KeepTruckin has announced plans to launch one of the first load-matching platform that uses data collected from its electronic logging devices, or ELDs, to help match small-business carriers with available freight.
The company’s new Smart Load Board, which will be available in late 2019, will use carriers’ hours-of-service data, including lane preference, current location and available hours, to create a “better load-matching” system, said Shoaib Makani, co-founder and chief executive of KeepTruckin.
“There are incumbent load board providers, but we are looking to partner with existing providers in the industry to deliver the best experience to our carriers,” Makani told FreightWaves.
“Using this data means that carriers don’t have to hunt for loads and this tool will make their time more productive,” Makani said. “They only get paid when they are driving, so this will help minimize deadheading and get them to where they want to go next.”
The new platform will utilize its current ELD customer base of more than 200,000 trucks and 50,000 carriers. Brokers and trucking companies looking for trucks can post to the KeepTruckin Smart Load Board and will be matched with available carriers.
A number of ELD providers have been discussing building a load-matching marketplace using ELD data, but Makani said KeepTruckin is “uniquely positioned” to bring it to the marketplace because of its vast network of brokers and large carriers who need additional trucks to haul their freight.
“There is a long list of (ELD) providers out there, but the challenge is do they have the scale to deliver,” he said. “No individual vendor, aside from us, has enough trucks that can deliver a really differentiated load-matching experience.”
The company is currently conducting limited testing now after acquiring a small South-Carolina-based freight brokerage, One Point Logistics. Once launched, all freight brokers will have access to the new load board, Makani said.
Carriers who do not want to participate in Keep Truckin’s Smart Load Board will be able to opt out.
“Privacy is important to us because none of this (HOS) data will be shared with any third-parties or brokers unless the carrier consents,” Makani said.
Damian
The more interesting question is do we reall want this…. I doubt small fleets will have the same kind of insight into the market as the big brokerages
Jon
I read all the comments below.
First of all – how many fleets does Big Road really have – like 10…20…100? KeepTruckin has about 70,000 representing about 300,000 trucks. So, they have the most capacity "eye balls" to make this work on a national scale.
2nd, this is the future. Seeing live capacity, where they are, and where their destination will be so the driver gets a load with almost no deadhead. Yes – I imagine that fleets and drivers will be able to opt out of being seen if they don’t currently need a load or don’t need one at their destination location.
3rd, it stops everyone wasting time on phone calls checking if people have enough hours left.
4th, trucks in this network will inherently be more reliable because they will be more likely to pickup on time and deliver on time – because there is full transparency.
5th, it brings the same transparency and technology advantage to carriers as AscendTMS did for fleets a few years ago in the TMS space.
6th, it puts a BETTER negotiation position in the hands of the trucks that are (a) closest to the load and (b) with the most hours left to guarantee on time delivery. They will get the BEST price.
7th, this is one step closer to the future of DFM (digital freight management) and freight matching. The old load boards – and the necessary call after wasted call – are all going away. THIS is the natural next step.
8th, the end game for DFM is allowing different TMS systems – say McLeod and AscendTMS, to be able to ‘talk" to each other in the background – with one TMS looking for a load for a truck and the other TMS looking for a truck for its load. This will be done with no "load board" in the middle – just TMS systems talking to each other and doing paperless business.
This – my friends – is the future.
Jacob
This guy obviously works for KT. So obvious lol. BigRoad has so many drivers lol. Get your facts straight bud.
Rowena G
This is inaccurate. BigRoad is already providing ELD based matching with their BigRoad Freight program.
No doubt ELD based matching is a good idea but Keep Trucking cannot claim they are the first to offer this (not to mention they haven’t "launched" anything other than a press release).
George Chen
BigRoad Freight has had this for ages.
Kelly
I agree with Ziff. Lets say at some point it comes to that being a requirement by some brokers for the contract. Who’s going to fairly interpret which driver gets a load? Say two drivers, one with a 10 waiting, and one with hours remaining on current clock, will need an 8 or 10 to get on time delivery, enroute. Both have plenty of time just on a different schedule. It should still be first come first serve, if the math works. I’ll imagine the guy with a 10 gets preferential treatment, anyone else?
Carol
What about independent owner drivers?
Ziff
Just what the industry needs one more tool to swing negotiations in favor of the brokers and away from the drivers. Won’t be long till all the brokers start demanding access to your hos information just to book a load.
Max Rendon
First? Didn’t BigRoad with BigRoad Freight beat them to this?