Technology is reshaping the transportation and logistics world, bringing innovation, opportunities and threats to existing ways of doing business, journalist David Rowan, founding editor of Wired UK, said during a keynote at Transparency19.
“Freight wasn’t one of the first, but it’s deep in it now. There are billions to be made if you see ahead,” Rowan said on May 8, during the third day of the Atlanta event.
For Rowan’s forthcoming book Non-Bullsh*t Innovation: Radical Ideas from the World’s Smartest Minds, he traveled to 20 countries looking for startups that deliver the disruption that they promise.
At Transparency19, Rowan delved into the companies and trends that are transforming freight and logistics, noting that innovation came come from both startups and legacy businesses.
He noted how Yara International, a Norweigan fertilizer company, developed an autonomous cargo drone to replace 40,000 truckloads. “It was an unusual move for a fertilizer company,” Rowan said, noting that it then became a secondary business for Yara.
Data collection and tracking are also giving unprecedented visibility. Rowan noted how the Windward ship-monitoring service has migrated from governments and intelligence agencies to insurance companies.
“These businesses couldn’t have existed 10 years ago. Now data is being used to find business models around freight, Rowan said.
Rowan expects to see more artificial intelligence and automation, with “more logistics without people pushing vehicles.”
The self-driving truck startup Starsky is case in point that smaller players can make an impact in autonomous vehicles.
“You don’t have to be Uber to have a budget to do this,” he said.
Despite his own skepticism over blockchain technology, he noted that it was beginning to show real utility.
“The sector is going to be pretty important over three-to-five year scale,” he concluded.
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
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Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now