New York-based Transfix, a logistics technology services provider that streamlines shipment data to better help shippers make informed decisions to optimize time and revenues, recently partnered up with Dallas-based Highway, provider of a carrier identification solution focused on reducing fraud and supercharge carrier bookings, to enhance the Transfix carrier platform.
A key objective of the partnership is to integration is to increase transparency and efficiency during the carrier compliance and onboarding process, while also expanding the Transfix carrier network.
Transfix explained that Highway replaces the standard practice of vetting a carrier through multiple sites by integrating Highway's Carrier Identity Engine into the Transfix Carrier App (formerly known as Transfix FMS). And it added that both carriers with and without an existing Highway account will benefit from a faster insurance review and onboarding experience, which will provide Transfix with access to a more reliable and robust carrier network, and an increased level of service and support.
“Our partnership with Highway gives us quick access to curated key information about carriers in our network and those seeking to join it by helping us to evaluate qualifications and maintain access to vetted fleets while simultaneously streamlining the onboarding process,” said Tony Tzeng, Transfix Chief Product Officer in a statement. “By bringing together the world's best shippers and carriers, and connecting them in a secure, verified way, Transfix continues to deliver a transparent, trusted, and sustainable freight ecosystem.”
Jonathan Salama, Transfix Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer provided LM an overview of this partnership in a Q&A that follows below?
LM: What drove the need for this partnership? How long had it been planned/in the works?
Salama: The partnership began to take shape in early 2022. Transfix was part of an early group that was instrumental in building out Highway’s Carrier Identity Engine.
The integration is designed to benefit both shippers and carriers in multiple ways. As we all know, fraud, carrier theft, and double brokering have been long-standing issues across the industry for years. The Carrier Identity Engine, which we will be integrating into our Carrier App, enables us to add an extra layer of vetting to our already strong carrier onboarding and verification process. Additionally, the integration streamlines and accelerates the carrier onboarding process, which can often be a manual and time-consuming process.
This is an issue that is best addressed by industry players coming together. In this case, working with Highway, a third-party that has both a broad view of the industry as well as information that can be used by all parties in the sector, can help create a scalable and powerful tool against fraud in trucking.
LM: What are the biggest benefits of this partnership for both shippers and carriers?
Salama: With Highway’s Carrier Identity Engine, we have a new tool to even better evaluate qualifications and maintain updated records for vetted carriers, while simultaneously simplifying and streamlining the onboarding and verification process. The integration reduces risk for both shippers and carriers and creates an “invisible fence” that helps reduce fraud and supercharge digital bookings. This, in turn, provides shippers with access to a more reliable carrier network.
This strategic partnership reflects our goal to drive trust and transparency in the freight ecosystem.
LM: Can you please provide a basic example of how this partnership works?
Salama: Transfix has integrated the Carrier Identity Engine technology into its robust Transfix Carrier App, a free software tool for carriers that allows them to book consistent freight, manage their fleet, streamline communication, and improve fleet efficiency.
Working with Highway allows us another tool to recognize the bad actors outside of Transfix’s network of carriers, barring them from working within our ecosystem.