I urge any technical or product manager to dig into this mess of an industry, it defies everything.
The way the markets are set up, the inherent localization, lack of standards.
In 2019 tons of 1-3 day short hauls are negotiated over the phone, trucker to shipper, and neither of them may have exact understanding of market rates, especially given variables like the ability for the trucker to return with a partial load.
And of course the unbelievable lack of tech.
It is truly mystifying.
That said, it may very well be that Amazon can conquer it, possibly by imposing regular standards for all sorts of things and efficient clearing market, a common tech platform etc. etc. etc..
But I'm far more confident that Amazon will conquer 1 day delivery than actually fix trucking.
All of this may be moot by the time autonomous truckers arrive, and I suggest they might hit before cabs as it's possible 'just driving 2000km on a highway no-stop' might be easier than navigating Manhattan. Autonomous trucking may come with a whole new set of systems and procedures which will probably be more advanced.
When I did some research with a friend into this industry, we visited some brokers and dealers I swear I was in a Vince Vaughan comedy.
I urge any technical or product manager to dig into this mess of an industry, it defies everything.
The way the markets are set up, the inherent localization, lack of standards.
In 2019 tons of 1-3 day short hauls are negotiated over the phone, trucker to shipper, and neither of them may have exact understanding of market rates, especially given variables like the ability for the trucker to return with a partial load.
And of course the unbelievable lack of tech.
It is truly mystifying.
That said, it may very well be that Amazon can conquer it, possibly by imposing regular standards for all sorts of things and efficient clearing market, a common tech platform etc. etc. etc..
But I'm far more confident that Amazon will conquer 1 day delivery than actually fix trucking.
All of this may be moot by the time autonomous truckers arrive, and I suggest they might hit before cabs as it's possible 'just driving 2000km on a highway no-stop' might be easier than navigating Manhattan. Autonomous trucking may come with a whole new set of systems and procedures which will probably be more advanced.
When I did some research with a friend into this industry, we visited some brokers and dealers I swear I was in a Vince Vaughan comedy.