Technology news and briefs for the week of Oct. 3:
Backhauls in the flatbed segment typically require two customers – one in each direction. As a result, fleets that are dedicated to one customer are often saddled with empty miles.
Flatbed Messenger feeds the truck's location, its price, and its destination into algorithms that match the information to a shipment, which gives shippers access to flatbed capacity that was previously earmarked for a dedicated shipper and adds visibility into lower flatbed rates through more affordable backhauls. Carriers in dedicated fleets can fill backhauls and reduce deadhead miles by being matched to optimal pick-up locations.
"Automated supply-led booking doesn't exist at scale today, not for lack of interest, but because of feasibility challenges," said Felipe Capella, co-founder, co-CEO and president at Loadsmart. "In order to begin with capacity instead of a shipment, the broker's AI system must know exactly where a truck will be, empty/full status, driver hours-of-service, the price that is needed to move it, and where it wants to go. Through our work with a forward-thinking shipper like The Home Depot, we've been able to implement this novel approach that makes dedicated fleets more efficient via technology while greatly reducing risk."
