News
Paris, June 22, 2017 - Total Energy Ventures (TEV), the venture capital arm of Total that invests in start-ups, has acquired an interest in OnTruck, a platform that optimizes road freight shipping.
Medium-haul road freight shipping (less than 150 kilometers) is a significant and growing market. However, it is extremely fragmented, with a low level of digitalization and 30% of trucks traveling half-empty. Pooling shipments means more competitive freight rates can be offered to the market, improving energy efficiency along the transportation chain optimizing fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
Founded in Madrid in 2016, OnTruck is developing a marketplace that puts businesses in touch with freight carriers and also optimizes trucks’ fill rates by pooling shipments. Its founder and CEO, Inigo Juantegui, started out with a regional operation around Madrid, then Barcelona, before linking the two.
“OnTruck has developed a product that enables road freight bookings to be made virtually in real time, compared to several hours for similar companies. Its highly promising approach to pooling means empty truck space can be filled, thereby optimizing costs, fuel consumption and emissions,” commented Philippe Sauquet, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Total. “We are extremely happy to support the development of OnTruck. Another way for Total to go further in terms of energy efficiency and explore the potential of new forms of connected mobility.”
With the capital raised, the company aims to recruit staff, improve its freight pooling algorithms and expand its network in Europe.
* * * * *
Cautionary note
This press release, from which no legal consequences may be drawn, is for information purposes only. The entities in which TOTAL S.A. directly or indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. TOTAL S.A. has no liability for their acts or omissions. In this document, the terms “Total” and “Total Group” are sometimes used for convenience where general references are made to TOTAL S.A. and/or its subsidiaries. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” may also be used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.
This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TOTAL S.A. nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.