C.H. Robinson reported a 20% year-on-year increase in adjusted operating income for the second quarter of 2026, as productivity gains and AI-driven initiatives continued to improve profitability despite weak freight demand. The company met its mid-cycle operating margin targets in both its North American Surface Transportation (NAST) and Global Forwarding businesses. NAST expanded its operating margin, excluding restructuring costs, to 40.9%, up 280 basis points from a year earlier. Global Forwarding increased its operating margin by 470 basis points to 33.4%. C.H. Robinson said productivity has improved by more than 60% in both divisions since the end of 2022. The company attributed the gains to its Lean operating model and the integration of AI into everyday workflows. The logistics provider also returned US$301 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company’s NAST business outperformed the Cass Freight Shipment Index for the 13th consecutive quarter, continuing to gain market share despite ongoing weakness in the freight market. The less-than-truckload (LTL) business also recorded its 10th consecutive quarter of year-on-year volume growth. C.H. Robinson said stronger pricing discipline and improved revenue management helped offset rising spot truckload rates. As a result, truckload adjusted gross profit per shipment remained flat compared with the second quarter of 2025. The company also continued expanding the use of AI across its operations. It said AI tools are helping employees improve decision-making, reduce manual work and deliver a more consistent customer experience. Chief Executive Officer Dave Bozeman said the results demonstrate the company’s ability to deliver stronger performance across freight market cycles. He added that C.H. Robinson remains in the early stages of its Lean AI transformation and expects further productivity gains in the coming years. The post C.H. Robinson post