Transport Topics Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Last updated: Feb. 12, 2026
Our mission and values
Transport Topics exists to provide accurate, independent, timely coverage of freight transportation and supply chains so that industry professionals can make better decisions. We evaluate new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), through the same core values that guide our journalism:鈥痑ccuracy, fairness, independence, transparency and accountability.
What we mean by AI
In this policy, 鈥淎I鈥 refers primarily to machine-learning and generative tools 鈥 such as large language models and image generators 鈥 that can draft text, summarize information, analyze data or create images, charts and audio based on prompts from our staff.
These tools can be useful for certain internal tasks, but they do not replace our reporters, editors or fact-checking processes.
How we use AI
We allow limited, supervised use of AI tools to support 鈥 but not replace 鈥 our journalism.
Examples of permitted uses include:
- Idea generation: Brainstorming story ideas, headlines, questions to ask experts and alternative angles for coverage.
听 - Editing support: Suggesting structural edits, clarity improvements and possible questions about gaps or inconsistencies in drafts written by our journalists.
听 - Background assistance: Helping staff identify concepts to research in greater depth, outline complex explainers or surface public records and data sources that journalists then check independently.
听 - Workflow and business operations: Assisting with internal documentation, basic code or spreadsheet formulas and routine marketing or circulation copy that is still reviewed by staff.
In every case, a human journalist remains responsible for the final decisions about what we publish.
How we do not use AI
We do not allow AI to:
- Publish journalism without human oversight: We do not publish unedited AI-generated news stories, analysis or opinion articles.
听 - Fabricate quotes or sources: We never use AI to create quotes, attribute statements to people who did not make them, or invent unnamed sources.
听 - Mimic real people: We do not generate synthetic audio, images or video intended to depict real individuals in ways that could mislead audiences.
听 - Target vulnerable groups in harmful ways: We do not use AI to segment or target audiences in ways that promote discrimination or exploit personal vulnerabilities.
Data privacy and source protection
Our reporters and editors handle sensitive information from sources, subscribers and business partners.
To protect that information:
- Staff may use only AI tools that are approved and configured to protect company data. We do not feed unpublished scoops, confidential documents, proprietary datasets or personally identifiable information about sources or customers into public AI tools.
听 - When we use AI tools hosted by third parties, we do so under contracts or settings that limit data retention and reuse wherever possible.
听 - Staff must follow American Trucking Associations鈥 existing security, confidentiality and records retention policies when using AI tools, just as they do with email, cloud storage and other technologies.
Accuracy, bias and human oversight
AI tools can 鈥渉allucinate鈥 (produce false information) and can reflect biases present in their training data.
To address this:
- Journalists must verify all factual claims through reliable sources such as documents, data and interviews; AI outputs are treated as unverified leads or drafts, not as facts.
听 - Editors retain full authority to accept, modify or reject AI-assisted suggestions and are responsible for ensuring our work meets our standards of accuracy and fairness.
听 - We regularly review how AI is used in our workflows and update internal guidance to reduce the risk of bias or unfairness in coverage.
When and how we disclose AI use
We believe audiences deserve to know when AI meaningfully shapes what they are reading, watching or hearing.
We disclose AI use when it directly contributes to published content in a way a reasonable reader would consider meaningful, such as AI-generated text that appears in the final copy or AI-generated visuals used in publication. Routine tools (spellcheck, grammar suggestions, basic non-generative image edits) are not typically disclosed, but editorial standards still apply.
Any published image, illustration or graphic that is generated or materially altered by generative AI will be labeled in the caption (e.g., 鈥淎I-generated illustration鈥 or 鈥淎I-assisted graphic鈥). We do not use generative AI to create or alter visuals in ways that could mislead audiences about real events or real people.
Accountability and governance
No matter what tools we use, Transport Topics is responsible for the journalism we publish.
If you have questions or concerns about our use of AI, please contact us at tteditor@ttnews.com We welcome feedback from readers, sources and industry partners as we continue to evaluate these tools in service of our coverage of freight transportation and supply chains.