F3 preview: AI, autonomous trucking and freight technology take center stage

For freight technology companies and their customers, a central question is how emerging tools translate into practical improvements in day-to-day operations.

AI adoption moves beyond the hype

Artificial intelligence features prominently in this year’s agenda, with sessions examining both its potential and the challenges of putting it to work.

A discussion titled “Beyond the Hype: What AI in Freight Actually Delivers When the Noise Dies Down” is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Prasad Gollapalli, founder and CEO of Qued, will join FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller to examine the practical value of AI in the industry.

At 2:20 p.m. on the same day, Nilkanth Patel of Pallet and FreightWaves’ Julie Van de Kamp will discuss lessons from AI deployment, including decisions about whether to build technology internally or buy it from outside providers.

Another discussion, “Beyond AI: How Autonomous Execution Is Redefining Freight Operations,” is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Oct. 27. Robert Nathan of Envoy AI and Van de Kamp will explore how AI and autonomous software can execute freight workflows rather than simply provide information or recommendations.

Autonomous trucking and freight data

Autonomous trucking will also feature heavily in the program. A roundtable titled “The State of Autonomous Trucking: From Yards to Highways” is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 27. Brett Suma of Bot Auto, Earl Adams of PlusAI and Mike McGahn of Forterra will join FreightWaves’ Thomas Wasson to talk about the technology’s development and potential applications.

The agenda also includes a Tesla Semi ride-along opportunity from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 27 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28 at The Signal, offering attendees a closer look at the electric truck.

Freight data is another major theme. SONAR, FreightWaves’ freight market data and analytics platform, will host a session titled “Beyond the Dashboard: The AI-Powered Future of Freight Data” from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Barber Boardroom at the Hotel Chalet. The session will be led by a member of SONAR’s team.

Other SONAR sessions include “Bid Season Blastoff: Turn Market Intelligence into Better Bids” on Oct. 28, followed by “Put the Data to Work: SONAR Use Cases You Can Steal,” which will focus on applying freight data to business decisions.

Rapid-fire technology demonstrations are also scheduled throughout both days, giving companies an opportunity to show attendees how their products work.

Awards to be announced

The F3 Awards Dinner will open the week on Oct. 26, from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Signal. FreightWaves will recognize its 2027 FreightTech 100 honorees and announce the FreightTech25, while also announcing the Shipper of Choice winners.

The 2027 FreightTech 100, announced in September, includes 100 companies selected for innovation across freight and supply chain technology. More than half of this year’s honorees did not appear in the 2026 FreightTech 100, reflecting constant innovation in a market that includes transportation management systems, shipment visibility, fleet technology, AI and automation.

An independent panel of more than 80 industry executives ranks the 2027 FreightTech 100 companies to determine the FreightTech25.

The awards dinner will also feature the announcement of the FreightTech Vanguard Award winner, which recognizes logistics pioneers, founders and companies whose technologies have had a lasting impact on transportation and the supply chain. 

The awards provide one view of which companies are gaining recognition across the industry. The festival’s sessions and demonstrations offer another: a chance to hear how operators and technology providers are approaching the challenges of implementing new tools.

Together, the events will give attendees an opportunity to assess where freight technology is making progress, where practical questions remain and which developments could shape transportation and logistics in the coming year.

Why this matters

Freight technology companies face growing pressure to prove their tools can deliver measurable results, from improving efficiency to reducing costs. F3 will bring technology providers and freight operators together to discuss how AI, autonomous trucking and data analytics are being applied across the industry, offering a look at which innovations are moving toward real-world adoption.