AI gets a lot of buzz… and a lot of skepticism. In auto transport, it’s often seen as futuristic, complicated, or just not worth the trouble of incorporating with day-to-day work. But AI is already working behind the scenes to solve the small but constant frustrations that wear teams down. You know the ones: answering “Where’s my car?” for the tenth time or retyping the same status update across three systems.
To break it down, we talked to Dave Mendelson, Chief Product Officer at Super Dispatch, about how AI is actually being used today. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a practical tool to help carriers, brokers, and shippers work faster, smarter, and with less stress. Read on for the straight talk on AI in auto transport:
Why is now the right time for AI in auto transport?
The industry is ready because the problems are well known. Dispatchers are overwhelmed, communication is scattered, and too many tasks are still manual. AI isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about quietly removing the friction that’s built up over time. You don’t need cutting-edge models. You need systems that just make people’s lives easier. That’s where the opportunity is.
What’s misunderstood about AI in this industry?
People think AI is some black box that will replace them or make decisions they can’t control. In reality, AI is already at work in the tools they use. It’s doing things like optimizing prices, suggesting routes, catching errors. Most users don’t even realize it, which is great. We need to demystify it and show that this isn’t new tech for the sake of it. It’s just a better way to get things done.
What’s your approach to building AI at Super Dispatch?
We’re certainly not building AI because it’s trendy. We’re doing it because it solves real, annoying problems for the people and businesses that rely on us. We’re figuring this out alongside our users. That means starting small, getting feedback, and iterating fast. If a feature doesn’t make someone’s day easier or faster, it doesn’t ship. We’re focused on being useful, not flashy.
How will the industry get around folks being skeptical of AI?
Trust comes first. We don’t expect users to be excited just because something’s labeled “AI.” That can actually backfire. What people want is control and clarity. If you show them how a tool will save them 20% of their time, reduce phone calls, or eliminate missed updates, and all without changing their workflow, then you earn their buy-in and trust.
How do you introduce AI without overwhelming the people who use it?
No one wants to be thrown in the deep end with any type of new technology, so you don’t dump it all at once. You start by integrating AI into the existing experience. Things like a feature that automatically extracts information from a document or makes a smart suggestion based on current pricing trends. That’s AI, and it’s convenient, but it doesn’t require any extra effort. By building trust gradually, people realize, “Hey, this thing actually helps me.” And it doesn’t require any inconvenience or having to learn something new.
What are some of the “paper cuts” AI can eliminate in the transport workflow?
There are a ton. Repeating the same info across systems, fixing typos, resending dispatch details to multiple parties, manually updating statuses. One dispatcher told us their day is just “copy-paste, copy-paste.” AI is perfect for those tiny, annoying tasks. So, this is another myth to bust: it’s not about replacing people. It’s about getting rid of all the busywork they shouldn’t have to do in the first place.
What’s a practical example of AI helping a dispatcher today?
One simple use case is status updates. Dispatchers spend a huge amount of time responding to “Where’s my car?” calls from brokers and shippers. AI can automate those responses through text or voice, pulling real-time data and sending proactive alerts. That alone gives dispatchers back hours in their day.
Where does Super Dispatch see the biggest opportunity for AI?
We see the most immediate value in removing repetitive tasks, especially for dispatchers. But long term, it’s about making the whole system smarter. That means AI combined with interoperability. When our tools can talk to other systems, AI can start flagging delays, rerouting based on real-time changes, or resolving issues before they hit the customer.
How do you think the role of AI in this industry will evolve over time?
Right now, AI is a helper. But in the future, it’s going to be more of a co-pilot. It’ll be doing things like flagging issues, making recommendations, even resolving routine problems on its own. The human will always be in the loop, but the system will get smarter the more it’s used. The shift is from reactive to proactive. It’ll continue making it easier for people to do their jobs by cutting down on some of the work they don’t want to do or have time to do.
AI is changing the way we work in auto transport. How is it impacting your day? Share your experiences or get in touch with us at superdispatch.com to learn how Super Dispatch can support your team.
