DAT Freight & Analytics has agreed to acquire the Convoy Platform from Flexport, adding automation and digital freight-matching technology to its product portfolio.

The Convoy Platform allows freight brokers to automate virtually every aspect of the freight transaction and connect with trusted trucking companies, according to a news release.

DAT called it “an ideal complement to DAT One, DAT’s flagship subscription-based load board, where nearly 700,000 loads are posted daily.”

The deal will allow DAT to “give customers a better, broader freight-matching network, the ability to manage more loads and capture incrementally more business, and ultimately more choice,” said Jeff Clementz, DAT president and CEO, in a news release.

Another Fork in the Road for Convoy

Convoy, one of the early “Uber for Freight” tech brokerage startups, closed its doors on its digital freight network in late 2023. It was a casualty of the freight recession and capital investors pulling back on tech startups.

In late 2023, Flexport purchased the Convoy technology and resurrected it with the launch of the Convoy Platform as a freight-matching service for all brokers in April 2024, growing the platform with thousands of carriers.

“We invested in the Convoy Platform because we saw its potential,” said Ryan Petersen, Founder and CEO of Flexport, in a news release.

“In just 18 months, we improved the core technology platform, reengaged the market, and significantly increased its value. Importantly, we demonstrated a strong product-market fit by decoupling the platform from a brokerage.”

What the Convoy Platform Does for DAT

DAT said this acquisition will enhance DAT’s innovative team and technology by adding:

Deep experience: The Convoy Platform’s engineers, product experts, and operations professionals will continue to be led by Bill Driegert, who will join DAT’s executive leadership team.

Fraud prevention at scale: The Convoy Platform’s proprietary technology uses machine learning and AI models to verify carriers on the network and block malicious actors. With these advanced security features built in, brokers can reduce their risk of fraud and access a trusted network of carrier capacity, all while increasing their efficiency and growing their business.

Easy-to-use mobile experience: The Convoy Platform is recognized for high carrier satisfaction and usability. Today, nearly 30,000 carriers, primarily owner-operators and small trucking companies, use the app to find loads, manage paperwork, receive payments, and more.

Fast, reliable payments: Every carrier on the Convoy Platform is eligible to get paid via QuickPay. It’s easy to use and available on every load on the platform, providing another option for fast payouts to carriers.

DAT will ultimately integrate the Convoy Platform into its DAT One product. This will allow brokers to seamlessly access both automated and hands-on freight-matching options, and give carriers a faster, easier way to find quality loads from trusted brokers.

More About DAT and Flexport

DAT Freight & Analytics operates:

• DAT One, which it says is North America’s largest truckload freight marketplace.

• DAT iQ freight data analytics service.

• Trucker Tools load visibility (which DAT bought in 2024)

• Outgo, the freight financial services platform it acquired recently.

Shippers, transportation brokers, carriers, news organizations, and industry analysts rely on DAT for market trends and data insights, informed by nearly 700,000 daily load posts and a database exceeding $1 trillion in freight market transactions.

Flexport, founded in 2013, is a tech-driven platform for global logistics, connecting every step of the supply chain from factory floor to customer door.