TRANSJAMAICAN Highway Limited (TJH) is signalling a major shift in how it engages with customers, processes toll transactions, and scales its operations, leaning into artificial intelligence and a suite of digital upgrades even as it reports a 30 per cent jump in net profits for the financial year.

The company’s annual general meeting (AGM), held at the JamaicaPegasus hotel on Thursday, outlined a strong operational year backed by higher toll revenues, significant cost savings, and key infrastructure expansions. But among the figures and forecasts it was the live demonstration of TJH’s upcoming AI assistant, nicknamed TJ (TransJam) that drew the greatest reaction during the AGM. The virtual agent, designed to manage basic customer service interactions, is voiced with the warm, unmistakable tone of a Jamaican woman — a cultural nod aimed at relatability.

During the AGM, CEO Ivan Anderson tested the system in real time, making a series of live requests for information, most of which were delivered promptly and clearly — but like many AI tools, it had its quirks. When asked for the remaining balance on a card, the system stalled for nearly a minute before resetting and replying, “Yes, how can I assist you further?” prompting laughter from shareholders and the CEO alike.

“TJ is a little slow sometimes,” Anderson said with a laugh. “But everybody can appreciate what the idea is. Hopefully, within the next few weeks TJ will be a member of our staff.”

The move is part of a broader digital push that includes real time app updates set for July, and a tap-and-go toll system now in the testing phase. The feature, developed with Mastercard and NCB, will allow customers to tap a point-of-sale terminal at toll booths, with instant authorisation to lift the barrier. Testing has already been completed in France, and local user testing begins in August. Also in the pipeline is a third-quarter e-store for new tags, replacing toll cards, accessing new licence plate tags, and a solution for vehicles with windscreens that block toll signals. Also, in addition to Go Top-Up’s 800 locations islandwide customers will soon be able to recharge via WhatsApp and the Bill Express platform. The company is betting that convenience will convert more drivers to its electronic toll tag lanes which now account for 1.1 million trips monthly — a 30 per cent jump year over year.

“The more people that use tags, the fewer people that use manual lanes, and the more throughput we have through the toll plazas. So, by growing the tag usage we’ve been able to reduce the congestion,” he said.

The frictionless travel tools are not yet live, but the company is already seeing financial gains from its wider strategic push. Net profit climbed by 30 per cent last year, moving from US$24 million to US$41.3 million. Revenues rose by 10 per cent to US$82.8 million, which is more than 30 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels. Compared to 2021, profits have grown by over 700 per cent. The Portmore and Vineyards toll plazas remain the strongest performers, generating US$35 million and US$32 million, respectively. Traffic through Portmore rose by 1.2 per cent, with revenue growing 3.7 per cent. Spanish Town had the biggest traffic jump at 15 per cent, resulting in US$6 million in revenue. The company has also managed to reduce operational expenses significantly, cutting costs from US$39.9 million in 2022 to US$21.05 million in 2024. This 47 per cent decline follows a restructuring of subsidiary operations after the acquisition of Jamaican Infrastructure Operator, JIO. These results have outperformed the company’s projections in its 2020 IPO prospectus. TransJamaican had forecast US$70 million in annual revenue and 24 million vehicles by 2024. It has now surpassed both targets, reaching US$82.8 million in revenue and 26 million vehicles, despite the disruptions of the pandemic in 2021.

Infrastructure upgrades continue across the network. New ramps in Freetown completed in May have already lifted May Pen traffic by 6 per cent and increased Vineyards’ capacity by 20 per cent. The delayed May Pen to Mandeville leg, known as Phase 1C, is now expected to begin tolling between the third and fourth quarters of this year following emergency repairs to the toll booth equipment. That segment is projected to add 9.5 million US dollars to revenues in 2025. New ramps to serve Jacaranda and Orchards along Old Harbour Road have been approved and are scheduled for completion next year, helping to ease congestion and expand access for commuters. And at its Portmore toll plaza, construction has begun for a Rubis petrol which should open at the end of July.