Technology

Data shows that such preferred carriers are four times more likely to win new loads and customers.

Route optimization software can help trucks better manage their equipment and driver hours, while providing shippers with more accurate ETAs.

The alliance between FedEx and Microsoft may change supply chains,. Brian Aoaeh explores the issues involved.

“If you want to be relevant five years from now as a broker, you should be moving towards algorithmic rates,” said Andrew Leto.

Startup raises $11M in Series A round

Trevor Milton takes a $1 annual salary as CEO of newly public Nikola Corp., but his net worth on paper is approaching deca-billionaire status based on his 35% share of the battery electric and fuel cell truck startup’s shares.

Surging shares in electric Class 8 truck maker Nikola Corp. could help show the way for other high-tech transportation companies this year.

Berlin- and Paris-based startups are merging to become one of the largest digital trucking freight forwarding platforms in Europe.

Daimler Trucks AG is creating a fuel cell subsidiary as a forerunner to a 50-50 joint venture with Volvo Group to make fuel cell-powered backup systems for data centers and eventually hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty trucks.

Expanding its freight ecosystem, EKA Solutions has announced a TMS offering for small and medium-sized carriers.

Dennis Mooney will help the startup commercialize autonomous trucks

A new intermodal-focused transportation management system brings together the technologies and expertise of Profit Tools, Compcare Services and GTG Technology Group.

In the wake of COVID-19, businesses are looking to reshape and insulate their core sourcing processes from sudden disruption, even as consumers move online.

Guest commentator Eric Masotti writes about the importance of technology in logistics – but also underscores the importance of dedicated people to the process.

“With digital logistics, you can democratize manufacturing to the point of consumption,” said James Regenor.

Werner Enterprises is adding predictive freight matching and real-time shipment visibility tools as part of a broader introduction of Trucker Tools technology into its operation.

Third-party logistics services providers involved in international trade remain concerned about how their businesses will remerge post-COVID-19. They are addressing tough questions about what it will take in terms of staff, systems and office space to operate a successful company.

Public relations and marketing during a time of national crisis

Locus Robotics now has raised more than $100 million.

Collaboration allows mobile document capture and automated workflows within TMS

FourKites says it has cracked the code on delivering more accurate ETA information for LTL shipments

Digital freight forwarding startup Beacon raises $15 million in Series A investment.

Schneider has continued its recent technology innovations with FreightPower, an offering that unlocks more capacity for its shipping partners.

Tire inflation company Aperia is trying to gain market share by offering its solution with no upfront cost. Plus, movie industry freight haulers have received an exemption from drug testing rules and a judge has denied FedEx’s request to dismiss a racial discrimination suit.

Alibaba.com has introduced three new services – a freight matching platform, financial services for small and medium-sized businesses, and virtual events connecting businesses with buyers.

Digital Container Shipping Association establishes internet of things standards for connectivity

Battery electric and fuel cell startup Nikola Corp., which surprised the trucking industry by having a “blank check company” back its bid to go public, expects its shares to begin trading under its own name on the NASDAQ later this week.

Until now, autonomous vehicle company Nuro had focused on food delivery

E-commerce giant lands patent for a system that will ensure “digital trust” in item tracking

American Shipper has partnered with Haven to develop a white paper that explores processes necessary for your organization to customize its workflow to capture the efficiency of the virtual supply chain.

Clearpath Robotics’ division closes Series C as it prepares to put more of its autonomous vehicles into additional warehouses and manufacturing facilities as demand grows during COVID-19 pandemic.

Sysco, Svitzer, Adnavem and AddSecure add industry all-stars

Focusing on risk management can help protect fleets from the pain of paying massive damages.

With final approvals in hand, German commercial vehicle mega-supplier ZF Friedrichshafen creates a new division for technology supplier Wabco Holdings, adding 12,000 employees.

“A lot of those small trucking companies, they’ll come back.”

In a lawsuit filed this week, Omnitracs claims that Platform Science has built technologies, including its Connected Vehicle Platform, based on patents owned by Omnitracs

Shippers get optimized supply chain management with real-time, dynamic capacity pricing

Wunder Mobility launches new offering that will make the company an all-in-one mobility solutions platform.

Amazon is looking to acquire self-driving technology startup Zoox, with talks being underway between the two companies.

The Neurored platform connects health care organizations and government agencies with PPE sourcing and transportation experts

Expeditors International sees digital platform acquisition as key to advancing its less-than-truckload shipping platform.

U.S. retailers face two options: selling at a discount in the domestic market or going online to sell globally.

Port of LA chief promotes nationwide port optimization system to enhance visibility and improve execution

FourKites has announced several new features, including paperless document transfer and communication tools, to enhance worker safety, improve shipment tracking, and speed payment processes.

Fleet management solutions provider also raises $400 million in equity to help sustain operations during coronavirus downturn

Jim Blaze writes about the advantages to the railroads of rebuilding locomotives instead of buying new ones.

Salesforce Labs has launched the Supplyforce Bot on Salesforce AppExchange to improve real-time communication within the supply chain. (Photo: Salesforce)

The partnership could help Microsoft usher in a new era of retail.

Driegert said that shipper expectations for technology and speed of execution have irrevocably shifted.

Wallbox, a smart EV charging company headquartered in Spain, closes second round of series A funding as it expands into the United States

Brian Aoaeh provides statistics and insight into how freight and shipping professionals are working during the pandemic.

Supply chain management solutions provider project44 said it has shippers covered no matter where and how their cargo is transported throughout the world.

Echo Global Logistics is adding truck parking reservation service TruckPark to its EchoDrive Preferred platform, allowing drivers to easily reserve parking spaces through the web portal or app.

