The on-demand trucking service trend has hit France, as Convargo is now seeking to become that country’s “Uber of trucking,” TechCrunch reports. The company, which pitched itself as “a marketplace for shippers and carriers,” has raised $19 million in a Series A round of funding.
The push for autonomous vehicles is gaining more traction as it is provides an easy solution to the worsening driver shortage. Greg Nichols, writing for ZDNet, says the obvious reason is that “millennials don’t want to drive trucks.”
ITS Logistics announces they have joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance. This will allow ITS Logistics to play a role in creating a common framework and standard for blockchain technology as it proliferates into the freight and logistics industry.
With less than two months left before the ELD mandate goes into effect, statistics coming from ground zero on the compliance of carriers to the proposed rule are far from satisfactory.
The Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, aka the Trucking Alliance, has adopted four technologies that the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says is critical to reducing large truck crashes.
C.H. Robinson, a world-leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, announced today that it has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA) to influence the development of blockchain standards and applications in the transportation business.
Former Tesla shareholder Daimler seems intent on upstaging the upstart with its own electric truck program, reports Bloomberg. Weeks before Tesla is set to unveil its own electric vehicle, Daimler introduced its own model, the E-Fuso Vision One.
Arrive Logistics, a top 75 U.S. transportation brokerage, headquartered in Austin, Texas, announced today they have joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA). Arrive Logistics is the fastest growing freight broker in the United States.
Unlike in the United States or Europe, shipping across Brazil is a hassle since there aren’t a lot of comprehensive cross-country providers with transparent processes for pricing, standards and tracking mechanisms. Intelipost is set to change that by providing SaaS solutions for managing logistics providers under one roof.
Two bills introduced in the U.S. House last week could potentially change the classification of port truckers, requiring them to become employee drivers.
P.B. Industries (PBI) has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA), an Alliance to create a common framework in order to assist members and industry participants with their organization’s decision to develop and adopt blockchain technology.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has reduced accidents 7% in New York since implementing a driver training program using virtual reality, according to Work Truck Online. The program, delivered by Virtual Driver Interactive (VDI), is called Virtual HD and has been used by USPS since 2015.
DAT Solutions has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA). The Alliance is promoting blockchain technology and standards in the transportation industry. DAT operates North America’s largest digital freight marketplace.
FleetPal is looking to help smaller businesses with a comprehensive directory for truck maintenance solutions. “The idea of FleetPal is to bring everyone together on a single platform – the truck repair vendors, truck parts vendors, fleet owners, and the drivers themselves,” says Milko Valnev, co-founder.
Agriculture industry representatives are still waiting for a response from the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding a delay for agricultural carriers concerning electronic logging device (ELD) rule enforcement.
There are some things that money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s Mastercard even for blockchain as reported by ZDNet. This opens up new opportunities for merchants and financial institutions alike to apply this technological trend to their own e-commerce-related foray into cloud-based solutions.
Dole, Driscoll’s, Golden State Foods, Kroger, McCormick and Company, McLane Company, Nestlé, Tyson Foods, Unilever and Walmart are teaming up with IBM Blockchain to identify vulnerabilities in the food supply chain in order to prevent the effects of tainted food before they occur.
eCapital, a leading supply chain financial services provider, announced today that it has been selected as the newest member of the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA). BiTA was formed by experienced tech and transportation executives to create a forum for the development of blockchain standards and education for the freight industry. View member companies here.
Last Friday afternoon, Stifel Financial Corp.’s John Larkin hosted a conference call with Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA) Founder Craig Fuller, President Chris Burruss and 228 industry participants to discuss how BiTA will work as a forum to create standard protocols and procedures for supply chain participants as the industry shifts to blockchain over the next 3-5 years.
In the tussle to improve conditions of the freight marketplace for both the carrier and shipper community, a lot has been left to be desired for the truck driver fraternity. A community-driven application named Road Hunter is now trying to take center stage – helping truckers on the road with essential information on truck stops, fuel stations, repair shops, and even weather updates.
The recent run up in bitcoin price has not kept the critics at bay. One thing that most agree is that blockchain technology, the underlying technology of bitcoin, promises real-world applications and game-changing outcomes.
Penn State issued its 22nd annual 3PL study and the overriding theme was about the importance of data transparency in the supply-chain. Shippers are demanding more transparency in all of their vendors, but since logistics is the life-blood of a supply-chain, 3PLs must accelerate their investments and offerings for shippers.
The future of transportation is not found in Silicon Valley or Detroit. Singapore will lead the next century of transportation innovation.
