Startups

Matt Silver launches US-Mexico logistics startup Cargado with $3 million in pre-seed funding.

FreightWaves spoke with experts from across the supply chain about technology lessons learned in 2023 and what strategies will succeed in 2024.

Will Urban has joined the board of LuckyTruck, a company that uses historical truck data and automation to provide an insurance management platform.

“It is no longer grow at all costs. We must be more efficient with our resources and cognizant of your overhead,” says Zelh’s Jeff Ogren

“It’s a more challenging market now, so we want founders who are going to be able to grind,” says Autotech Ventures’ Todd Fowler.

Terminal’s founders, CEO Raghav Midha and CTO Connor Giles, bonded through a passion for fintech and trucking.

Freight brokerage Convoy shut down in October. Carriers say the brokerage didn’t pay them for loads they completed.

Solvento Audita streamlines payment processes for Mexican trucking entities, offering transparency through API integration and addressing tax regulations.

The electric grid holds more potential for electric truck charging than utilities currently allow. A big rethink is under way.

The founder of Isometric Technologies describes the company’s goal of building the FICO score for freight.

Israeli tech startups count on losing some employees to military reserve duty. Many more are called during wartime.

Torc Robotics has the autonomous truck nearly ready. Now comes the hard work of making a business from it.

Nikola Corp. founder Trevor Milton is seeking probation instead of prison on his federal fraud convictions.

Hyzon Motors is focused on launching its 200-kilowatt fuel cell for heavy trucks now that its legal problems are mostly resolved.

FourKites’ president is no longer with the company. He joined in April. The visibility platform announced other new leaders on Wednesday.

Fillogic leverages what it has coined “channel-free logistics,” a competing fulfillment model to the traditional omnichannel experience.

FreightWaves’ Rachel Premack spoke with OTR Solutions’ EVP Clayton Griffin about the current state of freight brokerages and the risk they pose to carriers.

This year’s list saw a sizable shake-up, with 17 newcomers and a high number of mainstays being left off the FreightTech 25.

Flexport would hire a small team of Convoy employees and take on its technology stack. That could keep the trucking startup’s app functioning for customers.

A review of the state of SPAC-sponsored and other electrification startup shows a less-than-pretty picture.

Find out who the unsung FreightTech disrupters are and how they provide unique tools to help shippers.

The ultra-buzzy trucking startup Convoy could have fixed trucking. Instead, it shut down suddenly to the shock of industry insiders.

With over two decades of experience in logistics, Regan Daniels’ evolution is a story of adaptability and a pursuit of efficiency.

Startup Flipturn really was named for the swimming maneuver. Now it wants to make trucking electrification just as smooth.

Hyzon Motors agreed to pay a $25 million fine to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud case.

Zerobroker’s fundraising round saw participation from freight forwarder Flexport, FundersClub and Streamlined Ventures.

Stack AV founder Bryan Selesky is keeping most of the details of his autonomous trucking startup to himself for now.

Swedish startup Einride reduces the carbon footprint of its trucking customers by matching electric trucks with available chargers.

Startup software developer Waabi, a late entry to autonomous trucking, has a 10-year deal to haul on the Uber Freight network.

Nikola asks customers with electric trucks under recall for potential battery fires to return them to its plant.

The prominent former Amazon executive agreed to resign from the CEO role. Flexport founder Ryan Petersen will take back his role. 

Former Amazon executive Dave Clark told FreightWaves that Flexport founder Ryan Petersen wants to redirect Flexport’s mission.

A third Nikola battery-electric truck burst into flames inside a lithium supplier’s building, but the company says recalled trucks are still safe to drive.

RCG Logistics will immediately be integrated under the Acertus brand.

Just as scaling McDonald’s was more about real estate than hamburgers, electric truck charging is as much about land as it is about the grid.

Carey Mendes, a former oil executive leading’s Nikola’s pursuit of a hydrogen distribution network, has resigned.

Veteran business leader Steve Girsky acknowledges challenges but points to Q4 as the culmination of fuel cell truck startup Nikola’s efforts.

The TruckParkingClub.com application now provides real-time reservable parking sites at 143 rest stops and 120 premium locations for overnight, multi-night and up to monthly stays.

Moves similar to blackjack tactics describe how cash-poor transportation startups are grasping for new capital.

Hyliion Holdings has enough cash and investments to run its business through 2024 without raising new capital.

Hyzon Motors is willing to consider selling itself or merging to keep making progress on its fuel cell system.

Asset sales in Q2 helped Nikola add cash to its balance sheet, but losses widened as ramp-up of fuel cell trucks consumed cash.

Could Kodiak leverage some of the work Navistar has in on a redundant chassis for a Class 8 autonomous truck?

J.B. Hunt Transport is helping Nikola reduce its inventory of battery-electric trucks and adding to the order bank for fuel cell models.

Investor confidence coincidentally clashes with an executive’s stock sales at autonomous trucking developer.

Other charging infrastructure startups have more resources but WattEV has an early advantage in making charging available.

Capital markets that have been freezing out mobility startups may be thawing with Aurora Innovation raising $820 million in new funding.

According to Terminal Industries, 92% of yards lack technology solutions to eliminate wasted capacity, drive down unforeseen costs and improve inventory operations, leading to $146 billion in excess transportation costs.

Nikola won’t need any more shareholders to vote for a share count increase because a Delaware rule change lowers the threshold.

“I think this acquisition sends the message to the market that we are here to add real value,” said Ship Angel founder Graham Parker.

Daimler Truck forecasts a sunny outlook for its business, especially in North America and Europe.

Losers among transportation startups are rapidly being defined, It will take longer to determine the winners.

