Japan’s worsening labor crunch and shortage of drivers is changing the way companies transport goods. Five firms in different industries plan to start a shared shipping system by next spring.
They will use a platform developed by Japanese startup Hacobu. The system collates details on when and where trucks are scheduled to depart, where they are headed and how much cargo space is available.
It can then help companies find efficient combinations of delivery routes.
Kirin Beverage, Nippon Paper, online retailer Askul, Sugi Pharmacy, and construction material maker YKK AP have signed up for the service.
They plan to have outbound trucks carry cargo for one company, then make the return trip with goods for another. Trucks can also carry goods from multiple firms at the same time.
Hacobu says that as more firms use the system, there will be more options to combine shipping and that will improve overall efficiency.
The worsening shortage of drivers is one reason for the business opportunity, but the service also aims to make better use of trucks as an estimated 60 percent of cargo space is currently not used.