Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Unilever Strikes Deal with Convoy to Move Freight

Uber-for-trucking startup Convoy has struck a multi-year deal with consumer goods giant Unilever to move the company's goods through its online freight-matching service.

by Staff
November 2, 2016
Unilever Strikes Deal with Convoy to Move Freight

Unilever and Convoy sign the transportation partnership agreement. Seated, from left: Kees Kruythoff, President of Unilever North America, Dan Lewis, CEO of Convoy; Standing, from left: Seref Alptekin, Camille Chammas, Reginaldo Ecclissato, Senator Bill Bradley, Wendy Herrick, Grant Ries, Jonathan Atwood, Tinsley Corbett, Matthew Algar, Ramesh Daga Photo: Business Wire

2 min to read


Unilever and Convoy sign the transportation partnership agreement. Seated, from left: Kees Kruythoff, President of Unilever North America, Dan Lewis, CEO of Convoy; Standing, from left: Seref Alptekin, Camille Chammas, Reginaldo Ecclissato, Senator Bill Bradley, Wendy Herrick, Grant Ries, Jonathan Atwood, Tinsley Corbett, Matthew Algar, Ramesh Daga Photo: Business Wire

Unilever North America has agreed to a multi-year deal with the freight-matching “Uber for trucking” startup Convoy to help facilitate the company’s shipments through its online service.

Through its online system, Convoy will match trucks with available capacity in local markets with Unilever’s freight moving needs. The system is designed to connect carriers and shippers in a fast and efficient way to improve on-time rates, reduce empty miles, lower operating costs, and provide transparency through GPS tracking.

Ad Loading...

Unilever is a consumer goods company representing more than 400 brands, including Dove, Lipton, Hellmanns, and Breyers.

“Unilever is one of the largest companies in the world, yet they’re incredibly agile and forward-thinking— especially in their approach to supply chain innovation,” said Dan Lewis, Convoy co-founder and CEO. “Their vision to reduce manual processes and make trucking more efficient aligns directly with ours.”

Convoy works through a network of trusted carriers that are pre-screened and certified before joining. The system will automatically offer shipments to the best available carriers for location, timing, and price.

Ad Loading...

Fleets and owner-operators use the Convoy app to find new jobs and the payout amount and, after completion, Convoy will process the payment within 24 hours.

Convoy launched in 2015 after receiving funding through an investment group that included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, and other high-profile investors. Since launch, the company has raised $18.5 million in venture capital funding.

“We are very impressed with Convoy’s approach to technology-enabled trucking services. Equally as important, we share a focus on driver health and well-being,” said Reginaldo Ecclissato, senior vice president, Unilever Supply Chain Americas. “Convoy has put the driver experience at the forefront of their proposition and delivered a progressive app to address many of the long-standing issues facing the driver community.”

In the growing world of “Uber for trucking” online freight matching services, the actual Uber has also recently joined the mix with Uber Freight. While the service has not yet launched and details are scant, the company has indicated that it will connect drivers with loads as a freight brokerage service.

A website for Uber Freight is currently live with an option for carriers and shippers to make contact with the service. The company is reportedly already working with a few carriers and shippers in a soft launch until it officially launches in 2017.

More Fleet Management

Geotab screen on AI concept background
Fleet ManagementJune 17, 2026

What Geotab's New AI Connector Means for Fleets

Fleets can now ask their usual AI assistants questions about maintenance, safety, fuel use, and vehicle performance, using their live Geotab data, and take action on the answers without leaving their preferred AI tool.

Read More →
Image of computer screen with BidBoardX interface

New C.H. Robinson Tool Opens Door to More Predictable Freight

BidBoardX lets carriers search, bid on, and secure committed freight opportunities through a single digital marketplace.

Read More →
Amazon electric cargo bike on New York City street
Fleet ManagementJune 15, 2026

New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results

Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeJune 12, 2026

Time is Running Out to Apply for Exclusive HDT Event

Heavy Duty Trucking Exchange brings fleet managers and suppliers together for the deeper conversations that lead to ideas, partnerships, and solutions. Time is running out to apply for the September event.

Read More →
Empty trailer with worker loading a pallet of cargo
Fleet ManagementJune 10, 2026

Amazon Launches Less-Than-Truckload Freight Offering for All Businesses   

This launch is the latest addition to Amazon Supply Chain Services, a portfolio of supply chain capabilities from Amazon, including freight, distribution, fulfillment, and parcel shipping.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Stacks of intermodal containers at port with truck driving between them

Import Cargo Volume to See Year-Over-Year Gain Again in June, Then Remain Below 2025 Levels Into Fall

After July, the report predicts a weakening in import volume as consumer uncertainty remains high and the impact of increasing inflation takes its toll.

Read More →
Equity Interest Auction
SponsoredJune 8, 2026

AUCTION OF EQUITY INTEREST IN HEAVY HAUL TRUCKING COMPANY!!

Mark your calendar: June 30, 2026 (10:00 a.m. PDT). A 37.5% ownership interest in MagnaTrans, LLC, a California limited liability company doing business as Magna Transportation Group, will be sold in an in-person and online auction to the highest bidder or bidders under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Rancho Cucamonga-based heavy haul and over-dimensional trucking company operates across California, Oregon, and Arizona.

Read More →
Volvo OTA updates.

Volvo Trucks Adds Unattended Over-the-Air Software Update Capabilities

The latest evolution of Volvo’s over-the-air update technology allows software updates to run while trucks are parked, helping fleets keep vehicles current without disrupting operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Podcast thumbnail illustration
Fleet ManagementJune 4, 2026

How Waste Connections is Using Data, Telematics, and AI

How do you manage and maintain more than 18,000 connected trucks? Data. Lots of it.

Read More →