Less than a year after purchasing Romeo Power to secure its battery supply, Nikola is liquidating the subsidiary.

Speedcargo seeks out hidden cargo space among airfreight providers.

After originally working with TuSimple, Loadsmith picks Kodiak Robotics for autonomous driving systems.

Vizion’s solution allows users to receive tracking updates for all containers across both ocean and rail without a letter of authorization.

Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Justin Bailie told FreightWaves that Rose Rocket has seen 47x growth since its last raise in 2021 by focusing on product-led expansion.

Battery chemistry will play a critical role in advancing electric trucking beyond regional and drayage hauling.

Autonomous trucking software developer TuSimple completed a driverless truck pilot on a U.S. highway in 2021. Now it has done it in China.

Hyzon Motors is not out of the woods yet, but it is current on required financial filings and has streamlined its fuel cell business.

Lightning eMotors identifies electrifying small school buses and shuttle vans as its niche. Scaling depends on finding new capital.

The outcome of Nikola’s bid to double the number of authorized shares in the company could determine its ability to survive.

Jim Waters, Frayt’s vice president of marketing, said the company’s survey highlighted the growing need for last-mile services; 37% of respondents said 50% of their logistics operations fell into the last-mile category.

Class 5 electric trucks have a broad customer base and a lot of manufacturers chasing the space where regulation comes soon.

Embark Technology, an early leader in autonomous trucking software development, becomes part of Applied Intuition in a $71 million deal.

Nikola has a minimum of 180 days to get its share price above $1 or it could be delisted from the Nasdaq.

Freightos, an online reservation portal for freight shippers, is adding users, but heavy development costs and a weak shipping market make it difficult for the startup to reduce losses.

Lordstown Motors dodged delisting from the Nasdaq by a reverse stock split, but its future remains murky.

“We want [global shipping] to be self-explanatory, easy to navigate and easy for you to find the answer you are looking for,” says Maja Bernstein, vice president of industry relations at Fluent Cargo.

Transportation startups that went for easy SPAC money never thought times would turn so ugly – certainly not so fast.

Autonomous trucking software developer TuSimple will disappear from the Nasdaq on Monday as it is delisted for financial filings failure.

Nikola will get $35 million in cash and 20.6 million of its shares from ending a joint venture with Europe’s Iveco Group, but ties remain.

“Once shippers get up and running on GoodShip, they invite their carriers onto the platform. This creates a multiplayer experience where each party has access to modern analytics, creating a single source of truth,” says CEO Ryan Soskin.

Electric truck maker Nikola will get 50 Hyla-branded hydrogen fueling stations in a five-year deal with infrastructure developer Voltera.

Kodiak Robotics bought a Peterbilt Model 579EV to marry its autonomous system with electric propulsion. It is using the truck in testing.

Tracking trailer inventory was always part of Outrider’s autonomous distribution yard plan. Now, it is happening.

“We could make carriers’ lives easier by giving them a single tool that they can use to make sure that they are not missing any hiring steps,” said LogRock co-founder and CEO Hunter Yaw.

Nikola Corp.’s hopes for a zero-emissions trucking future may be realized without the startup being part of it.

Financially struggling Nikola Corp. wants shareholders to double the company’s authorized shares so it can pay its loans in stock.

Using the company’s platform, Repowr Connect, shippers, fleets and 3PLs can share their available assets with other network members, helping parties find on-demand capacity.

“We are looking to empower these independent contractors and truly treat them as owners of their businesses,” Luke Denny, co-founder and CEO, told FreightWaves.

Proterra Inc. and Ouster Inc. are just two of many technology startups and growth-stage companies struggling financially.

Kodiak Robotics was shooting for easier maintenance of its autonomous trucks but it made them appear more normal in the process.

Nikola Corp. wants to raise $100 million through a public stock offering. Dilution-fearing investors drove shares to an all-time low.

Settling multiple distractions surrounding TuSimple was Cheng Lu’s priority when he returned as CEO in November.

It’s been three months since TuSimple fired a quarter of its workforce. Three of those who survived the cuts talked with FreightWaves.

Even with multiple investigations to close, TuSimple has three years worth of money to run its autonomous trucking business.

“[Navix] understands their customers’ problems, the value proposition and how to apply the technology to solve them,” said Rob Estes, chairman and CEO of Estes Express Lines.

Gatik will move grocery loads autonomously from Kroger’s Dallas distribution center to its area grocery stores, starting with safety drivers.

The Lordstown Motors Endurance electric pickup was delayed, subject to cost overruns and now faces a safety recall.

Nikola allegedly tried to sign rival Lion Electric customers after canceling a battery supply contract with Romeo Power.

“Our goal is to get empty containers out of the hands of those who do not need them and into the hands of those who do, and so far it’s working,” said Qualle founder and CEO Tyler Sellers.

Embark Trucks, the original autonomous trucking company, may put itself up for sale or liquidate after laying off 70% of its employees.

Volvo Group’s CampX has ushered 50 startups through its accelerator. Now it is adding an incubator for early stage startups.

Hyliion Holdings is teaming up with financially struggling Hyzon Motors to develop a hydrogen-powered fuel cell version of its hybrid truck.

Crstl looks to take on the digitization of transactions and data sharing between brands and major retailers like Walmart and Target.

Nikola Corp. maintains it can raise capital through equity sales, but its auditor says that’s uncertain, prompting a notice of going concern.

Will new leadership be enough to save the FreightTech company?

Nikola is still far from positive financial territory, but the integration of major components should help bring costs down.

What does it mean to have a former Daimler Truck executive in charge of Torc Robotics? Experience guides a big mission focus