DAT Freight & Analytics announced that it has agreed to acquire the Convoy Platform from Flexport, adding advanced automation and digital freight-matching tools to its core offerings.
The Convoy Platform enables freight brokers to automate most aspects of the freight transaction while connecting with vetted trucking companies. DAT said in a news release the deal is expected to expand the functionality of DAT One, the company’s flagship subscription-based load board, which hosts nearly 700,000 daily listings.
“The acquisition of the Convoy Platform demonstrates DAT’s ongoing commitment to enhancing network value for our customers,” said Jeff Clementz, president and CEO of DAT. “Together, we will give customers a better, broader freight-matching network, the ability to manage more loads and capture incrementally more business, and ultimately more choice.”
Flexport acquired the platform and its intellectual property in October 2023, launching it as a freight-matching service open to all brokers in April 2024. In the following months, Flexport said it added thousands of carriers to the platform.
“We invested in the Convoy Platform because we saw its potential,” said Ryan Petersen, founder and CEO of Flexport, in the 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. We look forward to a lasting relationship as a DAT customer.”
As part of the acquisition, the Convoy Platform team—including engineers, product experts, and operations professionals—will join DAT under the continued leadership of Bill Driegert — currently executive vice-president, head of trucking at Flexport — who will join DAT’s executive team. The platform’s machine learning tools for fraud detection and carrier verification will also be integrated into DAT’s broader systems, helping users reduce exposure to fraudulent activity and malicious actors.
The Convoy mobile app will also be maintained as DAT integrates its features. The company says that nearly 30,000 carriers, mainly small companies and owner-operators, use the platform for load booking, paperwork, payments, and more. Every carrier on the platform is also eligible for QuickPay options.
DAT says it plans to merge the Convoy Platform into its DAT One product, allowing brokers access to both automated and hands-on freight-matching options and give carriers a faster, easier way to find quality loads from trusted brokers.
