PCS launches AI-powered freight solutions
PCS Software recently released three new Cortex-powered modules: Dispatch Manager, Load Opportunity Manager, and Backhaul Booster.
These AI-powered transportation management system modules, embedded directly into PCS’s TMS, arrive after more than two years of freight contraction, which as left fleets are under relentless pressure to expand margins, the Houston-based software company reported. Cortex AI helps carriers and fleets manufacture profit points where they didn’t exist before, turning missed opportunities, empty miles, and manual bottlenecks into real margin.
“These modules bring the intelligence of Cortex into the workflows that matter most: finding freight, dispatching trucks, and eliminating empty miles,” PCS CEO Mark Hill said in a news release. “In this market, the fleets that survive will be the ones that create new margin, not just chase volume. Cortex makes that possible by embedding profit points into everyday decisions.”
One continuous workflow
Together, the new modules form a four-step, AI-powered workflow that moves a load from inbox to executed backhaul in just a few screens:
- Capture and rank freight—Load Opportunity Manager ingests opportunities from emails, documents, and EDI, then scores them by profitability with a custom metric builder and natural language search.
- Assign the best driver—Dispatch Manager analyzes 36-plus real-time data points on drivers, assets, and lanes to recommend or automate assignments, cutting tender-to-dispatch time from minutes to seconds.
- Find the return leg—Backhaul Booster searches the network for profitable reloads to minimize empty miles.
- Secure the freight—Cortex automatically generates branded shipper emails and can even place AI-powered voice calls to win the load.
What once took hours of manual work across multiple systems now happens inside a single workflow, building margin directly into the daily flow of work.
“Cortex isn’t hype,” said Danielle Villegas, PCS chief product officer. “It’s AI where it counts—surfacing the smartest freight, assigning the best driver, and filling the return leg. Our customers don’t need another tool. They need intelligence inside the system they already trust.”
Customers in the beta program are already reporting dramatic results, PCS said.
“Running 100 trucks with a lean team means every minute counts,” said Kaleb Groce, Royal Logistics director of operations. “Cortex turned dispatch from one of our most time-consuming bottlenecks into a smooth workflow. One-click assignments and automated driver recommendations have cut hours of manual work out of our week.”