Independent truckers are finding mobile apps to find backhaul orders, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Independent owner-operators of trucks make up about half of all truckers in the U.S.—by rough estimates about 250,000 drivers—and generally still rely on a system that evolved from one built on handwritten notes tacked to truck-stop bulletin boards. Typically, an independent driver searching for shipments will call intermediaries known as freight brokers and dispatchers. In return for matching them with loads, brokers take a cut—ranging from 10% to 30%—of what shippers pay drivers.
A crop of tech startups believe they can change all that with mobile applications designed to make trucking more efficient. They compete for users by offering a steady stream of work and a smooth booking process that can be completed entirely within a smartphone app. They also aim to undercut freight brokers on fees, allowing drivers to take home more money.
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