US business logistics costs reached a record $2.6tn in 2024, equivalent to 8.7% of national GDP, as companies continued to ramp up investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to strengthen supply chain performance amid rising operational pressures.
That’s according to the 2025 State of Logistics report by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), produced in partnership with consultancy Kearney and sponsored by Penske Logistics.
The report highlights how AI is fast becoming a cornerstone of freight network optimisation, not only in the USA but across global logistics systems increasingly shaped by disruption and volatility.
While logistics costs rose by US$300bn year-on-year, their proportion of GDP remained flat at 8.7%, indicating that productivity and technology adoption helped contain further inflationary impact.
However, the sector continued to face headwinds including flat volumes, surplus truck capacity and persistent cost increases.
E-commerce was a major growth driver, with global online retail sales nearing US$6.3tn, further intensifying demand for agile warehousing, faster last-mile delivery and capacity in air freight.
Technology investment was cited as a critical response to these pressures. The report outlines how supply chain leaders are accelerating deployment of AI, data analytics, robotics and automation, not just to improve operational efficiency but to embed long-term resilience.
Korhan Acar, Kearney partner and lead author of the report, 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.”
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Speaking during a panel discussion at the report’s launch in New York City, Acar stressed that AI’s transformative potential lies in its capacity to rapidly analyse data and generate dynamic solutions across transport systems.
“We fully believe the benefit of AI is real – it is going to solve a lot of our problems,” he explained. “The speed is incredible.
“The level of data intake and images combined with immense processing power will create dynamic solutions for this sector.”
The report also reflects changing global trade dynamics, noting that in 2024, Mexico surpassed China to become the USA’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$840bn, marking a 6% year-on-year increase.
Elsewhere, the report highlights the growing role of third-party logistics providers as businesses navigate increasingly complex global supply chains shaped by geopolitical tensions, shifting trade regulations and ocean freight rate volatility.
The findings point to a sector in transition – moving beyond reactive measures and towards a future shaped by strategic investment in digital infrastructure, workforce enablement and resilient design.
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