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Grace Sharkey

Grace Sharkey is a professional in the logistics and transportation industry with experience in journalism, digital content creation and decision-making roles in the third-party logistics space. Prior to joining FreightWaves, Grace led a startup brokerage to more than $80 million in revenue, holding roles of increasing responsibility, including director of sales, vice president of business development and chief strategy officer. She is currently a staff writer, podcast producer and SiriusXM radio host for FreightWaves, a leading provider of news, data and analytics for the logistics industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Michigan State University. You can contact her at gsharkey@freightwaves.com.
Mar - 2025 -
25 March
Grace Sharkey

Uber Freight’s Powerloop begins offering dedicated tours to carriers

Carriers in the Powerloop dedicated tours program commit to at least a two-week period of hauling freight using Powerloop trailers. But they can select specific loads within a tour or haul their own loads using a Powerloop trailer.

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Grace Sharkey

Autonomous dispatcher Bubba AI launches for independent truckers, small carriers

Hey Bubba sees uses for its AI beyond dispatching. Future integrations may include features like truck parking reservations, predictive maintenance scheduling and automated compliance management.

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19 March
Grace Sharkey

Walmart rolls forward with brokerage: What it means for Amazon

Emails sent to select carriers introduce Walmart’s new brokerage program and outline the benefits of participation.

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Grace Sharkey

Intangles maps physics of truck components for predictive maintenance

Intangles digital twin technology can not only help in proactive maintenance but prove that over-the-road trucking fleets uphold high safety standards as well.

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18 March
Grace Sharkey

Deliverr co-founder launches ‘AI teammate’ for logistics, raises $25M

After exploring the potential of large language models, Deliverr co-founder Harish Abbott recognized that logistics professionals spend most of their work time handling routine tasks like email, phone calls and data entry.

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Grace Sharkey

Transflo releases next-gen workflow automation solution for carriers

Transflo has released the latest update of its automation solution for document processing in the trucking industry.

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Grace Sharkey

SnapFulfil survey: Warehouse automation growing beyond early-adopter phase

According to a SnapFulfil survey, 56% of respondents expect their warehouse automation levels to increase somewhat over the next two years, while 23% foresee a significant increase.

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12 March
Grace Sharkey

Reports: 51-year-old Michigan trucking company halts operations

Equity Transportation’s reported closure underscores the reality that in today’s freight market, even long-established carriers are not immune to the economic downturn.

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Grace Sharkey

Orderful report: Trucking recovering, but specialized markets still volatile

A performance analysis by Orderful of different equipment types highlights strengths and challenges across the market.

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10 March
Grace Sharkey

Global manufacturing is repositioning — but it’s complicated

While manufacturers initially sought tariff relief by relocating production to Southeast Asia, trade compliance experts say these “tariff-friendly” locations are increasingly vulnerable to reciprocal tariffs.

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06 March
Grace Sharkey

Shoppers fearful of crime at retail locations

This week: Shoppers share safety concerns, and we examine theft on the railroads

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Grace Sharkey

RueData secures seed round for tire optimization platform

Sebastian Baquero’s career in the trucking industry started with importing and selling tires at just 21 years old. Through years of working with fleets, he gained firsthand insight into one of the industry’s most overlooked cost centers.

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05 March
Grace Sharkey

8VC raises $998M in new funding with a focus on reshaping logistics

Founding partner Jake Medwell speaks with FreightWaves about 8VC’s new fund.

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Grace Sharkey

Retailers see both danger and potential in Trump’s tariffs

Many major retailers are sounding the alarm about the potential impact of tariffs on their businesses and consumers, but some hope for benefits from the trade disruption.

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04 March
Grace Sharkey

SONAR partners with project44 on new procurement analytics product

With the integration of SONAR’s market intelligence into project44’s Freight Procurement Analytics, shippers can access data that enables more informed and agile procurement decisions.

