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

FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival returns to Chattanooga next week, with sessions on AI adoption, autonomous trucking and the technologies reshaping freight operations taking center stage. The event, held Oct.

27-28 at The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo, will feature keynote presentations, fireside chats, technology demonstrations and discussions about how companies are applying new tools to transportation and logistics. Registration and ticket options are available through the official F3 website.

Published group rates range from $895 to $1,095 per person, depending on group size, while bundled tickets cost $1,895 for F3 and the Brokerage Compliance Symposium or $1,995 for F3 and the Awards Dinner, which is scheduled for Oct. 26. The Freight Brokerage Compliance Symposium will take place the day before F3, on Oct. 26, from 8:45 a. m. to 4 p. m.

at The Signal. The separate event will cover carrier liability, fraud, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules, cargo theft, insurance and other compliance risks. Registration costs $495, plus taxes and fees, and is required separately from F3 unless attendees purchase a bundle. window. googletag = window. googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag. cmd.

push(function() {var gptSlot = googletag. defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'). defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps. banner1). addService(googletag. pubads()); googletag. pubads(). enableSingleRequest(); googletag. pubads(). collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.

enableServices(); setInterval(function() {if (! document. hidden) {googletag. pubads(). refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag. cmd. push(function() {googletag.

display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); 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. window. googletag = window. googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag. cmd. push(function() {var gptSlot = googletag.

defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'). defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps. banner1). addService(googletag. pubads()); googletag. pubads(). enableSingleRequest(); googletag. pubads(). collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag. enableServices(); setInterval(function() {if (!

document. hidden) {googletag. pubads(). refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag. cmd. push(function() {googletag. display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); 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 F