Thursday, February 11, 1999
Firm uses Net to match cargo
Broker has 100 going online
BY AMY HIGGINS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's not exactly the Love Connection, but come Monday, an Anderson Township entrepreneur will be matchmaking.
Mike McDevitt and his partner in Houston will launch Trans-Net Worldwide Inc., an Internet-based national freight brokerage.
Mr. McDevitt and Vic Bosnich, a former Cincinnati resident, formed the company to match shippers with truckers. They will be able to hook into Trans-Net through their Internet service providers, post freight needs and equipment availability, and Trans-Net's computer matches the two, Mr. McDevitt said.
Mr. McDevitt said he and Mr. Bosnich have about 40 years of trucking industry experience between them. Mr. McDevitt used to own AFD Systems, a courier and trucking brokerage, before selling to a Cleveland company.
Traditionally, brokers do the legwork, calling individual companies to match their needs. Another computer company uses dial-in software and charges a monthly membership fee. Mr. McDevitt said the advantages to his service are that it's meant to be one- stop shopping, and that it's free to post information.
“It'll save the shippers and truckers a lot of time,” Mr. McDevitt said. “With our system, it's just a click of the mouse, and the trucks are ready to go.”
Janet Kumer, spokeswoman for the Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carriers, said freight brokers are common, but brokering over the Internet may be highly unusual. She said it's impossible to tell, however, because most brokers don't need to be licensed.
Trans-Net is licensed as a motor carrier because it handles the payments. Trans-Net bills the shippers, takes an average 10 percent cut, and passes the money along to the carriers.
At some point, Trans-Net may expand into air freight, container service and small-package delivery, Mr. McDevitt said. He also hopes to sell advertising for the site to companies selling trucking-related products.
Mr. McDevitt said about 100 companies — 80 shippers and 20 truckers — already are signed up and ready to go online Monday. He hopes to have thousands of companies enrolled and $8 million in revenues within the next year.
“The sky's the limit,” he said.
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