A software development company focused on delivering solutions for owner-operators recently secured a $115 million injection of cash. The California-based CloudTrucks business management technology outfit reportedly plans to leverage the investment to hire staff and connect with entrepreneurial-minded truckers.
“We cater to owner-operators and truck drivers who have one or more trucks and are managing their business while also doing the job of moving goods from point A to point B,” CloudTrucks CEO Tobenna Arodiogbu reportedly said. “The job of being a trucking entrepreneur is getting harder and harder. Lots of tools are being built for brokers and shippers, but not nearly enough is being done for the truck driver who’s actually doing the really hard work.”
One of the interesting perspectives the company’s leadership expresses is that the truck driver shortage may not be as problematic as many believe. Although media outlets and government officials have widely adopted the idea the industry needs to add 81,000 truck drivers, the software developers see nuances that can be explored.
“There is all this data about a truck driver shortage, but if you talk to the drivers, they’re complaining about all these things that don’t have anything to do with driving,” Arodiogbu reportedly said. “If we could build a solution for them to help them manage their business, then the job would actually be a lot more desirable.”
The tech outfit CEO reportedly sees truck driver migration away from owner-operator involvement to other positions as a curable problem. He indicates that CDL professionals refrain from following their desire to become owner-operators and earn increased profits due to impediments outside freight hauling activities. The idea of taking on the bureaucratic headaches of forming a corporation, remaining compliant with government mandates, and tedious bookkeeping tasks, prompts truckers to take lower-paying positions with regional fleet operations or last-mile delivery outfits.
“Our mission has always been to alleviate industry pain points that drivers experience on a daily basis, and we are now able to embrace a variety of drivers,” Arodiogbu reportedly said. “Our complete business-in-a-box solution continues to evolve in order to keep our growing network of professionals safe, headache-free, and profitable.”
While efforts to onboard younger drivers and attract more women to the industry resonate, the dysfunctional elements of the freight transportation industry are likely to generate more routine year-over-year attrition. Upwards of 35 percent of truck drivers quit during their first 90 days because of dissatisfaction. Those who stay the course experience burnout and stress due to long, seemingly inflexible hours away from friends and family.
What CloudTrucks hopes to provide is an alternative to opting out of an otherwise lucrative career. The online dashboard is designed to help truckers turn a good-paying job into a highly profited small business where they make the decisions. The recent influx of cash indicates investors have confidence the software package can deliver.
Sources: techcrunch.com, forbes.com
Still out if touch. Anyone in the driver seat long enough knows the screw job of
‘never-never lease op’ or ‘owner operator’. I’m glad i was dialed in by senior drivers 25 years years ago on the con that it is.
There’s nothing wrong with driving a company truck. Started out 25 years ago and made $48000 my first year. 2020,that has tuned into $76000 driving locally
pulling flat decks and float trailers.
Rookies leave the industry because they get freaked out by the size of the equipment and just how nerve racking and dangerous this job is. I’ve seen grown men become completely broken,unable to continue while considered a “trainer’ in team operations. Trainer my eye, The grotesque turnover of rookies losing their nerve was and is the biggest issue. Never forget a grown man stopped in the lane in Lake of the Woods,Mn. on 71-72 in tears behind the wheel when i looked out from the bunk wondering why we weren’t moving. He was done,right there. so much for the log book compliance.That team operation became solo when that rookie driver abandoned ship at Winnipeg when i was on dock unloading. He gathered up his stuff and left,1200 miles from home.
There is nothing wrong with being a company driver if that’s what you want and for general Freight it makes sense but I own my truck and trailer, am.eased on with a company, over 300k a year gross and net around 170k. So tell me why being an O/O is a scam?
What does any of this have to do with cloud trucks? Was hoping for some kind of review