LTL shipping flexibility, AI & telematics innovations and more

00:00 In this week’s CCJ Tech Shorts, we’ll take a look at a new AI-native platform, a telematics and sensor partnership, a carrier vetting platform and more.

00:22 A new AI-native platform designed for asset-heavy industries recently launched to help trucking, logistics and field-based businesses close more business, grow faster and make better decisions by turning data into action without needing a tech background.
CommanderAI’s core capabilities include The Heatmap: a smart, conversational interface that surfaces opportunities across territories; a workflow-driven CRM, designed around real sales cycles with quotes, demos and pilots; instant integrations that enable connections with tools like LinkedIn to power outbound efforts without switching tabs or systems; and operational mapping to allow teams to see where business is coming from and where to grow next in one place.

01:05 Surfact, a Norwegian sensor technology company, has partnered with New York-based telematics data platform Catena Clearing to bring full-spectrum visibility to freight – from truck to pallet.
Catena’s real-time fleet data combined with Surfact’s smart tracker “Emma” eliminates blind spots in logistics and powers smarter, data-driven operations. The cable-free IoT tracker Emma delivers real-time data on temperature, shock, and location to mitigate cargo theft.
Catena’s real-time telematics stream combined with Surfact’s tracking technology delivers a unified layer of freight intelligence, capturing data from trucks, trailers, and cargo to create a seamless, API-driven platform with visibility from dispatch to doorstep.
Key features and benefits of the partnership include unified freight visibility; easy install with zero infrastructure, making it ideal for rapid cold-chain deployment; real-time data and clean APIs; automated workflows that offer insights for dynamic routing, anomaly alerts, and compliance at scale; and protection of high-value, temperature-sensitive goods with full traceability.

02:10 ITF Group has partnered with HaulerHub to launch a platform designed to connect shippers with a thoroughly vetted and verified network of haulers. 
The platform implements a rigorous five-layer authentication system to thoroughly vet and verify haulers. The program also guarantees prompt payment for completed work – a significant issue in the industry – by eliminating intermediaries.
HaulerHub’s recent whitepaper, "Breaking Free: The Future of Digital Freight Management," highlights the challenges shippers face today, including a 1,500% increase in cargo theft since 2021 and broker markups that consume 25% to 30% of shipping costs. HaulerHub's platform offers real-time visibility and streamlined processes to combat these issues, reducing delays, errors, and costs.

03:15 Warp has rolled out a new service that replaces the rigid, unforgiving nature of inflexible LTL shipping. In the traditional LTL world, missed pickups are the shipper’s problem. Missed pick-ups can lead to detention fees, impact overall shipping costs, and disrupt the overall supply chain, potentially leading to late deliveries, customer dissatisfaction, and further financial penalties. 
Pickup Grace changes that by building in the one thing traditional carriers don’t have: flexibility. 
The service provides 30 minutes of grace by having drivers wait at least half an hour. If the freight isn’t immediately ready, Warp calls the facility contact listed on the bill of lading or order. If more time is needed, Warp offers an additional grace period to get freight delivered – no auto-fails, no blame, no ghosting. This increases the odds of a successful first pickup.
The service is now standard for all LTL shipments booked through Warp at no additional cost.