Can AI Compare Freight Rates From Several Carriers?

Description and use

AI automatically extracts shipment parameters from diverse documents, matches them to carrier rate tables, and calculates landed cost with margin, reducing processing time from hours to 90 seconds.

Problem

Freight rate comparison across multiple carriers is slow and error‑prone because each carrier supplies rates in different formats, requiring manual extraction and spreadsheet entry.

Outcome

The AI system reduces handling time of an emailed load tender from up to four hours to 90 seconds, cuts invoice processing time by 70 %, and achieves 90 % accuracy in invoice extraction, yielding 25‑30 % cost savings.

Workflow

• 1. Receive inbound freight inquiry (email, spreadsheet, PDF).
• 2. AI document processing model extracts origin, destination, container type, weight, Incoterms.
• 3. Normalize parameters against each carrier’s rate card or spot offer.
• 4. Lookup each price and unit rate in master pricing database.
• 5. Calculate total landed cost including local accessorial fees and fuel surcharges.
• 6. Output results in a strict schema with source document references.
• 7. Flag any unverified item codes or ambiguous surcharges for human review.

Evidence

C.H. Robinson says generative AI reduced handling of an emailed load tender to 90 seconds.

Source

Uber reports a 90 percent overall accuracy for its generative AI invoice extraction across diverse supplier accounts.

Source