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03 March
Grace Sharkey

Flexport CEO: ‘Every single member on your team should be using AI’

Flexport founder Ryan Petersen and FreightWaves discuss the reasoning behind Flexport’s massive product release, the role of AI in global logistics and the evolving landscape of international trade regulations.

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Feb - 2025 -
26 February
Grace Sharkey

3PL Summit: Trimble exec sees AI changing brokerage cost structure

In an era when artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, freight brokerage stands at the forefront of transformation.

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Grace Sharkey

3PL Summit: Truckstop reflects on 30 years of fighting freight fraud

Fraud remains one of the biggest threats to the freight industry, with bad actors constantly adapting their tactics. Lisa Haubenstock, VP of product at Truckstop, dives into the issue and the strategies companies can leverage to stay ahead.

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25 February
Grace Sharkey

Truckstop exec joins Trucking Parking Club to boost ties with enterprise fleets

Truck Parking Club has announced the addition of industry veteran Brent Hutto, former chief relationship officer at Truckstop, to its team.

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20 February
Grace Sharkey

FreightWaves’ first Fraud Symposium

With scams becoming more sophisticated and brokers facing increased legal risks, this exclusive gathering will provide crucial insights, expert discussions and high-level networking opportunities.

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18 February
Grace Sharkey

Reports: Freight forwarder Forto looking for a buyer

According to a person involved in the discussions, freight forwarder Forto has reached out to competitors to discuss potential deals.

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12 February
Grace Sharkey

HDVI secures $40M for data-driven trucking insurance

New CEO Reid Spitz said 90% of HDVI’s customers saw improvements in key safety metrics like speeding or harsh braking in their first year working with the company.

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10 February
Grace Sharkey

Upwell secures $6.5M to automate logistics billing practices

The logistics industry is no stranger to financial inefficiencies, particularly in the accounts receivable process – something Upwell aims to combat.

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Grace Sharkey

Freight Hero exits stealth mode with backing from Dynamo and AI Fund

“I have never seen a role like a cradle-to-grave broker in any other industry,” said FreightHero’s founder and CEO.

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04 February
Grace Sharkey

Auto Hauler Exchange secures $5M Series A, bullish on FreightTech marketplace

FreightTech could contribute to a digital transformation in vehicle logistics, and Detroit-based Auto Hauler Exchange and its investors are betting on it.

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03 February
Grace Sharkey

GenLogs raises $14.6M, launches intermodal insights, sets eyes on Mexico

GenLogs’ technology uses roadside sensors and cameras to collect data on trucks and equipment, applying methodology inspired by counterterrorism operations.

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02 February
Grace Sharkey

Freight fraud from India to Nigeria

This week: We get an update on Kal Freight’s bankruptcy proceedings.

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Jan - 2025 -
31 January
Grace Sharkey

Freight Essentials urges industry to speak up in WWEX legal fight

WWEX Group argues that certain details in Freight Essentials’ lawsuit against the company and its affiliates contain sensitive business information that, if disclosed, could harm its competitive position, but Freight Essentials says not so fast.

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30 January
Grace Sharkey

Freightmate Ai raises $5M, highlights need for flexible freight forwarding tech

“We’re partnering with over three times the number of freight forwarders that we [anticipated] by this time,” said Bryan Lacaillade, co-founder and CEO of Freightmate Ai.

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28 January
Grace Sharkey

ALAN mapping out long-term recovery efforts in LA

ALAN has been quietly mobilizing supply chain and logistics expertise to support communities in the wake of catastrophic events for the past 20 years, most recently in Los Angeles.

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23 January
Grace Sharkey

FreightTech’s tracking superhero lands $40M

This week Descartes shares the work it’s doing to combat location spoofing.

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21 January
Grace Sharkey

How automation is solving logistics’ biggest problems in 2025

From optimizing electric vehicle fleets to mitigating fraud and automating nonrevenue tasks, automation is positioned to address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.

