Industry Analysts Question “Uberization” of Ocean Freight Forwarding

Mainstream business reports about “Uberization” in the freight forwarding sector are inaccurate, says Flexport’s founding CEO, Ryan Petersen.

As reported in SCMR, Flexport, a new forwarder that provides its clients with a modern online platform and real-time freight visibility, has entered the fray. Flexport has raised $28.6 million from investors including Google Ventures, aiming to leverage its own developed software to enable its employees to deliver the most efficient freight service.

“We are not the ‘Uber of the oceans,’” he said. “In fact we have explicitly distanced ourself from any analogy with Uber.”

“Our web-based dashboard lets a U.S. importer comparison shop by typing in variables—Port A on this day or Port B on this one, railcar versus tractor-trailer—and displays price quotes from transport companies,”

Jon Monroe, Chief Information Officer at De Well Group - the largest Chinese-owned Freight Forwarder & NVOCC - questions just how innovative new upstart forwarders are, however.

“These new players must have physical offices just like all the old models,” he says. “They are not ‘virtual’ at all…although they should be. All we are really seeing are the same tired models introduced back in the last century. Those of us remember ‘Go Cargo,’ will know what I mean.”

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