Uber Freight heralds various new customer-focused supply chain technology offerings

San Francisco-based Uber Freight, a subsidiary of the ubiquitous, ride-sharing service Uber, whose proprietary app matches trucking companies with loads to haul, and a non-asset-based third-party logistics services provider, provided multiple updates on various technology-focused services and initiatives at Deliver, its annual customer conference, in San Diego, yesterday. 

These updates come roughly two years after Uber Freight acquired Transplace, a period in which the company has invested $120 million on new and enhanced products and logistics services, it said. And with $18 billion worth of freight under management, Uber said that its new products and offerings are helping to steer the company’s efforts to be “a new kind of logistics company,” focused offering end-to-end enterprise applications and services amid what it called a “complex logistics landscape.”

Uber Freight CEO Lior Ron said on a media conference call that the new offerings introduced today represent the most comprehensive transformation and update in its history, for products and services.

“It is a doubling down on our technology, our services, and overall sort of logistics investment in a time where other companies might struggle with the changing conditions in logistics and the freight market,” he said. “From the acquisition of Transplace two years ago, for the continued Uber Freight investment and commitment, Uber Freight has tons of momentum in the market from a financial perspective.”

And he added that the company has focused and invested a lot to come up with innovative products that can help to affect outcomes for its shipper customer base, with the company transitioning from its marketplace, or brokerage roots, to an enterprise suite of software and services for large shippers and help them manage their entire business with systems and software while providing more than capacity.

Uber Freight’s new offerings and updates include:

• an update of the Uber Freight TMS, which it describes as an all-in-one solution for planning, executing, and monitoring complex logistics operations across modes and regions, bringing shippers the time-tested expertise, Uber-grade technology, and high-quality service they need to drive their intelligent logistics forward. Initial upgrades focus on delivering a new standard of visibility, foresight, and control, “Uberizing” modules to promote ease of use and actionable data—all while expanding global, end-to-end shipment visibility across modes including rail, ocean, and air;
• the introduction of Uber Freight Exchange, a new tool designed to meet the evolving needs of shippers and carriers by expediting freight procurement cycles and powering rapid shipment execution. Uber Freight Exchange is a neutral platform open to all shippers and carriers—a shipper can utilize Uber Freight Exchange to run auctions with their own carriers, in addition to Uber Freight’s network of 100,000 carriers across the US. With integrated communication, simple bid functionality, and historical performance reporting, it enhances operational efficiency, fosters partnerships, and safeguards lane coverage risks in any market conditions;
• the introduction of Insights AI, a powerful generative-AI-powered insights tool that will transform decision making in logistics and support transportation teams from granular, tactical views to more complex, strategic analyses. Insights AI will leverage LLMs to generate and surface insights from Uber Freight’s vast store of transportation data for customers;
• the creation and application of AI and machine learning to drive network optimization and service improvements at scale with several new models rolled out recently, including a sophisticated ETA model, which, when combined with Uber Freight’s Probability of Late Arrival (PLA) model, helps to drive automated ‘self-healing’ workflows to improve shipper service;
• an expansion of the footprint of Uber Freight Powerloop program to meet surging client demand for drop and hook and dedicated capacity solutions. The program has expanded operational scope from localized freight within Texas, California and Georgia, to regional and over the road freight stretching across several new states including Arizona, Utah, New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Kentucky;
• Uber Freight continues to gain ground as the most extensive autonomous freight network in North America with active partnerships with the leading developers and dozens of shippers moving autonomous loads on the network daily. In September, the company achieved a milestone of 100k autonomous miles driven with AV carriers on the network; and
• Uber Freight has expanded support across the North American cross-border supply chain. To meet a 20% increase in production from across the customer base, the company now has six cross-border locations between US and Mexico and over 1,000 team members throughout the region to support this tailwind

Uber Freight’s Ron said on the call that current logistics and freight market conditions represent both a moment of challenge and a moment of adversity.

“It's a moment where we're living in one of the largest freight recessions, if I may say in the history that we remember,” he said. “And I think that this is the time where we can show what makes us unique and sort of what are we made of in a time of challenge for the industry, and we can actually double down on investment, scale, and commitment while forging new ground.”