Dive Brief:

• Digital freight network Convoy announced a partnership with KeepTruckin on an API to improve carrier and shipment visibility, according to a recent press release.
• Carriers in Convoy's network that currently use KeepTruckin's electronic logging devices (ELDs) will be able to opt into sharing location data with Convoy's platform, thereby improving its real-time shipment tracking capabilities and eliminating the need for driver check-in calls.
• The addition of ELD data gives shippers more accurate on-time pickup and delivery data about their freight, according to the release. It will act as a backup for Convoy's current tracking method, which involves drivers manually launching the company's mobile app when they pick up or drop off loads and relies on consistent cellphone service while in transit for up to date visibility. 

Dive Insight:

Shippers are looking to acquire deeper, and more reliable, visibility into their networks as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted freight volumes and caused transportation bottlenecks across the country. 

The integration of ELD data is the latest in a series of steps Convoy has taken since last fall to create increasingly automated experiences for shippers and carriers in its network.

Some lanes in the company's Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles markets have already had their brokerage, pricing and matching processes fully automated. And as of November, shippers in Convoy's network can receive carrier bids directly, opening up higher spot freight volumes and removing the need for Convoy to act as a traditional broker for the transactions.

The choice for carriers to share ELD data with Convoy's API is completely voluntary, according to the release, which did not specify how many total carriers it expects to participate. However, it noted that KeepTruckin currently has more than 500,000 nationwide users of its ELD technology.

"We envision many opportunities in the weeks and months ahead to help carriers leverage their data to grow their businesses with a platform they're already using to be compliant and with information that is already being generated," Jairam Ranganathan, SVP of product at KeepTruckin, said in a statement. "Now drivers can use that data for a competitive advantage — without any additional work besides opting in — to eliminate headaches, access more load opportunities, and make more money."

Likewise, shippers can benefit from incorporating higher quality carrier data into their own visibility and planning work, thereby improving their overall efficiency and inventory distribution.