Stifel sees stable, strong market fundamentals across transport. Click through for a recording of Stifel’s Friday afternoon BiTA conference call.
One of the early pioneers of aerial drone use in agriculture is now looking to grow his business in more ways than one. Steve Edgar, founder of Empire Unmanned, is investigating the Pocatello Regional Airport in Pocatello, Idaho, for future use as the first-ever unmanned air-freight hub.
Trucking companies that have not installed electronic logging devices (ELD) are in a race against time to get them installed on their trucks before the Dec. 18 deadline. Omnitracs and Samsung Electronics are giving drivers another option to meet the regulation, according to Reuters.
In its simplest form, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is designed to replace paper logbooks to better track drivers’ Record of Duty Status (RODS) and ensure compliance with hours-of-service (HOS) requirements. In theory, these rules help improve driver safety and reduce fatigue, but fleet managers can’t expect the rule to eliminate driver fatigue.
Cargo and passenger vessels on the high seas face a multitude of threats and risks that affect decision-making, from delays at canals to illegal migrant traffic, major weather events, and even disease outbreaks. A new emergency notification system is hoping to reduce those dangers.
Trump clears regulations for commercial drone flights in the US, ushering in a new age of airfreight drones.
Hyliion announced the availability of its tractor electrification system at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE show in Orlando this week. The system uses regenerative braking to collect energy and store it for later use by the tractor.
If you live in an apartment complex you know. Packages pile up in stairwells, landings and hallways. You especially know which of your neighbors avidly use their Amazon prime memberships. Amazon is now building delivery solutions designed for this scenario.
The process of matching freight is complicated – with many parameters involved in exploring thousands of different possible combinations in real time and in identifying the best possible match to the parties involved. TGMatrix, a startup based out of Oxford in the United Kingdom, is working on creating an intermodal freight matching engine.
Ontario-based Geotab has been collecting data and helping fleets solve operational challenges for years. It is now hoping to broaden its customer base even further thanks to its latest offerings.
Stifel Capital Markets will be hosting a dial-in conference call on Friday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. ET. Entitled “The Blockchain in Trucking Revolution,” the call will feature Craig Fuller, CEO of TransRisk and co-founder of the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance, and Chris Burruss, president of the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance.
There were a number of companies that presented new and updated products this past week at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE 2017 conference in Orlando, FL. Here is a rundown of some of those products.
Fullbay, a cloud-based management platform for independent truck shops, has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA), formed by seasoned logistics and technology professionals who will work together on the first set of transportation and trucking blockchain standards.
Since 2014, Edge Logistics has searched for new, innovative and time-saving ways to create better efficiency and transparency with its carrier network and to continue that tradition, the company has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance.
In the future, trailer pools may no longer be the domain of truck large truckload fleets. Could they disrupt the LTL market as well and might brokers and 3PLs be able to take advantage?
One of 2017’s biggest stories in the emerging autonomous vehicles industry—Waymo’s $2.6B lawsuit against Uber over stolen trade secrets—revolves around a single piece of technology that is currently fueling a frenzied global competition for investment dollars, engineering expertise, and manufacturing capacity.
PeopleNet made several new product announcements this week at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. A new gateway, fault intelligence, document scanning program and wireless trailer camera were on display at the company’s booth.
Many fleets are devoting 10% of their operating budgets to maintenance, but it doesn’t have to be that high, suggests Jim Buell, EVP of sales & marketing for FleetNet America. “If you talk to most people, they think maintenance costs are like death and taxes, you can’t do anything about it,”
When the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced in late August that it would delay out-of-service orders for ELD violations until April 1, 2018, many cheered the decision. According to Collin Mooney, executive director of CVSA, many assumed that meant officials would not enforce the ELD rule at all until April. That is simply not true.
TMW Systems is working on blockchain-enabled products and gave a demonstration and update on how that work is progressing on Friday.
Shippers and carriers are an integral part of the freight industry and keeping them in the loop would go a long way to improving efficiency inside the system. That is the belief that the founders of Go99 are building their business upon.
Blockchain offers a number of opportunities within freight management to improve cash flow. Pay per mile insurance coverage is one new concept, but that same philosophy can be applied to vehicle leases, perhaps changing the way fleets pay for their vehicles.
Ever since Bitcoin gatecrashed into the financial market scenes in late 2009, the technology underlying the virtual currency has had people talking. Blockchain, a ledger of records arranged in data blocks, uses cryptographic validation to link themselves together, resembling an unending chain, and it is disrupting the way FinTech market works.
Hyperloop companies have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a new, high-speed form of transportation, but regulatory frameworks haven’t yet caught up with their technology.
