Deme Yuan of FR8relay
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Deme Yuan (co-founder and COO) of FR8relay, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of FR8relay – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
The idea for FR8relay was born out of a clear inefficiency in the long-haul trucking industry: drivers spend significant unpaid time on the road with unsustainable work schedules, while shippers and carriers deal with inconsistent trucking capacity, untenable truck driver turnover, and rising costs. My co-founder and CEO, Aayush Thakur, saw an opportunity to rethink the system from the ground up. By applying a scalable relay-based scheduling model, similar to how a relay race works, and technology, we could increase shipping time and asset utilization while dramatically improving truck driver working conditions.
The core problem we were solving was twofold: underutilized assets and human exhaustion. Long-haul driving takes a serious toll on drivers’ health and families, and it’s also extremely inefficient from a logistics standpoint. FR8relay uses a patented relay method and a dynamic scheduling platform to create a network of “handoffs” allowing freight to keep moving while returning truck drivers to their home base on a daily basis. This not only improves efficiency for carriers and brokers, but also creates a more sustainable and humane model for trucking.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
One of the biggest hurdles has been change management within a deeply established industry. Long-haul trucking has been operating in largely the same way for decades, so introducing a new operational model, even one that clearly improves efficiency, requires trust, education, and strategic alignment with stakeholders.
What does the future hold for FR8relay?
The future for FR8relay is incredibly promising. We envision a more efficient, profitable, equitable, and sustainable trucking ecosystem. Our next milestone involves completing our National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research and development project, which includes testing our relay scheduling engine integrated with our machine learning models in simulation and live pilot scenarios with actual trucks and cargo on a major trucking lane. The pilot will be a pivotal milestone, allowing us to validate the resiliency of our technology to day to day operational disruptions in the real-world of long-haul trucking.
Post-pilot phase, our focus will shift to commercialization, scale, integration, and impact. We’ll need to expand our relay network, deepen partnerships with carriers and brokers, and enhance our offering of optimization tools on the platform. Long-term, our goal is to encourage collaboration and become the connective infrastructure that powers a more sustainable and efficient freight network, not by replacing existing players, but by helping them do more with what they already have. We’re excited to play a key role in transforming how freight moves across the country.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Arkansas?
The local tech startup scene here is a collaborative environment deeply connected to the industries FR8relay aims to modernize, and it has been instrumental to FR8relay’s growth to date. The state’s central location, strong transportation infrastructure, and enthusiastic support for innovation create especially fertile ground for logistics startups. FR8relay has benefited from the guidance and support of organizations like Startup Junkie, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), Science Venture Studio (SVS), Startup NWA, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
(OEI) at the University of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). These entities have provided invaluable resources, services, connections, and bridging gaps to securing funding opportunities.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice would be threefold:
- Embrace the Problem, Not Just the Solution: Truly understand the pain points you’re trying to solve. For us, it wasn’t just about creating a new routing algorithm; it was about addressing the deep-seated inefficiencies and human costs in long-haul trucking. The deeper your understanding of the problem, the more robust and impactful your solution will be.
- Seek and Leverage Your Ecosystem: Don’t try to go it alone. Find and actively engage with your local entrepreneurial community, incubators, accelerators, and mentorship programs. The resources, connections, and guidance you gain from these networks are invaluable, especially in the early stages. They can help you with everything from refining your pitch to navigating complex funding landscapes. We wouldn’t be where we are without the incredible support from organizations like ASBTDC, Startup Junkie, and Science Venture Studio.
- Persistence and Adaptability are Key: The entrepreneurial journey is full of challenges and setbacks. You’ll face rejections, unexpected hurdles, and the need to constantly adapt. Be resilient, be willing to learn from your mistakes, and be flexible enough to pivot when necessary. Your “world-changing innovation” needs your unwavering commitment to be clearly communicated and ultimately realized.