Stay Up to Date on Trucking, Supply Chain and Logistics Startups & More
The logistics industry is built on innovation, and startups have come to be a driving force behind that innovation. In the last few years, trucking, supply chain and logistics startups have emerged to disrupt the industry and drive it forward, especially in terms of digitization and automations. Check back here for the latest coverage and analysis of startups that are shaking up the industry.
Trucker District CEO Marcel Alvarado’s time driving for a carrier provided insight into the difficulties faced by drivers in the industry and potential problems arising due to the deeply fragmented trucking community. His company is trying to bring that community closer together.
Uber shuts down its car leasing business as it prepares for an IPO next year. Uber Freight, the company’s brokerage business continues to expand and focuses on driver quality of life.
Warehouse space is increasingly shrinking, with vacancy rates near all-time lows. As space dwindles, those companies looking to move a single truckload to a warehouse for two weeks are forced to pay high premiums. Warehouse provider Stord is out to change that.
According to the Department of Transportation, nearly 20% of all trailers are traveling empty down the highway. That doesn’t account for trailers that are running less than full. That empty space, whether it is enough room for one pallet or ten, is a revenue opportunity lost.
As Nikola Motor continues to develop its hydrogen-electric Class 8 tractor, the company continues to evolve its design. The latest is the introduction of an eAxle developed by Bosch.
Small carriers and owner-operators have capacity to offer, but those that need it most – larger, Fortune 1000 shippers, don’t have access to that capacity because it is not cost-effective to onboard small carriers hauling just a few loads. Sudu, though, is changing that dynamic.
Digital freight brokers are using “Daily-deal” tactics to get revenue growth. They sold themselves as a platform to change the inefficient trucking industry, but have found it difficult to find quality sources of high-volume freight. These platforms have resorted to aggressive pricing tactics using investor capital. What will find is that as soon as they change prices, shipper loyalty will evaporate.
Ask an over-the-road truck driver what their biggest concerns are and you won’t have to go far down the list before finding a safe place to park appears. But a new company is hoping to change that, allowing drivers to reserve a spot ahead of time at a nominal fee.
TMW acquires truckload visibility aggregator, 10-4, continuing a trend of FreightTech acquisitions in the market transparency space.
In the past two decades, more than 90% of the nation’s pollinators – from bees to butterflies – have disappeared. That’s why companies like Bee Downtown are working so hard to save the honeybee, and trucking is playing a critical role in its survival.
FreightWaves adds a startup directory to the site to help startups identify partners, investors, and talent in the emerging FreightTech space.
California-based startup Chanje recently announced its all-electric medium-duty delivery van is in production and will be available as soon this fall. With a payload of 6,000 pounds and range of 100 miles, the Class 5 panel van is designed specifically for its target markets.
Hong Kong-based logistics company GoGoVan has achieved unicorn status after agreeing to a merger with mainland China-based freight company, 58 Suyun.
TransRisk, a pioneer of solutions designed to allow transportation industry participants to efficiently manage price risk in the North American freight transportation market, has added nationally recognized transportation markets leader Donald Broughton to its team.
Convey, a supply chain visibility and communication company, has secured $8.25 million in Series B funding from Techstars Venture Capital Fund, RPM Ventures, and other investors in a round of funding just announced.
The new Uber CEO has his work cut out for him. Few know what his take on Uber Freight is and whether the aggressive expansion will continue. Regardless, the digital freight era is upon-us and should they leave the market, others will take its place.
Uber selects Expedia CEO as its next CEO to replace founder Travis Kalanick
The New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX) has secured a Series A round of funding for $13 million, according to a press release. The company has developed the first digital forward freight contract for global container shipping.
Fleet Complete is the latest company to join the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA) as a service charter member. BiTA is a consortium for the adoption, education and development of a standard framework around blockchain in the trucking industry.
To solve inefficiencies in the supply chain, project44’s goal since day one has been to focus on the automation, optimization, and visibility of the freight movements by replacing legacy technologies with its “one-to-many” connectivity.