The supply chain stands at the crossroads of innovation, with the impact of technology felt in different micro-niches. Here is a look at some of the technologies that are showing considerable potential and looking to change the facade of freight hauling forever.
The concept of driverless trucks has recently jostled the transportation industry. However, truck drivers everywhere may be relieved to discover that world-renowned business tycoon, Warren Buffett, is betting a fortune on their livelihoods, and sees no need to worry about an impending AI driver revolution.
General Motors has advanced its next-generation fuel cell system, which is part of its concept SURUS (Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure) platform that was shown last week at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army. Whether commercial transportation is willing to adopt fuel cell technology, though, remains a question.
C.H. Robinson will implement Omnitracs’ Virtual Load View (VLV) application as it seeks ways to improve visibility into load tracking. The system will run alongside C.H. Robinson’s own Navisphere system.
Paper Transport, Inc. has been accepted as a member of the Blockchain in Transportation Alliance. Paper Transport, Inc. choose BiTA because of the alliance’s commitment to building a standard communication framework for the next generation of logistics providers.
Hyperloop has been touted as a way to move passengers long distances quickly, but it is most likely going to find its footing first in the freight world, according to those working to develop the technology.
While not new to the supply chain, technology is lowering barriers and offering new opportunities for 4PLs to move in and control entire supply chains, creating greater efficiency for all involved.
Sandeep Kar, one of the commercial vehicles industry’s most respected names has joined the TransRisk Board of Advisors. He brings decades of research and insights on the commercial vehicle market, along with a perspective on the impact of autonomous, electric, telematics, and blockchain technologies will have on the trucking industry.
The original celebrity billionaire strikes once again. Once calling himself “The Rebel Billionaire,” Richard Branson has officially joined the Board of Directors in charge of Hyperloop One, The Verge reports.
A lot of facts and figures get thrown out by startups in the trucking space. Its important to understand whether these facts are credible or not.
Bitcoin is super-hot and has fended off any real threat to its meteoric rise. We examine what has fueled this factor and how it impacts the viability of blockchain in the logistics sector.
Coyote Logistics, a UPS company and leading global third-party logistics service provider, announced today that it has joined the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA).
One of the primary problems plaguing the conventional freight industry today is the lack of affordable track-and-trace providers in the market that can provide real-time visibility to shipments. FreightTracer, a startup from Texas, is providing its customers real-time visibility into all their shipments – anytime and anywhere across any carrier.
The second largest e-commerce player in China has sealed the deal and will deploy the first automatic delivery vans to operate on the mainland. JD.com has confirmed the partnership deal made with Chinese automobile manufacturers Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Shanghai-based SAIC Maxus, China Daily reports.
After first acknowledging it was a developing a fuel-cell powered heavy-duty truck in the spring, Toyota is now set to unveil its Project Portal truck to the public through a demonstration program at the Port of Los Angeles that starts Oct. 23.
While the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an exemption to the electronic logging device (ELD) rule for certain rental vehicles, the exemption has opened up several questions, including whether there is a potential loophole in the rule.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted a waiver to the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) that will exempt all commercial rental vehicles from the electronic logging device (ELD) rule for drivers using a “property carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) rented for 8 days or less.”
With the freight marketplace widening exponentially every year, the growing communication divide in the community is also significantly felt. Fr8Hub, a digital freight marketplace startup is looking to improve peer-to-peer interaction by creating transparency and injecting efficiency in freight hauling.
In the rush to develop autonomous, long-haul trucks (and trains) that could double productivity – driving for 24 hours a day with no need for rest – it may turn out that the competition for freight may really be in the sky.
Costco has expanded its partnership with California-based startup Instacart and that means that customers are now able to get shelf-stable food ordered online and delivered within two days. Fresh foods will be delivered the same day.
With the freight industry being one of the largest contributors to the U.S. economy, it is imperative that it makes way for technology infusion. San Diego-based startup LoadExpress is looking to disrupt the way logistics is handled in the industry right now.
Protests on both coasts in the past few days have placed truckers in the spotlight. Truck drivers in California and Washington, DC, staged protests to highlight the implementation of the electronic logging device (ELD) rule.
For the uninitiated, systems built on cryptocurrency can be unfathomably complex, with confusion exacerbated by their constantly changing nature. Unfortunately, in the world’s modern business climate, understanding these intricacies is critical to nurturing a thriving business. There may be no aspect of technology that is more greatly tied to this truth than that of smart contracts.
Daimler has been given permission by the Oregon Department of Transportation to test truck platooning on the roads of Oregon following successful trials in Madras, OR. The company has said it will first test the platooning technology on two connected heavy-duty Cascadias in the first step called “pairing.”
