Bear Cognition creates AI-powered bid and route optimization tool for USPS contractors

Bear Cognition, Inc., a leading provider of AI-driven data intelligence and automation, is introducing its Bid & Route Optimization Tool, a purpose-built solution designed to help USPS Highway Contract Route (HCR) contractors eliminate guesswork, reduce risk, and bid with clarity when it comes to mail route logistics.

According to Bear Cognition, more than 1,300 USPS contractors manage almost 5,000 Highway Contract Routes nationwide, forming one of the largest and most operationally critical surface logistics networks in the United States.

Yet much of the ecosystem still relies on PDF Statements of Work, manual spreadsheets, and inconsistent data sources during the bidding process; conditions that lead to inaccurate mileage estimates, unaccounted deadhead, miscalculated staffing and equipment needs, and costly post-award surprises.

Bear Cognition’s new tool directly addresses these issues, the company said.

AI extraction models and automated normalization pipelines convert inconsistent bidding documents into clean, structured data. Advanced routing logic and cost models then calculate mileage, fuel, labor, equipment, risk, and margin impact across multiple scenarios. With built-in simulation capabilities, contractors can test assumptions, adjust operational variables, compare strategies, and generate polished, bid-ready outputs in minutes instead of hours or days, the company said.

“Contractors move America’s mail, but they’re doing it with processes never designed for this scale or complexity,” said Philip Erdoes, founder and CEO of Bear Cognition. “Our goal is straightforward: deliver clarity, speed, and a smarter way to evaluate opportunities. When contractors can make decisions confidently, the entire USPS surface transportation network benefits.”

To further support the contractor community, Bear Cognition has joined the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association (NSRMCA) Partnership Program.

Through this engagement, the company will participate in key industry events, contribute to contractor education, and collaborate with leaders across the USPS transportation ecosystem. The partnership provides year-round visibility and direct opportunities to support operational improvements for mail delivery contractors nationwide, Bear Cognition said.

For more information about this news, visit https://scm.bearcognition.com.