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16 January
Grace Sharkey

Locked up and losing out

This week we explore how retailers are balancing security measures with customer experience.

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15 January
Grace Sharkey

EXCLUSIVE: Shippeo lands $30M to further its North American and Asia-Pacific ambitions

“In mature markets like the U.S., data accuracy and completeness are critical to building trust and delivering value,” said Shippeo co-founder Lucien Besse.

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14 January
Grace Sharkey

Former C.H. Robinson exec joins Armada Sunset to lead strategic growth

As the first president of Armada Sunset Holdings, Chris O’Brien sees strong potential for technologies such as AI and machine learning to drive innovation in supply chain management.

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10 January
Grace Sharkey

Transportation companies mobilize to support LA Fire relief efforts

Warp and Talon Logistics ask the industry to help support the LA area with relief efforts.

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09 January
Grace Sharkey

Retail’s $103 billion problem 😰

In 2024, retailers dealt with a costly challenge: U.S. consumers returning $685 billion worth of merchandise — 13.21% of total retail sales, according to Appriss Retail’s latest report.  Alarmingly, 15.14% of these returns were fraudulent, costing retailers a staggering $103 billion. The report, created with Deloitte, highlights the most common fraud schemes. Wardrobing, in which […]

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03 January
Grace Sharkey

Omnitracs, Platform Science IP lawsuit may have reached the end of the road

This legal battle began in May 2020 when Omnitracs accused Platform Science of stealing its intellectual property.

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02 January
Grace Sharkey

Can the industry overcome its cybersecurity woes?

This week the industry gets advice on cybersecurity strategies for 2025.

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Dec - 2024 -
26 December
Grace Sharkey

Top freight fraud stories of 2024

FreightWaves reviews the most read fraud fiascos from the past year

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23 December
Grace Sharkey

Gatego goes live, CEO addresses inefficiencies in yard operations

Gatego was founded by CEO Adrian Garcia, whose firsthand experience in his family’s trailer yards highlighted the inefficiencies of traditional systems.

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20 December
Grace Sharkey

CloneOps.ai gains seed funding, investor revels in the future of brokerage

CloneOps.ai has received funding from industry investors including Sope Creek’s Kevin Nolan, who sees a positive future for augmenting human talent in brokerage.

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Grace Sharkey

Exploring fraud claims at Kal Freight

This week: Double brokers grab $1M in toys and porch pirates have a dance off

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17 December
Grace Sharkey

DAT acquires Trucker Tools, leadership speaks on tech goals for 2025

DAT Freight & Analytics spoke with FreightWaves about DAT’s acquisition of Trucker Tools and how it plans to address connectivity issues, fraud and customer needs in the new year.

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12 December
Grace Sharkey

’Tis the season for porch pirates

This week: Blue Yonder deals with a massive cyberattack and FreightWaves’ shares tips for dealing with porch pirates.

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11 December
Grace Sharkey

Fireside Chat: RXO CEO discusses navigating 2025

RXO CEO Drew Wilkerson shares insights on managing peak-season demand and on the 2025 outlook for the dynamic logistics industry.

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06 December
Grace Sharkey

Shipper CRM, Journey team up to improve customer experience

As a part of the partnership, founder of Journey, Will Jenkins has also disclosed that he has invested and will help advise the Shipper CRM team as they scale.

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05 December
Grace Sharkey

Fraud Watch: Sneakers, scams and AI

Recent headlines reveal how freight fraud is no respecter of national borders. Authorities have arrested Shenghua Wen, a Chinese national residing illegally in the U.S., on suspicion of exporting firearms, ammunition and restricted military technology to North Korea. Operating out of Long Beach, California, Wen reportedly hid the contraband in shipping containers routed through Hong […]

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04 December
Grace Sharkey

HappyRobot’s $15.6M raise will focus on product development

“Using HappyRobot’s agentic AI, 100% of calls were answered 24/7 with no hold time,” said Circle Logistics’ Andrew Smith.

