The lifeline of the American economy, the freight industry, has been caught in a downward spiral. This sector, which employed 8.4 million people as of 2022 and accounted for a significant portion of overland freight movement, is facing unprecedented challenges. According to the latest U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, fourth-quarter truck freight shipments decreased by 7.1%, making it the largest drop since Q3 2020.

Additionally, the nationwide shortage of qualified drivers and the prevalence of some unethical practices among certain companies have resulted in increased costs, shipping delays, and reduced customer satisfaction levels.

Lucas Grizz, the founder of the freight brokerage firm Raven Cargo, recognized these challenges early on. In fact, when he founded his firm back in 2020, he did so with a clear mission: to provide efficient, transparent, and ethical services to an industry that desperately needed them.

“Given the current state of things, I have to say that the recent decline has been no surprise. Our industry has been plagued with unique issues that go beyond driver shortage and inflation,” Grizz highlights. “The most pressing problem that must be addressed is the unethical practices I’ve observed over the years.”

Two of these issues, which are most evident in dedicated freight, are shipment consolidation and double brokerage. The former involves multiple shipments being loaded onto a single truck, while the latter refers to a practice where brokers subcontract to another fellow broker, which creates a troublesome chain of intermediaries.

This system, which is supposed to offer reliable freight for small and mid-sized fleets, can be manipulated to the detriment of carriers.

“The main problem here is that it questions our industry’s commitment to transparency, on top of leading to increased costs, delays, and mistrust among customers,” Grizz says.

Seeking a solution to this problem, Grizz and his Raven Cargo team designed a cutting-edge optimization tool—RavenEye. This integration layer caters to the logistics sector specifically, linking disparate data systems in order to close software gaps. This, in turn, enhances operational efficiency and maintains data accuracy.

Built upon a sophisticated software infrastructure, RavenEye ensures a cohesive information flow across platforms, eliminating redundancy and inconsistency and, most importantly, boosting visibility and document exchange.

“Our goal with this tool has been to eliminate the need for manual searching, reduce the possibility of human error, and, in doing so, enhance transparency and overall productivity,” Grizz elaborates.

Since its creation, RavenEye has been an invaluable ally to countless businesses that aim to streamline their logistics operations and achieve a unified and open view of their data processes.

As Grizz explains, many companies have started outsourcing their operations to places like Colombia to streamline their processes. However, this entails multiple personnel handling documents such as invoices and carrier information, putting data safety at risk.

But with RavenEye, people don’t have to worry about technicalities. They can focus on their ventures while feeling confident that the tool will keep their processes transparent.

That said, Grizz emphasizes that a company’s success hinges not only on its ability to provide an efficient and transparent service but also on its dedication to its employees. In an industry that has long fought with high turnover rates, Grizz made it a mission to bring about meaningful change by fostering a positive and collaborative work environment at Raven Cargo.

“It’s always been important for me that my team members feel valued and supported. I think this formula is essential for business growth and overall success, not just mine or my company’s, but also for the success of each of my employees,” Grizz says.

As a result of this mindset, Raven Cargo has maintained a practically non-existent turnover rate since its inception.

Looking ahead, Grizz and his team hope to be a beacon of change and inspire others in the industry to do the same, proving that it is indeed possible to succeed while doing the right thing.

As he says, “Change is not an option, but a necessity. As industry experts, we have a responsibility to lead with ethics at the forefront.”