The chief executive of logistics giant C.H. Robinson is pushing back against investor fears that artificial intelligence will disrupt the freight industry, arguing instead that the technology will benefit larger companies and drive consolidation.
CEO Dave Bozeman made the comments following a significant stock decline earlier this month. On February 12th, C.H. Robinson experienced its steepest single-day stock drop in approximately two years, falling 14.5% as part of a wider decline in transportation and logistics companies.
The market downturn was sparked by statements from AI technology firm Algorhythm Holdings, which claimed its SemiCab platform helps clients increase freight volumes by 300% to 400% while maintaining the same staffing levels.
Speaking with Reuters, Bozeman characterized the stock decline as a “short-term reaction” and emphasized his company’s competitive advantages. He pointed to C.H. Robinson’s size and extensive proprietary database as assets that would be expensive and challenging for competitors to match.
“We’re going to go into agentic artificial intelligence that’s going to make us faster and even better,” Bozeman stated.
The CEO predicts increased consolidation within the industry as smaller firms struggle to compete in an AI-focused marketplace that demands substantial data resources and specialized knowledge – capabilities that cannot be quickly developed even with significant investment.
C.H. Robinson recently announced fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded Wall Street projections, with AI-powered improvements contributing to streamlined operations and reduced manual work in routine business functions.
As of Monday afternoon trading, the company’s stock was trading at $178.44, down 6.1%, though it has regained some value since the mid-February selloff.
