ASBTDC client Truckish recently won a $100,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business Innovation Research grant to demonstrate feasibility of its patented “Relay” platform technology to long-haul trucking operations in order to benefit rural economic development.
This USDA SBIR Phase I award was supplemented by $50,000 in SBIR Matching Grant funds from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
The Truckish Project Team
Chief Executive Officer Aayush Thakur has 10 years of industry experience in the private and public transportation sectors.
Thakur has worked extensively with truck Global Positioning System data and statistical analysis and has published two journal papers on algorithms processing big data and their applications. He holds the Relay patent and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering in Transportation. As principal investigator for this project, Thakur will lead the prototype design process.
COO Deme Yuan brings 10 years’ of experience in operations, human resources, and project management. Aayush invited her to join him as a cofounder for her prowess in strategic planning and organizational minutia.
She is a team builder and is driven by the social impact potential of this technology. Yuan will support the prototype design process and participate in software user testing.
“Our commercialization strategy will be supported by additional research by Dawnbreaker, Inc. through USDA’s SBIR Technical and Business Assistance program. And our team is further guided by an advisory board of business and technology leaders,” said Yuan.
ASBTDC Assistance
The Bentonville-based company began working with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center innovation team in July 2020.
“The ASBTDC has been an invaluable resource in our successful SBIR proposal. With Rebecca Todd’s and Eileen Devereux’s guidance, we learned to navigate the complex processes of applying for critical funding resources. Their expertise in proposal planning and review and their insight into commonly made mistakes have benefited us not only for this application, but have built our capacity and skill for similar projects in the future,” Yuan shared.
Thakur added, “Rebecca has pointed us to other valuable resources such as the ASBTDC market research binders and the AEDC’s TTAG and SBIR Matching Grant Program. In preparation for receiving our SBIR award, Eileen connected us with an ASBTDC human resources specialist, so that our lean startup can build the necessary formal infrastructure to hire our first non-founder employees. We are incredibly grateful for the ASBTDC’s continued guidance as we grow our business in Arkansas.”
Market Need
Over 70% of freight in the United States moves by truck, but core inefficiencies in the way long-haul trucking operates threaten the industry’s sustainability and profitability. Thakur explained, “There is inefficient use of expensive assets, significant environmental impact from idling trucks, and increased waste of perishable items compounded by longer than necessary transportation time. However, the shortage of long-haul truck drivers represents the primary industry need.”
The trucking industry’s top concern is its significant shortage of long-haul drivers. This shortage is expected to grow from 60,800 in 2018 to 160,000 by 2028.
Yuan noted, “The truck driving profession has fallen out of favor due to the long hours, mandatory time away from home, and adverse health effects from a sedentary work environment often coupled with unhealthy food options. Workers from rural communities are overrepresented in the trucking industry, so they are disproportionately affected by the current negative impacts of the job. Unemployment rates within rural communities have continued to decline since the 2008 Great Recession compared to urban communities.”
During his eight years working as a freight consultant at Cambridge Systematics in Colorado, Center for Urban Transportation Research in Florida, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Thakur observed that the utilization of both human and machine resources in long-haul transportation was inefficient.
“Conventional point-to-point, or PtP, long-haul trucking coupled with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Hours-of-Service laws, allow drivers up to 11 hours at the wheel per day–implying 13 hours of daily truck idle time. Long-haul truck drivers are also required to provide automated hours-of-service records. I founded Truckish desiring to improve the work conditions of truckers and address inefficiencies in the PtP trucking model,” said Thakur.
Truckish’s “Relay” Solution
Truckish is developing a platform called “Relay” that enables drivers to sleep in their own beds on a daily basis while reducing shipment delivery and truck idling times.
As Thakur shared, “The proposed platform incorporates algorithms for changing long-haul trucking from the conventional point-to-point model to a relay model. This enables drivers to meet and switch trailers along interstates and return home daily while the trucks and cargo continue to move towards their respective destinations. In addition, Relay’s decoupling of tractors and drivers from trailers and cargo could cut delivery times in half, minimizing loss and saving on truck refrigeration costs.”
“The basic concept of relay in transportation is not in itself new, as we know from the Pony Express of the mid-19th century. However, the U.S. has not developed technology to facilitate scalable implementation of relay in trucking and limited research has been conducted that applies a relay model using real-world American roadway network and traffic information. We interviewed over 200 trucking companies to learn more about the industry’s specific needs,” Yuan said.
The Truckish Relay network will require drivers domiciled near Relay nodes.
“Secondary market employment, such as those surrounding mechanical repair and food services, would grow around these nodes, further expanding economic benefits for rural communities. Over 70% of adults in rural communities do not have a college degree meaning rural workforces need greater access to stable jobs that do not require a college diploma. Our model will allow for a core of such jobs and a livelihood that does not compromise quality of life,” noted Yuan.
Advice for New USDA SBIR Applicants
Yuan suggests, “Avail ASBTDC services for your application! Start as early as you can. Apply for TTAG funds from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to secure additional support. Talk with the USDA program manager of the topic area in which you plan to apply to get their perspective on the fit.”
What’s Next for Truckish?
“Truckish is always looking to meet more long-haul trucking carriers and shippers to expand our feedback loop. Following our Phase I project, we’ll be looking for companies interested in live piloting our Relay model. We are currently in the process of hiring a research assistant and a full-stack software developer,” said Yuan.