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

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.