Bulkloads.com has rolled out the first phase of a planned TMS system to ease document transfer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, ports see container declines, diesel prices fall again and Ikea looking at buying malls.

Warehouse operations have also been affected by COVID-19. Here are some suggestions that may help increase efficiency of operations.

Nine carriers in the Digital Container Shipping Association say eliminating paper from transactions will improve all aspects of the process.

Major truck manufacturers are using digital tools for ordering parts, repairing equipment faster and transporting trucks for service because of staff shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opendock’s data aggregation shows beer distributors seeing strong sales during pandemic.

Futuristic mobility company HyperloopTT uses virtual collaboration platform Workplace to seamlessly connect all of its spread-out employees.

Fullbay, the heavy-duty repair software provider, has launched Fullbay Cares, making a donation to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada each time a repair shop signs on to the Fullbay platform in May. Plus, Texas DOT hacked, dynamic route planning takes hold, and the new COVID reality

Workflow automation technology company RPA Labs has landed its first round of capital, netting $1.2 million in a pre-seed round. Schematic Ventures led the round, along with PSA UnBoxed (Port […]

Charley Dehoney spoke with the founder of BasicBlock, a blockchain startup based in Nebraska. Here is the story of the company’s success to-date.

Apart from exonerating drivers from wrongful accusations in road accidents, dash cams can also help the fleet management reward top drivers and improve driver behavior.

EKA Solutions builds ecosystem for small and medium-size brokers, carriers and shippers

With a June 2 merger vote that would make fuel cell electric truck maker Nikola a public entity, the company’s book value has quadrupled to $12 billion in the last week.

Drone technology provider to UPS Flight Forward aims for unmanned aircraft systems certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

A $750 million external investment this week comes as an extension to Waymo’s $2.25 billion financing earlier in March.

If a sector or industry goes down due to COVID-19 and a carrier hasn’t diversified, that carrier might be following it.

The coronavirus may be top of mind these days, but there are other viruses businesses need to worry about as well — viruses that infect computer systems through malware. Toll Group is the latest victim.

An integration with 3PL Systems will make Trucker Tools’ Smarter Capacity platform available to all 3PL customers. Plus, a major airline failure could be on the horizon, online car buying could be here to stay, and more Pennsylvania rest stops open.

The world of transportation has changed due to COVID-19. Read about how shipping professionals are adapting to those changes.

It is the first outside funding for the 10-year-old last-mile logistics tech company

vHub, which connects owners of underutilized trailers with those looking for short-term trailer usage, has opened its platform to integration with most telematics systems. Also, China trade deal in doubt, retail imports fall and road funding drops.

Inadequate cybersecurity will allow attackers to hack into railway systems and stop trains, causing massive disruption to freight movement.

Social distancing because of COVID-19 has challenged warehouse operations, and the result could be a new push to bring more automation into facilities.

Like most industries, the work environment of brokers and 3PLs has changed dramatically in the last couple of months. Here are some tools that are being used to cope.

An app aims to connect hungry drivers on the road to restaurants

How the COVID-19 spotlight could accelerate change for global supply chain.

The need for social distancing will push companies to look at increased automation of their warehouses.

“We have the instant ability to integrate with any robot system on our platform.”

Amazon has expanded its brokerage service to 48 states, allowing shippers to easily connect with carriers on a digital platform.

Self-driving fleet transports products for “middle-mile” delivery

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.  A funny paradox says that there is a […]

FreightWaves LIVE @HOME kicked off its three-day virtual event with keynote addresses from J.B. Hunt’s Shelley Simpson, Revolution’s Ron Klain, and Echo Global Logistic’s Doug Waggoner among many others.

Continental customers will switch from using the RoadLog ELD to KeepTruckin ELD solutions.

Idelic and Samsara have forged a partnership where Samsara ELD and camera data will be integrated into Idelic’s driver management platform. Plus, GE cutting 25% of aviation workforce, Amazon exec quits over employee firing, and road funding takes a hit.

API integrations with shippers and carrier density were key.

In a transformational partnership for a growth-stage company, Platform Science will embed connectivity software at the factory in Daimler Trucks beginning in 2021.

Continental is shutting down its Roadlog ELD service, as of Aug. 14. Plus, FreightWAVES LIVE@HOME is one day away, Trump pushes severing of supply chain from China, and Walmart launches two-hour delivery.

Flexport CTO James Chen articulates his vision of the future of global trade technology.

Chief marketing officer, service center manager and executive vice president are named.

Plummeting prices make ExxonMobil’s fuel system-friendly diesel formulation that eliminates additives and reduces NOx emissions a better deal.

“So All Forward not only gives us access to rates, but it gives us the platform to get opportunities,” said Derek Scarborough of Global Logistical Connections Inc.

COVID-19 can accelerate many existing but slow-moving trends in the industry as it has forced changes in behavior and altered industry priorities.

“Each morning at 6:00 a.m., Chris Hoisington at Kraft Heinz receives an emailed report detailing everyone who touched the forklift on the previous day.”

Magnus Technologies offers a solution that can run the entirety of a trucking fleet’s business operations over a single platform.

Trimble is adding an alert service to its navigation and routing apps to notify drivers when speeds are reduced up ahead due to work zones or other incidents.

The autonomous trucking outfit has so far avoided the economic carnage that has hit other startups in the self-driving industry

Schneider Logistics is seeking to smooth and expedite the process for paying carrier partners by pairing TriumphPay’s payment solutions with Transflo’s document management tools.

Digital freight brokerage Transfix laid off about 10% of its staff on Tuesday