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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Samsara preps for its community event Beyond to teach leaders how to leverage data to gain insight on their operations and foster success.

This week, training software for the DOD is serving the freight community; CargoSense closes its Series A; a trucking company adds autonomous offerings; and Truckstop.com hires a new CFO.

Semantic Visions’ Environmental, Social and Governance Index uses natural language processing to analyze media and evaluate companies’ sustainability, ethics and compliance.

Ship Angel announced its recent raise and new products at Plug and Play’s Silicon Valley Summit.

This week, Denim secures funds to continue scaling, OneRail acquires new tech and industry partnerships improve service offerings.

OneRail has launched a solution to address in-transit problems that lead to lost inventory.

This week, Cover Whale raises $27.5 million, the Scheduling Standards Consortium adds a member and Magnus integrates with Trimble.

Cambridge Capital sees promise in helping retailers audit costs and invoices with Stat Recovery.

This week, collaboration becomes key, TruckParkingClub.com hits a milestone, and ex-Convoy engineers raise money for the spot market.

Uber Freight has officially entered its managed transportation era.

This week: A Greek company raises $16 million to make vessel disbursement practices easier, Candor Expedite invests in cold chain technology and driver recruiters leverage AI in operations.

After gaining enterprise accounts, GoodShip is looking to accelerate its growth to improve its shipper-centric procurement platform.

After hinting at a brokerage and managed services integration in its latest earnings report, Uber Freight has launched a spot market update to Uber Freight Exchange to combine its carrier and shipper networks.

This week, FreightVana offers a Visa card to its carrier network, SPS Commerce makes an acquisition and we review Symbotic’s Q1 results in the robotics space.

FleetPulse has spun off from trailer OEM Great Dane and hired industry executives to lead the independent company.

AI software provider Paxafe looks to continue its strategic partnership strategy while expanding globally and building its sales team.

C.H. Robinson says it is using sophisticated AI tools to automate responses to emailed quote requests for thousands of customers.

In this edition of FreighTech Friday, Loadsure explains the risk of moving goods throughout Europe, and Kinaxis shares a report on shippers that are slow to react to supply chain disruptions.

Fast fashion e-commerce giant Shein and retailer Forever 21 are the first brands to utilize UPS’ Happy Returns solution.

Glen Stewart, director of strategic programs at Wabash, discusses the company’s Trailers-as-a-service (TaaS) offering, which is designed to help increase asset uptime.

Chad Boblett explains why he started a Facebook group to help owner-operators.

Open-deck transportation marketplace EXO Freight closed its physical office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and laid off most of its employees to focus on improving its technology for enterprise shippers and their managed services.

Commercial vehicle parking and storage provider Semi-Stow is now Outpost. It hopes to double its existing properties after an infusion of $12.5 million in Series A funding.

Analysts said Shein could help Flexport get a boost in volume and revenue that the firm has seen decreasing throughout the freight recession.

This week, Gartner wags a finger at project44’s path to profitability, Flowspace customers see promise in AI and the Digital Container Shipping Association gets a new member.

Drones offer various inventory management solutions, including audits, cycle counting and stock taking.

This week we explore Motive’s first user conference, a Latin American FreighTech company looking to expand into the U.S. and Banyan Technology expanding beyond LTL solutions.

Stord’s purchase of ProPack Logistics grows the company’s fulfillment centers to 1.6 million square feet.

The company last announced its Series C raise in 2022, led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 for $115 million, valuing the company at $575 million. Platform Science has raised $309 million since 2017.

Here are four innovative companies FreightWaves was introduced to at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Uber Freight has brought on talent with decades of experience from C.H. Robinson, Amazon and Walmart.

Sheer Logistics’ acquisition of CargoBarn is aimed at strengthening the company’s position in anticipation of market fluctuations.

Over the past five quarters, Blue Yonder has spent over $1 billion in supply chain acquisitions, including Doddle and Flexis AG.

Here is the weekly rundown of FreightTech news you may have missed

FreightTech investment firm Venture 53 says Heale “shares our vision for the future of the supply chain ecosystem.”

In today’s FreightTech Friday roundup, we explore Transportation One’s new tech, a Truckstop survey on carrier sentiment and a recent round of funding.

In the ongoing battle between FreightTech giants project44 and FourKites, the Illinois Supreme Court has sided with project44, agreeing that allegedly defamatory emails were sent to a third party.

Uber Freight’s Powerloop offering has served more than 220,000 loads using over 10,000 carriers. Powerloop saw a 43% increase in power-only load volume in 2023.

Friday saw a pivotal shift for Flock Freight as the company opted to downsize its workforce by 54 individuals, a strategic decision aimed at realigning the company’s trajectory towards profitability.

Today’s FreightTech roundup takes a look at HEALE Labs’ goal to improve data sharing with digital currency, PrincetonTMX’s partnership with Loop and other highlights of the week.

A study by last-mile solutions provider OneRail addresses retailers’ concerns about diversifying delivery networks and highlights strategies such as leveraging technology for strategic planning.

Newly launched LocusHub lets warehouse managers customize autonomous mobile robots’ workflow routes, forecast staffing and orders with machine learning, and pinpoint bottlenecks.

Uber Freight has set a goal to acquire over $2 billion in freight under management in Europe by 2028.

LG Business Solutions USA will unveil its family of autonomous mobile robots at industry trade show MODEX in Atlanta.

Transfix’s new feature aims to streamline logistics for small and midsize businesses by addressing manual processes and securing competitive rates, in line with an integrated marketplace approach.

Implementing FreightTech solutions requires understanding business needs, selecting partners that support users, capturing internal data and ensuring scalability.

The Sisters of the Road photo collection highlights female truckers’ struggles and improvements needed for industry equality.

While visiting Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, Lori Ann LaRocco and daughter Abby Wallace learned about families who were enslaved at the site.

Seattle-based OpenTug says it serviced over 3 million tons of marine cargo across 25,000 miles of U.S. marine highways in 2023.

Isometric Technologies announced the winners of its third annual service excellence awards.

Documentation and fintech platform ODeX conducted a survey assessing the maritime industry’s views on digital documentation in ocean shipping.

CloudTrucks has purchased Shipwell’s brokerage, and Shipwell plans to focus on its SaaS offering.

OTR Solutions announced its acquisition of Epay Manager to enhance its fintech products with a distinctive audit-proof invoicing system.

Uber Freight plans to make its API publicly available for scheduling in the second half of the year.

This feature empowers GoodShip’s shippers to craft personalized constraints, aligning with supply chain goals for optimal, strategic procurement decisions.