Behind every delivery is a transportation company keeping products in motion, but payments don’t always arrive as smoothly as shipments. While these companies work round the clock to keep commerce moving forward, accounts receivable (AR) teams are stalled by slow collections, fragmented data, and manual cash flow management.
As CFOs build their strategies for 2026, the goal is clear: keep capital moving quickly to fuel growth and stay competitive. This isn’t exactly straightforward considering the unique complexities AR teams face in this industry:
- Rising costs are cutting into profits: Maintenance, equipment, labor, and fuel costs remain elevated and often unpredictable, pushing up cost per mile and per load. Although diesel fuel prices have come down from recent increases of nearly 40%, fuel remains a key line item that fleets closely monitor in their budgets.
- Billing accuracy is a blind spot: One study found that 4.5% (or roughly 1 in 20) of all less-than-truckload (LTL) invoices contain errors and disputes – much higher than the average 1-2% error rate across most industries.
- More demand isn’t speeding up payments: If anything, it can set a dangerous trajectory as delayed payments pile up and collections issues compound.
- Funding new business and raising money in this environment is more challenging than ever before.
As these challenges persist, accounts receivable software (AR) automation becomes essential for reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), driving digital transformation, and future-proofing financial operations.
In the benchmark survey by independent research firm Vanson Bourne, 73% of transportation organizations report that AR automation accelerates cash flow, 86% see value in their AR software, and 67% confirm it has delivered on expected ROI.
73% of transportation companies report that AR automation accelerates cash flow.
How exactly is accounts receivable automation making the biggest impact in the transportation industry, and where is the untapped potential? Let’s dive into the findings from the research.
3 Areas Where Accounts Receivable Automation Is Driving Impact
In an industry with tight margins and even tighter schedules, AR automation is helping transportation companies improve across three key areas.
Invoice Processing: 13-day Reduction in DSO
Faster invoice delivery, fewer errors, and improved accuracy help speed up cash flow, reduce disputes, and plug revenue leaks. Consider driver detention: roughly 95% of fleets charge detention fees and less than half of them go unpaid, creating billions in direct losses each year. AR automation ensures these charges are properly captured, included on invoices, and delivered in a timely, trackable way so they don’t fall through the cracks. The study shows most see a reduction in outstanding sales with payments 13 days faster.
On average, transportation companies reduce DSO by 13 days when they automate their AR processes.
Governance and Compliance: Keeping Risks and Regulations in Check
As transportation becomes increasingly global and digitally complex, regulatory oversight and audit readiness are growing concerns. Nearly 40% of transportation companies report that AR automation is a big win here – ensuring consistent, audit-ready processes that reduce manual errors and support compliance no matter where commerce is moving.
86% of transportation companies see value in their AR software.
Customer Experience: Smoother Service Beyond the Shipment
In an industry with so many moving parts, back-end issues like confusing invoices, unexplained charges, or slow dispute resolution can derail the customer experience. Roughly 35% of transportation organizations report that AR automation helps eliminate these pain points by improving accuracy, delivering real-time visibility, and ensuring a smoother, more transparent billing process.
How Transportation Companies Are Innovating with AR Automation
As the industry continues to digitize, CFOs are expected to be on the frontlines of innovation. Here’s how forward-thinking finance leaders are using AR as a strategic lever.
Automation: From Reactive to Proactive
With nearly 75% of transportation companies accelerating cash flow through AR automation, the benefits are clear. If you’re still relying on manual AR processes, the data makes a strong case for change.
For those already leveraging automation, the next step is embracing AI-driven intelligence for AR. Nearly 80% of transportation companies say adding AI to their AR software was a smart move that’s paying off in both performance and satisfaction. From predicting late payments to flagging high-risk accounts, AI brings foresight and greater control to financial operations. You can even match payments to invoices without full remittance data using machine learning (ML) and optical character recognition (OCR) – a critical advantage in today’s fragmented payment landscape.
80% of transportation companies say adding AI to their AR software is paying off in both performance and satisfaction.
Digital Invoicing: The Scale is Tipping
Nearly 60% of transportation companies now rely on e-presentment to deliver invoices faster, more securely, and at a fraction of the cost (just 12% of what paper-based invoicing typically costs). Adoption is steadily growing, yet there’s still plenty of ground to cover. If you’re not prioritizing digital invoicing, now’s the time to do so.
AI Integration: GenAI and Agentic AI
AI has made massive strides in recent years, with Generative AI (GenAI) now used regularly by about one-third of companies in at least one business function. Agentic AI takes the baton to go even further, bringing in virtual assistants – or “agents” – that don’t just offer insights but act on their own. For example features like Agentic Email can scan your email inbox to categorize invoice disputes (like short payments on freight bills) and draft customer responses instantly, accelerating resolution. AI agents can even analyze buyer behavior and recommend the exact right time and communication channel for collections outreach. Analysts see this administrative help as a defining shift, making it one finance leaders can’t afford to ignore.
To better understand how Agentic AI works and what it means for finance:
Forward-thinking teams are already deploying Agentic AI assistants like Billtrust Autopilot, which can collaborate seamlessly across the AR ecosystem to provide coordinated intelligence and actions rather than disconnected insights.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
AR automation does more than accelerate workflows – it’s redefining finance strategy in today’s dynamic landscape of B2B payments. In a fast-paced, high-pressure industry like transportation, it’s one of the most powerful tools CFOs possess to drive growth, support innovation, and build financial resilience.
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