Beer run: Uber Freight moves first European load, a trailer full of Heineken

The first Uber Freight European load has been moved in the Netherlands. The cargo was for Heineken. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Just months after announcing it was expanding to Europe, Uber Freight has moved its first load there, working with U.S. partner Heineken. The load traveled the roads of the Netherlands.

“Innovation is an important element across the entire Heineken business and supply chain is no different. This first European load gives us the chance to experience Uber Freight in the context of the European market. We look forward to further exploring new opportunities such as this in the future” Maarten Koudenburg, senior director, Heineken Netherlands Supply Chain, said.

Heineken has utilized Uber Freight to move loads in the U.S., so the inclusion of loads in Europe is a natural extension of the partnership.

“We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with Heineken, an iconic Dutch company,” Dan Buczkowski, head of Europe expansion for Uber Freight, said. “We have learned a great deal from our collaboration with Heineken in the U.S. and we’re excited to expand further and work together on solutions that can drive the freight industry forward.”

Europe is the third largest trucking market in the world, valued at around $400 billion annually, behind the U.S. and China, Uber Freight said. But, like the U.S., it is facing a shortage of truck drivers and is ripe with inefficiency. At the announcement of its European expansion in March, the company estimated 21 percent of all kilometers travelled by trucks are empty kilometers.

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    Brian Straight

    Brian Straight leads FreightWaves' Modern Shipper brand as Managing Editor. A journalism graduate of the University of Rhode Island, he has covered everything from a presidential election, to professional sports and Little League baseball, and for more than 10 years has covered trucking and logistics. Before joining FreightWaves, he was previously responsible for the editorial quality and production of Fleet Owner magazine and fleetowner.com. Brian lives in Connecticut with his wife and two kids and spends his time coaching his son’s baseball team, golfing with his daughter, and pursuing his never-ending quest to become a professional bowler. You can reach him at bstraight@freightwaves.com.