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Grace Sharkey

FreightVana to acquire Loadsmith’s brokerage, grows drop trailer network

The collaboration between FreightVana and Loadsmith taps into FreightVana’s deep experience in blending asset trailers with technology to support diverse customer needs.

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02 December
Grace Sharkey

Chicago rivals P44 and FourKites resolve legal disputes

“Today project44 is pleased to announce a very favorable resolution of our defamation lawsuit against FourKites,” project44 told FreightWaves.

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Grace Sharkey

MyMechanic exec looks to streamline maintenance for small fleets

MyMechanic’s newly appointed president, James Lovecamp, recently spoke with FreightWaves on persistent issues in maintenance and repair.

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Grace Sharkey

Vooma grabs $16.6M in funding as brokers prepare for market swing

After years of volatility due to economic uncertainties and global disruptions, the freight industry is seeing early signs of recovery. However, this recovery comes with challenges, including tighter capacity and heightened expectations for operational efficiency.

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Nov - 2024 -
28 November
Grace Sharkey

Turkey, trimmings and truck heists

As Thanksgiving celebrations near, supply chains face a surge in criminal activity.  A recent CargoNet report highlighted 174 thefts worth $7.84 million during Thanksgiving week over the past five years, with the post-holiday Monday marking the peak for theft and identity fraud. California, Illinois and Texas top the theft hot spots, while warehouses and unattended […]

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21 November
Grace Sharkey

Fraud prevention-focused Highway leads FreightTech 25

This week: Fraud tech captures FreightTech awards’ top spot, Circle Logistics shares its fraud prevention strategy and Guy Fieri just wants his tequila back.

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20 November
Grace Sharkey

GenLogs launches initiative to combat theft using counterterrorism methods

Ryan Joyce, a former CIA operations officer, drew on his experience tracking terrorist networks to execute the company strategy to fight freight fraud.

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19 November
Grace Sharkey

Flexibility crucial for warehouse management tech, expert says

Smitha Raphael, chief product and delivery officer at SnapFulfil, highlights why flexibility and seamless integrations in warehouse management tech are now top priorities for 3PLs and B2C companies.

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14 November
Grace Sharkey

Fraud Watch: Uncovering the dark side of freight

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Fraud Watch, FreightWaves’ dedicated newsletter tackling the burgeoning crisis of freight fraud.

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Grace Sharkey

Uber Freight could see more bookings through new broker tech

After Uber recently announced bookings growth, the company has launched a broker offering that could help support future shipment growth and brokerage penetration.

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13 November
Grace Sharkey

Orderful raises $15M with NewRoad, aims to improve data interchange with AI

Orderful has raised $15 million with NewRoad Capital Partners to help expand Orderful’s offerings, including self-service EDI tools for small and midsize businesses.

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12 November
Grace Sharkey

Uber Freight’s $851M payout to Greenbriar highlights creative deal structures

Uber Freight’s payout to Greenbriar signifies a shift, highlighting both Uber Freight’s evolving valuation and the foresight of Greenbriar’s strategic financial protections.

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11 November
Grace Sharkey

Consultant bullish on Trump’s impact on retail, e-commerce, FreightTech M&A

With the next Trump administration expected to drive regulatory changes, experts anticipate a surge in M&A activity across retail, e-commerce and FreightTech, as companies like Amazon and DoorDash look to expand in a pro-business environment.

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06 November
Grace Sharkey

Election 2024: US lawmakers who support initiatives to fight freight fraud

Bipartisan bills including the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act and the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 propose significant federal support to address the increase in freight fraud and organized retail crime.

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01 November
Grace Sharkey

How global trade actors are turning to fintech to tackle fraud

The rapid expansion of global trade has complicated cross-border payments, adding costs and delays and heightening fraud risk. Financial institutions and fintech firms are implementing digital solutions to enhance transparency and security.

