Implementation of Relay Trucking Software and Infrastructure to Benefit Rural Workforce

Connect Dynamics Inc. DBA FR8relay | Project Summary Funding Opportunity Number: USDA-NIFA-SBIR-008801 Project Summary Title: Phase II - Implementation of Relay Trucking Software and Infrastructure to Benefit Rural Workforce; PI: Aayush Thakur; Contact Information: aayush@fr8relay.com 608.609.2161 Problem & Solution: FR8relay aims to develop software technology and services to pool shipments and match tractors and drivers with trailers and cargo in a relay model that ensures equipment and cargo keep moving while returning drivers home daily. The conventional point-to-point trucking model coupled with federal Hours of Service regulations causes equipment and cargo to spend as much as half the shipping time idling roadside-costing carriers $4+ billion a year in fuel and equipment maintenance. The same constraints limiting freight capacity cause truck drivers to spend a significant amount of unpaid time on the road creating a mentally and physically exhausting profession with limited monetary reward. As a result the industry has a gap in human capacity that collectively costs $8+ billion annually and compromises the sustainability of the entire industry. Our combination of a software product and service will allow for the implementation of a relay model in long-haul freight trucking to significantly decrease the expensive inefficiencies in equipment and human capacity that threaten the industry's sustainability. The resulting software product will provide relay-as-a-service that will disrupt the conventional method of long-haul trucking by eliminating unnecessary downtime built into supply chains. This model could potentially double asset utilization cut delivery times in half and decrease the high cost of truck driver turnover. Furthermore implementing such a model with relay exchange nodes located in economically distressed rural communities along major trucking corridors could provide significant local economic opportunities while improving working conditions for the long-haul trucking workforce. Phase I activities proved the feasibility of the relay model through creation of the software backend prototype and algorithm along with computer simulations of the Relay model with network disruptions. We also undertook significant outreach to rural communities as a foundation for our Phase II efforts. Technical Objectives of Phase II: This project includes three primary objectives. The first is the technical development objective where we complete our relay software product beta. This includes iterative development of mobile and web application user interfaces completion of backend coding and application programming interfaces (APIs) for fluid connectivity. This project requires the coordination of numerous partners including a freight broker trucking companies and truck drivers domiciled in the five "relay exchange node" communities as well as local governments and businesses from each community. Therefore the second and concurrent objective is partner engagement to establish the working relationshipsand physical land and equipment requirements necessary to implement and evaluate the relay pilot. Validation the final objective begins with revalidation of simulation results with updated data sets and leads into a two-week relay pilot on the Dallas-Chicago trucking lane (with Chouteau OK Rolla MO and Pontiac IL being the intermediary nodes). It entails a rigorous monitoring and evaluation protocol data analysis and report back of results to participants and stakeholders. Expected Outcomes: Through further software development and pilot testing this Phase II project will evaluate our technology's implementation in the real-world long-haul freight trucking industry for the purpose of maximizing asset utilization minimizing shipping times improving truck driver working conditions reducing carbon emissions and creating rural economic development opportunities.