{"id":1985,"date":"2016-08-05T15:45:38","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T15:45:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cantruck.ca\/uber-trucking-not-so-fast\/"},"modified":"2025-01-10T16:50:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T16:50:05","slug":"uber-trucking-not-so-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cantruck.ca\/fr\/uber-trucking-not-so-fast\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Uber\u2019 Trucking? Not So Fast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite talk of\u00a0 investment capital being funneled into \u2018Uber for trucking\u2019 startups<\/a> these days, a new study concludes that the trucking industry is way too complex to become an Uber type of business even though Digital Freight Matching (DFM) services are common in matching a shipper\u2019s freight with available carrier capacity.<\/p>\n

From Material Handling & Logistics News<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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One of the key components of Uber\u2019s model is the commodity-like nature of the ride-hailing service, explains Armstrong & Associates, who released a new report, \u00ab\u00a0Digital Freight Matching \u2013 Capturing Technology-Based Efficiencies in the Trucking Industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

A&A\u2019s analysis shows the principle behind DFM\u00a0may be simple, but the trucking industry is not. \u201dDomestic transportation is not a simple commodity,\u201d Armstrong said.\u201d Complexities arise in the form of specialized equipment types, shipments transported via multiple modes, and necessary exception handling for service issues such as equipment breakdowns. Shipments are high-value and time sensitive. Placing an Uber-like app atop a complex industry doesn\u2019t truly address the problem. Shippers and carriers alike will be disappointed if this is the extent of the \u2018solution.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

DFM\u00a0apps do however include some of the functionality popularized by Uber \u2013 algorithmic pricing, API map integration, track-and-trace, and mobile transactions \u2013 along with features specific to trucking, such as trip planning, digital document storage, and TMS integration. But it does account for nuances in the trucking industry.<\/p>\n

DFM companies will face several challenges: competition, regulations, investment, possible\u00a0cannibalization by other emerging technologies, and issues specific to the nature of the trucking\u00a0industry, including:<\/p>\n