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CH Robinson Sees Strong Q3, Raises ’26 Targets

[ November 1, 2025   //   Gary Burrows ]

Amid a prolonged freight recession and shifting global trade patterns, C.H. Robinson said it delivered another strong quarter of earnings, with execution of its strategic initiatives and the growing impact of its Lean AI transformation.

During the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Dave Bozeman, president and CEO, highlighted how CHR’s sustained outperformance – seven consecutive quarters of consistent performance – has translated into tangible results, including market share gains, gross margin expansion and higher operating margins.

“Our model … is highly scalable and we expect it will improve further as we harness the evolving power of AI to drive automation across the quote-to-cash lifecycle of a load,” Bozeman said.

C.H. Robinson reported third quarter income from operations increased 22.6 percent to US$220.8 million  Adjusted operating margin increased 680 basis points to 31.3 percent. Cash generated by operations increased by USUS$167.4 million to US$275.4 million

The company raised its 2026 operating income target range to US$965 million to US$1.04 billion.

C.H. Robinson said at the center of its transformation is Lean AI, the company’s disciplined approach to AI innovation. By combining the principles of Lean methodology in its operating model that utilizes AI. Lean AI is designed to maximize value and minimize waste for smarter, faster, and better outcomes.

It is uniquely enabled by C.H. Robinson’s leading AI technology, expert logisticians, and Lean operating model that drives continuous improvement.

While others are still experimenting with automation, C.H. Robinson is already applying AI at scale through Lean AI, leading the next era of logistics with Agentic Supply Chains. With Lean AI as its foundation.

C.H. Robinson’s strong performance came despite a difficult freight environment marked by ongoing softness in demand, low truckload spot rates, and global trade disruptions that weighed on international shipping. These dynamics have created headwinds across the transportation industry but are challenges C.H. Robinson said it is continuing to navigate with discipline and focus.

C.H. Robinson said it would continue to advance its Lean AI strategy, with Lean as the engine and AI as the accelerator. By streamlining processes, reducing waste and optimizing costs, the company said it expects to further expand margins and drive sustainable growth in 2026 no matter the market conditions.

CFO Damon Lee underscored the company’s strong position and long-term outlook, stating, “Based on the confidence in our strategy, our disciplined execution, and our significant runway for further improvement, we are increasing our 2026 operating income target by roughly US$50 million despite market dynamics that have created greater headwinds than we originally anticipated.”

Tags: Agentic Supply Chain, C.H. Robinson