Summary: FreightMath^™ Alliance members met Oct. 6-7, 2026, in Indianapolis to review new pricing tools, compare operating practices, discuss AI applications, and set development priorities. FreightMath now has just over $6 billion in Freight Under Analysis, nearly double the amount at the same time last year.

About the FreightMath Alliance

The FreightMath Alliance (FMA) brings together truckload carriers and technology partners to improve freight network profitability. Our recent Fall meeting brought members together at KSM headquarters in Indianapolis for two days of discussion about the decisions carriers face every day: which freight to accept, how to price it, where costs are hurting profitability, and how to put new tools to work.

Participation requires attendees to be using the FreightMath platform in their business, which gives members a common basis for discussion. Members can compare how they use the same tools, question the results, and share what they have learned in their own operations.

The Fall meeting also provided an opportunity for members to help guide the direction of new FreightMath platform tools and updates.

Learn more below about the topics discussed.

More Freight Under Analysis

FreightMath now has just over $6 billion in Freight Under Analysis, nearly double the amount at the same time last year.

As that base grows, consistent costing and useful peer comparisons remain central to the platform. One session focused on how MapLedger maps each carrier’s general ledger into a standardized chart of accounts. That common structure allows members to compare costs without differences in accounting practices obscuring the results.

Another session explored Segment-Level Costing, including driver pay, trailer costs, forecasting, and the treatment of empty miles. Members discussed how assigning deadhead before, after, or across loads can affect the profitability reported for individual accounts.

Pricing a Load, a Trip, or a Dedicated Fleet

A session highlighting FreightMath dashboard updates and the rebuilt SpotCheck demonstrated how users can evaluate a potential load against their own costs and target operating ratio, with the assumptions visible for review.

The new TripCheck was also introduced, offering a different view. Members learned how to combine orders and deadhead movements to evaluate an entire trip or a driver’s week. It measures the freight entered rather than applying broader inbound and outbound network economics.

A demonstration of BidRight, developed by Nussbaum Technology, showed how FreightMath profitability data supports lane selection and pricing. Its Commitments feature compares awarded business with freight actually hauled, helping carriers see whether expected volumes are materializing.

Dedicated pricing was also explored through a sample fleet opportunity. The discussion covered equipment, staffing, fixed and variable charges, and contract terms that protect carriers when volumes or costs change. Members saw how the model carries those assumptions through costing, pricing, and proposal preparation.

What Members Are Doing With AI

Three working sessions gave members time to discuss where they are using AI and where it has fallen short. Examples included recruiting support, retention analysis, maintenance follow-up, and detention documentation.

A panel discussion addressed a problem familiar to many carriers: Information in the TMS, accounting system, and telematics platform does not always agree. Connecting and organizing that information is necessary before relying on AI to interpret it.

Members also discussed data ownership, employee use of AI tools, and the review needed before an automated process touches a customer, a rate, or sensitive company information.

The challenge for spring 2027 is to put an automation into use and return with a measurable result.

Making Changes Stick

A panel discussion explored why change efforts fail in trucking. Common problems included buying a tool without defining the expected return, leaving ownership unclear, and treating the launch date as the end of the work.

The panel also addressed the cost of keeping old processes running alongside new ones and asking an already busy team to manage a major change without additional capacity. Members shared examples of the leadership attention and follow-through required after a system goes live.

Members Set the Next Priorities

Driver and Truck P&L and FreightMath Actions received the strongest support in the roadmap discussion. Members want profitability detail for individual trucks and drivers, along with a shorter, more specific list of actions suited to each person’s role.

Members also expressed interest in asking questions of their FreightMath data in plain language. The planned approach keeps the calculations in FreightMath, with the language model helping users ask questions and understand the results.

The vote established an initial development order. It was a starting point for further discussion, not a fixed delivery commitment.

Continuing the Discussion

The Fall meeting reinforced the value of bringing carriers together to share real-world challenges, compare approaches, and explore practical solutions to improve profitability. The insights and feedback gathered will help shape future FreightMath development and guide discussions as Alliance members continue turning data into better business decisions.

The next FreightMath Alliance meeting is planned for Spring 2027, with dates and location to follow.

Become Part of the Alliance

If your business uses FreightMath and you would like to participate in the Alliance, reach out to your KSM Transport Advisors contact or complete the form below.

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