The prolonged freight market downturn reshaped carrier strategy across North America, and as Q2 2026 arrives with rates rising and capacity tightening, the carriers that repositioned toward dedicated contract operations are emerging with the most durable business models. J.B. Hunt Transport Services has reiterated a long-term commitment to adding between 800 and 1,000 net trucks annually to its dedicated fleet, which currently stands at approximately 12,600 units -- one of the largest dedicated operations in the country. The shift reflects a broader industry move away from what veterans call the 'you-call, we-haul' transactional spot model, toward arrangements where equipment and drivers are embedded in customer supply chains under long-term contracts. This structure gives carriers predictable revenue through market cycles and gives shippers consistent capacity without competing for loads on volatile spot boards. Autonomous trucking is advancing alongside these structural changes. Volvo's VNL Autonomous paired with the Aurora Driver system is already hauling revenue freight for DHL and Uber Freight in Texas, while Kodiak Robotics has doubled its driverless Class 8 fleet and logged more than 5,200 hours of paid driverless operation. The convergence of dedicated contract growth and autonomous integration is reshaping how large carriers plan equipment investment and driver headcount over the next five years. Carriers expanding dedicated operations increasingly need structured onboarding and compliance communication tools for large driver and operations teams. Purpose-built fleet management video training helps carriers standardize how safety protocols, route procedures, and customer-specific requirements are communicated across distributed fleets. Source: FreightWaves -- White Paper: State of the Industry, May 2026 (freightwaves.com)