Spot's Drive Charlotte: Using AI to Navigate Freight Volatility

CHARLOTTE, NC – April 28, 2026 – As the transportation industry grapples with persistent unpredictability, leading logistics provider Spot is convening top supply chain decision-makers in Charlotte this week for an exclusive roundtable aimed at transforming volatility into a competitive advantage. The event, 'Drive Charlotte,' scheduled for April 30th, will focus on leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and collaborative strategies to build more durable and responsive supply chains.

The invitation-only forum gathers leaders from critical sectors, including bottling, grocery, and packaging, industries where supply chain efficiency is paramount. Against the backdrop of a turbulent freight market, the discussions are set to move beyond theoretical concepts to address the practical application of next-generation technology in day-to-day logistics operations.

Navigating a Perfect Storm in Freight

The timing for such a focused discussion could not be more critical. The freight landscape entering the second quarter of 2026 is a complex tapestry of conflicting signals and mounting pressures. National tender rejection rates, a key indicator of carrier capacity, have been climbing, approaching 14% earlier this year. This tightening of capacity shifts leverage to carriers, pushing more freight onto the volatile and often costly spot market.

This environment is the culmination of long-brewing challenges. Data from late 2025 showed freight demand under significant pressure, with some industry metrics marking nearly 30 consecutive months of shipment declines. Simultaneously, new EPA emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles are set to reshape fleet economics, while geopolitical tariffs threaten to introduce cost-push inflation and reduce demand in freight-heavy sectors. For shippers, this translates into a daily battle against fragmented digital systems, unpredictable costs, and the constant risk of disruption.

To provide a clear-eyed view of these market dynamics, the event will feature analysis from Jonathan Starks, CEO and CIO of FTR Transportation Intelligence, a firm renowned for its authoritative data on the freight sector. His insights are expected to provide a foundational understanding of the economic signals and capacity trends that will define the industry for the foreseeable future.

The AI Co-Pilot: From Hype to Highway

A central theme of Drive Charlotte is the transition of artificial intelligence from a buzzword into a tangible operational tool. As Spot Co-Founder Andrew Elsener noted, shippers need more than just a deluge of raw data. "They really need actionable insights and to collaborate directly," he stated in the event announcement. This sentiment reflects a broader industry shift towards intelligent systems that can interpret data and automate complex decisions.

The agenda highlights practical applications of AI from key technology partners. Representatives from Databricks, a leading data and AI company, will demonstrate how their platform is being used today for concrete freight outcomes. This involves leveraging unified data architecture to build sophisticated predictive models for route optimization, demand forecasting, and anticipating market shifts, helping companies move from reactive problem-solving to proactive planning.

Similarly, sessions with NiCE Cognigy will explore the role of AI-powered conversational automation. In logistics, where communication bottlenecks can cause significant delays, this technology offers a way to scale interactions without increasing headcount. AI-driven systems can handle thousands of routine inquiries, such as shipment status updates, allowing customer service and logistics coordinators to focus on resolving more complex exceptions. This focus on practical, cost-effective AI applications underscores the event's goal of providing shippers with immediately applicable strategies.

Forging Resilience Through Collaboration

Drive Charlotte is the second event in Spot's 'Drive' series, following a successful inaugural roundtable in Indianapolis in August 2025. The series itself represents a strategic shift in the 3PL-customer relationship, moving away from a purely transactional model toward one of deep-seated partnership and shared intelligence. By curating a forum for leaders from non-competing industries to share challenges and solutions, Spot is fostering a collaborative ecosystem.

"The current transportation industry climate is incredibly unpredictable," Elsener explained. "Our Drive series is designed to do precisely that. We're bringing together the best minds from Spot and across the industry to dissect these challenges and together build the resilient supply chains our customers need to thrive."

This collaborative approach is particularly vital for the industries represented. For grocery and bottling companies, on-time delivery is non-negotiable to prevent spoilage and stock-outs. For packaging firms, supply chain reliability is key to keeping manufacturing lines running. The roundtable format allows these leaders to benchmark their strategies and learn from the successes and failures of their peers in a confidential setting, accelerating the adoption of best practices across sectors.

A Commitment Backed by Technology and Expertise

Spot's initiative is anchored by its own significant investments in technology and talent. The company, which has grown to become the 30th largest logistics firm in the nation according to 2025 rankings by Transport Topics, has built its reputation on a combination of high-touch service and proprietary technology. Its in-house 'Red Technologies' and the MySpot Transportation Management System are central to providing clients with enhanced visibility and control over their freight operations.

The company is also demonstrating its commitment by making its entire senior leadership team accessible to attendees. The presence of its co-founder, CFO, COO, and directors overseeing everything from operations and technology to less-than-truckload (LTL) and carrier sales signifies a deep investment in understanding and solving customer problems at every level. This all-hands-on-deck approach ensures that the strategic conversations held during the event are directly connected to the teams responsible for execution.

As shippers and logistics providers converge in Charlotte, the focus is squarely on the future. The event is more than just a discussion of problems; it is a working session dedicated to building the solutions. By combining expert market analysis, cutting-edge AI applications, and a foundational belief in collaboration, Spot and its partners are drawing a roadmap for a more predictable, efficient, and durable supply chain.