Loadsmart freight platform lands shippers

Loadsmart, a self-described “logistics technology company” specializing in truckload and oft-described as an “Uber for trucking” start-up, announced that it is helping the Albertsons grocery company change how it sources, books and executes its truckload operation by providing instant pricing and booking for their spot market business.

For owner-operators, Loadsmart’s platform functions by allowing operators to set a series of preferences and then accept loads sent directly to them via a web portal and smartphone app.

Velocity remains a key consideration for retail, food and beverage giants such as Albertsons and Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev), Loadsmart says. AB InBev recently signed a contract with Loadsmart, the latest in a series of Fortune 500 companies the company says is utilizing Loadsmart’s technology to shift how they quote, book and ultimately move their freight.

By identifying the most efficient carrier for a given load, pricing will improve for shippers, Loadsmart says. “We are true believers in creating shared value,” said Loadsmart Chief Commercial Officer Diego Urrutia. “We currently provide shippers instant bookable spot pricing for their truckload shipments, and we address carriers by offering them relevant business. We invest heavily in our proprietary carrier sourcing algorithm, and our aim is to provide the most suitable and targeted load for every carrier we work with. It has to be a win-win situation for both shippers and carriers” to crack the chicken-egg situation oft-remarked-upon for tech companies venturing into load platforms.

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The more on-demand supply chains become, the more pressure logistics firms will face to deliver for their customers, Loadsmart believes. “By addressing this very real and challenging pain point, we are setting the new bar in the spot freight market,” Urrutia added.

In Q4 2016, Albertsons’ usage of Urrutia’s company’s platform grew more than 100 percent month over month. Earlier this month, Loadsmart was named among 20 start-up “digital broker” companies in Frost & Sullivan’s report on disruptions to the freight market happening as a result of increasing connectivity.