Uber Freight launches in the US

Ride-sharing giant Uber is taking on the massive American road freight sector

In a move that will have trucking operators and owner/drivers alike looking on with great interest, Uber has rolled out a version of its popular ride-sharing service for the American road transport industry.

Dubbed Uber Freight, the app-based service aims to unite truck drivers with customers who need to shift loads – in real time and all over the country.

Key to the offering is its simplicity. Drivers fire up the app on their smartphone to see the location of customers, a description of their load, where they want it delivered and – importantly – what the job is worth. Then it's a matter of picking up, driving and dropping the shipment at its destination, with Uber sending a notification soon after of when the payment has been made to the driver's account.

In fact, Uber says it endeavours to pay for each load within a few days of delivery – a start contrast from regular freight payment terms, which can stretch to 30, 60, 90 or even 120 days after delivery, and can potentially cripple a smaller trucking business.

Customers, on the other hand, can see on their smartphone how far the driver is from collecting the load, and how close the driver is to delivering. And all for, we presume, highly competitive rates.

"We fundamentally believe that by focusing on drivers' pain points we can solve the industry's biggest challenges," says Uber on its website.

"Happy drivers means happy shippers, and ultimately everyone benefits, including the end consumers of the goods."

Of course, Uber Freight benefits too, taking its cut of each job.

While Uber Freight is barely in its infancy, the system has the potential to reshape the modern trucking landscape, just as its ride-sharing service has upended the global taxi industry.

However, it's not without its drawbacks. The platform will rely on having large numbers of active drivers and customers to reduce pickup times, and drivers will eventually need to rely on being able to get a job to take them home. No-one wants to get stranded on the other side of the county with an empty truck.

Take a look below to see Uber Freight's promotional video, and for more information click here to visit the Uber Freight website.

After all, if Uber Freight gains a solid foothold in the massive US market, it's probably only a matter of time before we see it head Down Under…

Uber Freight launches in the US

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