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Oct - 2024 -
29 October
Grace Sharkey

AI will have huge impact on freight but also overhyped, says Transflo exec

As FreightVana CTO Don Everhart moves into his new role at Transflo, he answers FreightWaves’ questions on hot FreightTech topics.

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25 October
Grace Sharkey

AI technology helps fleet managers detect drowsy drivers

Fleet managers are turning to new AI-driven Drowsiness Detection technology, which shows that 77% of drowsy driving events are detected by behaviors other than yawning alone.

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21 October
Grace Sharkey

Becker Logistics study exposes cargo theft risk tied to lax security

According to a new report by Becker Logistics, cargo theft varies seasonally and by mode and location.

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18 October
Grace Sharkey

Leaders share strategies to maximize FreightTech investment in tight markets

At TIA Technovations, logistics technology leaders tackled the challenges of balancing tech investments with tight budgets. The panel highlighted the need to be strategic with implementations, maximize existing tools and foster collaboration with vendors.

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15 October
Grace Sharkey

Inaugural Freight Fraud Awareness Day shines light on industry crisis

The first-ever Freight Fraud Awareness Day, taking place on Tuesday, aims to unite the supply chain community in tackling schemes like double brokering and cargo theft, which have seen a 400% rise since 2022.

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10 October
Grace Sharkey

Cartage secures $3.3M to support shippers and carriers with automation

Freight coordination platform Cartage has raised $3.3 million in a funding round led by Y Combinator. The company, founded by industry veterans, is using AI to streamline logistics without forcing brokers, shippers or carriers to change their preferred communication methods.

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08 October
Grace Sharkey

Dave Clark launches Auger, raises $100M for the AI venture

Former Amazon and Flexport executive Dave Clark has launched Auger, a $100 million-backed logistics software startup aimed at optimizing supply chain decision-making for midsize to large businesses by using AI and automation.

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04 October
Grace Sharkey

Charli brings turnkey solution to EV charging

With a focus on charger reliability, accessibility and user experience, Charli 2.0 introduces one-tap charging, real-time station availability and installation solutions.

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02 October
Grace Sharkey

J.B. Hunt, UP.Labs create FreightTech lab

J.B. Hunt and UP.Labs aim to invest in six startups over the next three years.

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Grace Sharkey

Cloudflare survey finds cyberattacks and fraud flourishing in logistics

As cybercriminals evolve, companies must adopt cutting-edge defense strategies to protect their operations from significant financial and reputational damage.

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Sep - 2024 -
30 September
Grace Sharkey

Marquee takes educational approach to insurance, unveils tech

With a focus on education, technology and partnerships, MIG seeks to transform how small carriers navigate insurance decisions.

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18 September
Grace Sharkey

Fireside Chat: Leveraging tech to improve perishable food inventory management

Evigence’s Oria Malka speaks on how technology helps the cold chain limit emissions and improve shelf life.

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Grace Sharkey

Members of Congress call for establishing center to fight retail crime

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce is spearheading an effort to have the Department of Homeland Security do more to combat organized retail crime in America.

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16 September
Grace Sharkey

Does the ILA have a point in objecting to automation?

FreightWaves examines the International Longshoremen’s Association’s concern with port automation and its effects on global port competitiveness.

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10 September
Grace Sharkey

Truckstop on fraud: ‘It’s about time we protect each other’

Truckstop.com’s Brent Hutto discusses the company’s zero-tolerance policy toward fraud and its recent work with the FBI.

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Grace Sharkey

Uber Freight announces new tech offerings, reaches $20B in managed freight

At Uber Freight’s Deliver conference, its founder and CEO announced same day and scheduled deliveries offerings, advanced tech features and said the company has reached $20 billion in freight under management.

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05 September
Grace Sharkey

Former Flexport associate raises $6.5M for SMB freight management platform

Portex founder Brittany Ennix explains how logistics technology should be built for SMB shippers.

