How much do we love freight innovation?

Enough to go through every single article published in the top tech blogs – Techcrunch, Verge, Mashable and Recode – since 2007 to count how often articles about logistics startups, freight or cargo were published.

And we found that freight innovation is hot. Really hot.

It’s no coincidence that Transport Intelligence just emailed me an invitation to The Future of Logistics conference. The email subject? “Is disruption ahead for the future of logistics?”

So I spoke to everyone I knew in the field and looked through some other sources (Crunchbase, Jonathan Wichmann’s great list of logistics startups site, CB Insights and more) to come up with the ULTIMATE LIST of disruptive logistics startups.

We LOVE how they’re embracing technology to change logistics and improve the end-user’s life.

Logistics is the prime example of a changing industry – colossal, ripe for disruption and utterly opaque. And it’s about to get hit by a freight train of innovation.

Marketplace

Logo Company Description Twitter Bellhops Movers marketplace matching shipping requirement with freelance student drivers. @bellhopnation Buddytruk Marketplace matching movers with freelance truck drivers. L.A., Austin. @buddytruk Cargomatic App platform matching last mile requirements with nearby carriers who have spare space. @CargomaticHQ Dropship Supply chain platform matching drop-ship retailers, manufacturers, distributors and freight forwarders. @dropshipcom Fleet (was Shipstr) Freight Forwarder comparator for shippers, with upcoming online freight sales platform. @TryFleet Freightos Freight cloud-based marketplace matching shippers and freight forwarders. Provides forwarders and enterprise shippers with rate management, automated quoting, tender automation and business intelligence. @freightos Ghostruck Movers marketplace matching local couriers, including movers uploading item photos into an app. L.A. only. @ghostrucks Haven Freight marketplace where shippers bid for container slots. @havenmx Keychain Logistics Freight marketplace software matching shippers and trucking carriers, thereby eliminating freight forwarders. @keychain Roost Crowdsourcing marketplace matching storage requirements with consumers who have spare storage or a spare parking space. @Roost Schlep Marketplace matching movers with freelance truck drivers. Chicago only. @schlepit ShareMyStorage Crowdsourcing platform matching storage requirements with consumers who have extra space. U.K. only. @ShareMyStorage Shipster Marketplace matching small load delivery requirements with freelance, local couriers and long-distance forwarders. Now Closed. @Shipster Transfix Freight marketplace matching truckers with shippers. @transfixio Transporteca Freight marketplace matching LCL shippers and ocean freight forwarders on limited routes (Cloud). @Transporteca uShip Freight marketplace where carriers, primarily U.S Truckers, bid on B2B and consumer shipments, often filling space in trucks. @uShip Youtruckme Social network for truckers, that has a minor marketplace freight function. @youtruckme

Fleet Management

Logo Company Description Twitter KeepTruckin Log-book and tracking system for trucking companies, with app for drivers. @KeepTruckinInc Local Motion Improved vehicle sharing efficiency and monitoring based on an in-car device. @getlocalmotion MuniRent Platform enabling public agencies more efficiently share heavy duty equipment, including with other agencies. @munirent TruckTrack Logistics platform for trucking companies, including HR and Finance modules. @trucktrackco

Logistics

Logo Company Description Twitter Boxbee Personal storer service – Pick up, storage and retrieval. @boxbee Holland Container Innovations Improved cargo capacity by innovative 40 foot container design (fold). @4foldcontainers MakeSpace Similar to a personal shopper, but this is a personal storer, including pick-up, storage and retrieval. @makespace Staxxon Improved cargo capacity by innovative container design (fold and nest). @Staxxon

Freight Forwarding

Logo Company Description Twitter Deposco Cloud-based full supply chain management, including freight forwarding. @deposco Flexport Online (cloud-based) freight forwarder for enterprise shippers. @flexportinc Freight Filter Online freight forwarder, with instant carrier quoting. U.K. only. @freightfilter iContainers Online freight forwarder, with instant carrier quoting. @iContainers Pivot Freight End to end supply chain solution, for the mid-market which includes a freight rate comparator. @PivotFreight Xeneta An information Service providing ocean freight rates and transit times, useful for benchmarking by shippers and freight forwarders. @Xeneta_AS Kontainers Online freight forwarder (U.K.-China) primarily for SME shippers. @KontainersUK

Package Delivery

Logo Company Description Twitter Barnacle Crowdsourcing platform that matches shipments with freelance drivers, using Facebook for verification. The company has closed. @GoBarnacle deliv App for on-demand service that utilises freelance passenger delivery drivers. Select U.S. cities. Recently acquired similar operation – We Deliver. @deliv DoorDash Takeout Order and Delivery Service optimising small restaurant deliveries for freelance couriers. @DoorDash Doorman Service based on delivering at a time that suits the receiver. @Doorman FriendShippr Crowdsourcing platform that matches shipments with Facebook friends who are traveling. @friendshippr Kanga Technology Both a delivery service software platform (utilising freelance drivers and courier companies) that can be white labeled, and an app service (Kanga Delivery) utilising freelance drivers. @getkanga Matternet Drone transportation for short deliveries, including last mile. @matternet Nimber Crowdsourcing platform that matches shipments with space in passenger vehicles heading in that direction. North Europe only. @nimber PiggyBee Crowdsourcing platform that matches shipments with travelers. @piggybeetw Postmates On-Demand app service utilising freelance drivers/riders. Select U.S. cities. @postmates Rickshaw Same-day service, with advanced route optimisation, utilising freelance couriers. API and app access. San Francisco only. @GoRickshaw Roadie Crowdsourcing platform, accessed by app, utilising spare space in passenger vehicles heading in that direction. @Roadie Shutl App for on-demand service for online retailers that utilises freelance passenger delivery drivers. @shutl TrunkBird Crowdsourcing platform that matches shipments with travelers, who then travel for free. Europe only. @TrunkBird UberCARGO Not so much parcel delivery, on-demand moving and small load delivery service that utilises freelance van drivers. Hong Kong only. #ubercargo @Uber UberRUSH App for on-demand service that utilises freelance passenger delivery drivers. San Francisco only. @uber zipments Same-day service, with advanced route optimisation, using freelance couriers and connects with E-Commerce, but also web and app. New York only. @zipments

Security

Logo Company Description Twitter Parcel Pending Secure package pick-up at on-site (apartment complexes, business parks, student dorms, etc) electronic lockers. @ParcelPending Bufferbox Secure package pick-up at company-site electronic lockers. Google acquired in 2012 and recently shut business down. @BufferBox Lockitron A deadlock remote controlled by a smart-phone, as an alternative to both key exchange for short-term home-rent (e.g. airbnb), and to warehouse storage for absent small business owners. @lockitron Swapbox Secure package pick-up at company-site electronic lockers. San Francisco only. @swapbox Weft Software that provides end to end tracking of containers. @weftio Windward Information and predictive analytics on vessel activity. @WindwardOceans

Specialized Shipping