US "Cargo Version Uber" eyeing the $ 600 billion market

?????? IDG October 28, according to foreign media reports, startups Convoy from Seattle this week launched a "freight version Uber" service. based device, the amount of cargo capacity and transport distance, the service can shippers and local transport companies together.
???????Convoy will be pre-certified transport companies, and transport companies can accept or reject a particular transport work according to the price proposed by the owner. This avoids the common freight industry bargaining activities.
Many people are concerned about the trucking business. According to the American Trucking Associations, the size of the industry in 2011 over 600 billion US dollars. However, despite the Uber taxi market has begun to change, but the trucking market has not changed much.
???????Cargo infrastructure more massive, but also more complex. Convoy said that at present there are 1.2 million US shipping company, which owns the majority of the number of trucks of less than 6. Many of these companies only in the short-distance freight business. In addition, a considerable part of the freight business occurred in the "spot market." In such a market, the temporary freight price will be determined according to supply and demand.
???????Convoy hopes to become a platform for on-demand cargo services. The company's CEO Dan Lewis (Dan Lewis) said: "Change the freight market has a huge opportunity." He noted that many companies are positioned as a regional freight services, and the driver will usually go home in the evening. In some cases, the driver may be driving a full day, while other times, they are only one hour by car. But in any case, the driver in the evening to go home. According to the Federal Highway Department Traffic Bureau of Statistics data, less than 100 miles (about 161 km) accounts for nearly 40% of the total value of goods freight transportation distance.
???????Freight may sound not a fun industry, but Lewis has seen the existing problems. During college, he worked in his father and uncle's summer travel company working to help others to transport furniture, packaging and paper. Subsequently, he was also in charge of the operations of Wavii information application, and the company in 2008 by Google (microblogging) acquisition. He also led the team to develop new products in the Amazon. With contact the Silicon Valley, he attracted many well-known investors, including Jeff Bezos (Jeff Bezos), Uber co-founder Garrett Camp (Garrett Camp), and Marc Benioff (Mark Benioff ). Convoy co-founder, CTO Grant Goodale (Grant Goodale) worked in the Amazon, and he founded the game studio Massively Fun.
???????Convoy has ambitious goals. The company hopes to change courier services like Amazon gold market as freight market change. based on different types of goods, the company has designed a method to meet the needs of different industries. This application via the control panel to help the owner understand the transport position. Similar to the Uber, shippers and freight companies can evaluate each other. In the initial stage, Convoy plan aimed at construction, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and distribution markets. Before the official launch of the service, the company has built a network in the Seattle area, test their service. The company plans next year to enter other markets. Convoy current customers include commercial printing company Guided Products and geotextile dealer ACF West.
???????With respect to the sharing of passenger and travel services, change the speed of the freight industry slowly. A large part of the deal is still by telephone inquiry, some intermediary dial 200 calls a day. However, in recent years, there are a number of related services is on the rise, for example, Trucker Path. These services enable telephone is no longer necessary. Similar to the Uber, Convoy delivery status notification is sent via e-mail and SMS. Convoy application is free, but companies need to use the service for a fee. The price has not been announced, but the company spokesman said its commission rate lower than the current intermediary services. Currently, the US agency rates the industry is usually 20-45%.
Convoy will initially focus on SMEs, but Lewis says the future of the company will also develop large enterprise customers. In addition, all types of trucks can use this service, whether it is a small cargo truck or trailer trucks.