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Aug - 2024 -
28 August
Grace Sharkey

TuSimple plans to settle federal fraud lawsuit for $189M

While the company continues to deny any wrongdoing, TuSimple has filed to settle its federal fraud case.

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Jul - 2024 -
30 July
Grace Sharkey

Altana becomes FreightTech’s next unicorn after closing Series C

Altana closed on a $200 million investment Tuesday to accelerate its supply chain and risk management product development.

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25 July
Grace Sharkey

How freight fraud became the perfect crime

FreightTech hasn’t solved freight fraud, and regulators can’t figure out who is regulating it. Is there a solution?

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23 July
Grace Sharkey

Coast closes Series B, gets funds from Synchrony for fintech platform

Fleet fintech provider Coast lists a number of initiatives under its product road map.

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19 July
Grace Sharkey

FreightTech Friday: Alvys raises $20.5M to accelerate tech development

This week: Alvys and Renaissant both close Series A’s, truck parking solutions unite and Leonard’s Express looks to optimize operations.

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17 July
Grace Sharkey

Women in Trucking focuses on mentorship, inclusive workplaces

After wrapping up her first year as president and CEO of the Women in Trucking Association, Jennifer Hedrick explains the group’s strategy toward creating a more inclusive industry.

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15 July
Grace Sharkey

TruckSmarter’s financial services secure $50M debt facility

The digital trucking platform partners with CoVenture for up to $100 million in debt to accelerate its financial services.

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12 July
Grace Sharkey

FreightTech Friday: p44 offers eBOLs for all LTL shipments

This week: p44 offers eBOLs on all LTL shipments, ODeX moves into Singapore, Goodyear offers Tires-as-a-Service and AutoScheduler.AI raises funds.

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11 July
Grace Sharkey

Outpost taps modern tech for parking visibility

Outpost releases new technology, combining both hardware and software, to improve commercial truck parking availability and security, as truck parking continues to be a significant problem in the U.S.

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10 July
Grace Sharkey

German startup grabs pre-seed funding for container logistics platform

Northbound looks to expand its product development after raising $1.4 million in funds.

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09 July
Grace Sharkey

CargoX goes live with HMM eBOL partnership

CargoX has launched its solution tailored to meet the electronic bill of lading standards of Korean container carrier HMM and the Digital Container Shipping Association.

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05 July
Grace Sharkey

FreightTech Friday: Japan’s proposed conveyor-belt highway

This week, we showcase an innovative way to attack Japan’s logistics labor-shortage problems; Pepsi makes a new partnership in battery technology; and Walmart wins an award for its investment in technology.

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03 July
Grace Sharkey

Samsara’s product strategy: Innovation through partnership

Samsara’s chief product officer explains the importance of building strong partnerships with customers to lay the groundwork for future solutions.

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Jun - 2024 -
27 June
Grace Sharkey

Samsara releases Asset Tag at Beyond

At Samsara’s user conference in Chicago, the company unveiled its latest tracking tool.

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Grace Sharkey

Freightmate Ai exits stealth mode with pre-seed funding and new tech

After raising funds with Wischoff Ventures, Freightmate Ai launches its first automated tool for freight forwarders.

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25 June
Grace Sharkey

Uber Freight, Aurora launch autonomous program for carriers

Uber Freight and Aurora Innovation have launched a subscription program making it easier for carriers in the Uber Freight network to invest in autonomous assets.

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23 June
Grace Sharkey

UPS sells Coyote to RXO

UPS announces it plans to sell its brokerage business to RXO.

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21 June
Grace Sharkey

FreightTech Friday: Verified Carrier talks vetting tech

This week: Verified Carrier discusses its unique way of vetting carriers, Vecna Robotics closes its Series C, Truckstop vets industry pets and Nvidia has a new offering for industry tech providers.

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