On Monday, Uber Freight announced it was piloting a new scheduling application designed to enhance scheduling capabilities and provide seamless communication across its network of shippers and carriers.
The application programming interface (API) is the first activation of the company’s scheduling standards consortium’s technical standard for the industry. Designed for Uber freight’s transportation management systems, the API offers more efficiency and cost savings, the company said. The active pilot is set to be released for general availability in the second half of this year, officials said.
“Uber Freight’s scheduling API marks a significant leap forward in streamlining operations for all stakeholders in the freight ecosystem,” Lior Ron, founder and CEO of Uber Freight, said. “By seamlessly integrating with Uber Freight TMS, this innovation is just the beginning of transformative changes. Our customers and carriers stand to gain immediate advantages, experiencing faster appointment scheduling, increased visibility, and stronger partnerships. This development not only delivers tangible benefits but also reflects our commitment to drive positive change in the broader industry.”
Uber Freight said test of the new API within its own brokerage business showed that preparing loads within the digital marketplace using the new technology was as much as 75 percent faster than through human manual scheduling. Monday’s announcement means that Uber Freight will enable automated scheduling within the Uber Freight TMS, which facilitated some 6 million appointments across more than 1,500 facilities in 2023
Successful implementation of the API at a later date will mean faster appointment scheduling increased visibility and control, and enhanced carrier relationships for shippers, the company said. For carriers, it will mean simplified integrations, improved appointment accuracy and increased operational efficiency.
“Innovation and collaboration must go hand-in-hand to drive immediate and lasting impact and the partnerships and pilots that are emerging from the SSC are testament to that,” Raj Subbiah, head of product at Uber Freight, said. “Together, we are helping carriers and shippers gain the speed, efficiency and savings they need to get and stay ahead with technology at the core.”