Digital freight brokerage Loadsmart has partnered with autonomous truck startup Starsky Robotics to automatically dispatch an autonomous truck to haul freight across the USA.
The integration of Loadsmart’s AI-powered pricing and load matching technology with Starsky’s application programing interface (API) meant no human intervention was required. The freight was priced, tendered and booked via Loadsmart and then picked up and delivered the shipment using Starsky’s self-driving technology.
The historic initiative is part of a larger strategic partnership that paves the way for the future of trucking: autonomous brokerages dispatching freight to autonomous trucks without human involvement.
Stefan Seltz-Axmacher, CEO and founder of Starsky Robotics, said, “It’s not uncommon for a traditional trucking company to have five full-time employees involved in dispatching each truck for each load. By integrating e-brokers like Loadsmart, we are eliminating all back-office human intervention and making the shipment process seamless, while focusing on ensuring the safety of driverless trucks. With Starsky’s Hutch API, we will be able to autonomously dispatch autonomous loads on a regular basis.”
Ricardo Salgado, CEO, Loadsmart, added, “Autonomous vehicles play an integral role in our vision of delivering end-to-end automated shipping and logistics services. Starsky is one of the leading developers of autonomous trucking technology, and given our belief that autonomous trucks will provide great value, the team will help us be at the forefront of providing our clients with access to cutting-edge technology so they can advance their supply chain.”