.
The research places those opportunities alongside persistent operational constraints, particularly outdated technology infrastructure, inconsistent data and exposure to transportation disruptions.
For logistics providers, the findings suggest that competitive positioning increasingly depends on the ability to combine technology investment with dependable execution, customer relationships and risk management.
The full 2027 Third-Party Logistics Study is available at www.3PLStudy.com.
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