Kitchener, ON - May 8, 2024 - DriverDX was a national finalist for the $50K Communitech Fast Track Cities pitch showcase on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Fast Track Cities is linking municipalities and industry with founders to investigate solutions that influence Canadian urban areas and transportation networks. The Fast Track Cities team worked with partners to identify three challenges:
1. Last mile delivery in urban centres
2. A driver labour shortage and skills gap
3. The need for enhanced supply chain visibility
“We’re excited about bringing founders together to explore how to use the right technology to make things better, whether it’s tracking shipments, tackling worker shortages or smoothing out logistics,” said Carleigh Johnston, Fast Track Cities Program Manager at Communitech. “By connecting Canadian tech startups with industry partners we can work towards identifying sustainable solutions.”
DriverDX and five other startups were selected to pitch their solutions at the showcase event at the Communitech Hub in Kitchener. The winners included Gomove ($10,000), Bluicity ($15,000), and Mely.ai ($25,000 + Viewer's Choice Award).
One of the biggest challenges highlighted during the showcase is the driver shortage and skills gap across North America, which contributes to delivery delays and poses challenges for companies striving to meet demand, resulting in increased costs.
“The problem in North America is that we’re experiencing the worst driver shortage in history thanks to the pandemic and baby boomers retiring,” said Angie Ricci, Founder and CEO of DriverDX. “We see this as an opportunity to rebuild an outdated system that no longer serves this on-demand world.”
Drivers play a critical role in any carrier’s operation, but it’s estimated the truck driver shortage will double in the U.S. by 2030. Ricci also pointed out what she believes is an elephant in the room: autonomous vehicles.
“We might be thinking they’ll solve this problem, but not today,” she said.
DriverDX is trying to bridge the gap between the current state of the industry and the impending future. Their platform offers drivers a spectrum of benefits, including flexible work hours and commutes, equitable wages, avenues for professional development and the capability to find work regardless of their location or destination.
“We’re building this for the next generation,” said Ricci. “We need to put our people first. That’s the ROI. That’s the investment. That’s sustainability.”
The showcase event was sponsored by supply chain logistics solution provider Purolator.
“We’re on the forefront of seeing logistics transform our cities and communities, especially post-COVID,” said Dariusz Grabka, head of the Digital Lab, an R&D technology department at Purolator.
Grabka shared details of Purolator’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its ambition to become the greenest courier in Canada. This includes plans for zero-emission deliveries, supported shared goals with municipal and provincial governments, reduced noise and congestion, convenient retail options for residents and students, easier access to busy downtown areas and fewer parking tickets.
“At Purolator, we’re always trying to find new and exciting models and secure the services of companies to help us with our core business,” said Grabka. “It’s insightful to hear what these companies think is interesting and valuable in logistics and parcel delivery. These are spaces that maybe haven’t seen as much love, but definitely post-COVID you saw a boom and interest in the space.”
After the presentations, attendees and representatives from the six selected companies were invited to network and find potential partnership opportunities. The selected companies will also receive coaching from Communitech’s experienced growth coaches and professionals in urban-transportation industries across the country and get introduced to potential customers.
