Major Logistics Firms Collaborate on Freight Dispatch Standards

Uber Freight, Convoy, and J.B. Hunt have jointly launched the Scheduling Standards Consortium to break down information silos in freight dispatch and boost efficiency by establishing unified API standards. This initiative aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the logistics industry. The first set of standards is expected to be released in the first quarter of next year and will eventually expand to other modes of transportation, achieving end-to-end standardization across the entire supply chain.

Three major players in the logistics industry - Uber Freight, Convoy, and J.B. Hunt - have joined forces to establish the Scheduling Standards Consortium (SSC), an initiative aimed at transforming traditional freight scheduling through standardized technology solutions.

Addressing Industry Pain Points

The consortium identifies several critical challenges plaguing current freight scheduling operations:

Data fragmentation: Incompatible systems across different freight companies create information silos that hinder efficient data sharing.
Manual processes: Heavy reliance on phone calls and emails for order confirmation, vehicle assignment, and shipment tracking leads to inefficiencies.
Human error: Manual data entry frequently results in incorrect order information, suboptimal vehicle allocation, and delayed shipment tracking.
Lack of transparency: Limited visibility into real-time shipment status makes it difficult to respond promptly to exceptions.
High operational costs: Information asymmetry and inefficient processes drive up expenses while shrinking profit margins.

Industry Collaboration for Standardization

The founding members emphasize that this collaboration emerged naturally from shared challenges. J.B. Hunt's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Spencer Frazier, noted:

"Our collaboration actually came about organically from the problems we were all trying to solve. The appointment scheduling process remains highly manual, and customers have been asking for improvements. Data and technology have enabled great progress in optimizing supply chains, but we're all working on this independently. To benefit all supply chain participants, we three companies recognized that industry standards must be established."

Uber Freight's Co-founder and Head of Operations, Bill Driegert, highlighted that the new standards will enable shippers and carriers to connect their systems more seamlessly, facilitating efficient data sharing and improved supply chain productivity.

Core Benefits of SSC

The consortium outlines several key advantages of the proposed standardization:

Unified API Standards

The SSC will develop common API specifications to enable interoperability between disparate systems, effectively breaking down information barriers in the freight ecosystem.

Automated Scheduling

Standardized interfaces will reduce manual intervention, enabling automated vehicle assignment, route optimization, and shipment tracking.

Real-Time Visibility

Participants will gain continuous access to shipment status updates, allowing for timely exception management and rapid response capabilities.

Data-Driven Optimization

The standardized framework will foster innovation in data analytics, enabling predictive demand forecasting, risk assessment, and operational optimization.

Implementation Roadmap

The SSC has established a phased implementation plan, beginning with full truckload shipments in the first quarter of next year. The consortium plans to gradually expand the standards to other transportation modes, aiming for comprehensive supply chain coverage.

Convoy CEO and Co-founder Dan Lewis commented on the technological context:

"Technology innovation and adoption in trucking is still in its early innings. The last decade saw constraints around data capacity, compute, and scale effectively removed through connectivity and cloud technology. We're now at a stage where we can focus on industry collaboration and coordinated scheduling to reduce delays, make it easier to combine loads, and reduce empty miles. Our customers expect us to drive efficiency. We recognize our position in the industry and the responsibility to optimize networks to better coordinate freight for all participants."

Industry Impact

The SSC represents a significant step toward standardization and digital transformation in logistics. By establishing common technical specifications, the initiative aims to:

Enhance operational efficiency through automated processes
Reduce costs by optimizing routes and minimizing empty miles
Improve competitiveness through data-driven decision making
Mitigate risks via real-time monitoring and predictive analytics
Elevate customer experience through reliable, transparent services

The consortium anticipates that widespread adoption of these standards will create a foundation for innovative services and accelerate the industry's digital evolution.