Walmart is taking its battle for online market share to Amazon with the acquisition of New York-based Parcel, a last-mile, same-day delivery company specializing in perishable and non-perishable delivery in New York City.
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.
An entirely new generation of technological change is now occurring in the transportation industry, and it’s called the autonomous truck, or what design specialists refer to as “intelligent engineering.” But what are some of the benefits, and risks, associated with the technology?
Ford is following that of other automakers and investing in electrification and connectivity. The company also said it would redirect $7 billion from car production to increase SUV and truck production.
Do we have a picture of Tesla’s new semi truck? A Reddit user named itookapicofarocket posted a picture of what he said was the Tesla semi before mysteriously removing the picture.
All agricultural carriers must now be in compliance with the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule, commonly called the “Sanitary Transportation Rule.” If you are a smaller carrier, though, complying with that rule comes just before complying with another – the ELD mandate.
Ikea’s acquisition of TaskRabbit is seen as a way to give Ikea customers access to assembly services. But it also may pave the way for local delivery of Ikea products, perhaps producing a new need for delivery drivers.
All agricultural carriers must now be in compliance with the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food rule, commonly called the “Sanitary Transportation Rule.” If you are a smaller carrier, though, complying with that rule comes just before complying with another – the ELD mandate.
Leading machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) provider Orbcomm has acquired Blue Tree Systems, a provider of compliance solutions in multiple countries, including the U.S.
Chris Burruss, formerly with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), is the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA)’s first President. The Alliance was launched in September 2017 to develop blockchain standard and certifications for the freight industry, has 160+ applicants, and 85% of the truckload transactions can be represented in the space.
Some large carriers can easily accumulate over $1 million a month in toll payments, said Drew Anderson, director of carrier relations for HELP, Inc. Because of that, there is a need to help them – and any other fleet large or small that deals with tolls – better manage their tolling data and payments.
Much has been written about the death of freight brokerages and 3PLs. This is wrong. The 3PL industry is about to change- but it won’t meet its death. It will get bigger and more important as the next generation of digitization takes place.
With the introduction of smart insurance contracts in transportation applications, companies in the freight business could emulate a similar offering to solve some of the major disruption risks involved in carrier service failures.
Federal officials iterate their belief that a transparent and efficient government is achievable through blockchain technology
Globalization and digital transformations go hand in hand. As companies expand their global reach, they must also mature digitally. Making that digital transformation is becoming easier with blockchain.
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration announced a completion of an environmental impact study that highlights a proposed route for an Atlanta to Chattanooga rail line.
In this informative and entertaining TED talk, Bettina Warburg takes the viewer through a discussion on why this technology will change the economy and society forever.
It may seem like a small product enhancement, but the “quick-release” option now available on FlowBelow’s Tractor AeroKit system could save fleets thousands of dollars.
Mitchell 1 has been helping technicians speed up both processes since the 1940s, and this week at the North American Commercial Vehicle show in Atlanta the company has added another layer to that help with updates to its RepairConnect diagnostic software.
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.
The potential for the hyperloop technology to take the world by storm is growing. Silicon Valley start-up Hyperloop One has finally chosen what the company views as the best areas to build its first hyperloop tracks.
In what might be one of the biggest victories for BITA to-date, document imaging powerhouse, Pegasus joins the Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA)
Bosch may be well known for its automotive technology, but it is less known for its commercial vehicle technologies here in the United States. That is starting to change as Bosch is investing in technologies that will be part of the electric and autonomous future many are predicting for the industry.
Wabco’s acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership stake Meritor held in the Meritor Wabco joint venture, which began 27 years ago, a few weeks ago is one of the steps Wabco is taking to ensure its continued growth and positioning for the future.
Meritor has announced a new electric vehicle platform of axles and suspensions as more truck OEMs and fleets shift resources to developing electric vehicles.
Forging an ever-closer alliance between the two companies, Navistar and Volkswagen announced work on several projects including a new integrated next-generation powertrain and an electric truck to launch in late 2019 or early 2020.
A wide-ranging morning-television style event to kick off its participation in the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta ended with a bit of an electric vehicle tease from Roger Nielsen, president & CEO, Daimler Trucks North America.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating both hope and fear in the transportation industry; hope for the wealth of efficiency, cost savings, and safety improvement that AI promises, and fear that the ever-changing job market that accompanies the AI movement may put the careers of thousands in the transportation industry in jeopardy.
Cummins’ electrified powertrain inside the AEOS Class 7 concept truck is part of the engine maker’s aim to create diverse powertrain options for customers.
