Roadrunner is taking another step in its transformation from turnaround story to technology-driven carrier, announcing the full rollout of its new enterprise-wide pick-up and delivery (P&D) software. The system, which integrates advanced track-and-trace functionality, aims to virtually eliminate missed pickups and give shippers e-commerce-grade visibility into long-haul freight.
Once considered one of the least reliable carriers in the less-than-truckload (LTL) market, Roadrunner struggled with nearly 30% missed pickups early in the 2020s. Company leaders say that rate has now dropped below half a percent, thanks to investments in routing, automation, and network redesign. The new software, deployed across all of Roadrunner’s brick-and-mortar terminals, represents the next phase of that digital overhaul — extending the visibility that parcel, and ecommerce companies have long offered into the traditionally slower-moving LTL segment.
David Rumpf, Roadrunner’s vice president of technology, said the platform uses artificial intelligence to optimize driver routes using algorithms modeled on the “traveling salesman problem,” balancing efficiency with predictable service windows. The software adds real-time tracking, automated text and email notifications, and a pilot program for self-service appointment scheduling. Customers can view shipment status in real time and see precise pickup and delivery times through the company’s website.
The goal is to close the visibility gap between LTL freight and the consumer delivery experience. As retailers and distributors increasingly rely on omnichannel logistics, carriers are under pressure to match the transparency of ecommerce networks that give end users live updates from warehouse to doorstep. Roadrunner executives said the system’s track-and-trace layer is designed to bring that same expectation to the long-haul freight sector, providing shippers with the ability to monitor freight movement and make data-driven scheduling decisions.
Tomasz Jamroz, Roadrunner’s president and chief operating officer, said the new tools not only enhance shipper visibility but also benefit the company’s network of owner-operators. By reducing idling and unnecessary miles, the AI-powered routing helps drivers complete more jobs in less time and with lower fuel costs. Those gains, he said, translate into faster, more reliable service for customers, an increasingly important factor for ecommerce sellers managing regional distribution centers or direct-to-consumer fulfillment.
The rollout caps a period of rapid reinvention for Roadrunner, which has invested heavily in digital systems after years of restructuring.
While the company’s leadership continues to frame its comeback as complete, the competitive pressure remains intense. Larger carriers such as Old Dominion, XPO, and FedEx Freight have also poured resources into automation and digital visibility tools, particularly as e-commerce shipments blur the traditional lines between parcel and LTL freight. Analysts say Roadrunner’s challenge will be to sustain its service levels and cost structure while expanding its digital capabilities.
The company’s Smart Network now connects more than 40 U.S. metro markets, along with service to Canada and Mexico. With no reliance on rail and all freight moving via over-the-road teams, Roadrunner positions its model as faster and more predictable than intermodal competitors.
As e-commerce and omnichannel fulfillment continue to drive expectations for speed and transparency across all freight categories, Roadrunner’s latest investment signals how even traditional LTL carriers are being pushed to operate with precision and visibility once limited to last-mile delivery networks. Whether this technology roll out cements the company’s place among top-tier carriers will depend on its ability to deliver those promises at scale — and to meet the new standard of real-time reliability that online commerce now demands.
Sign up
Sign up for a complimentary subscription to Digital Commerce 360 B2B News. It covers technology and business trends in the growing B2B ecommerce industry. Contact Mark Brohan, senior vice president of B2B and Market Research, at mark@digitalcommerce360.com. Follow him on Twitter @markbrohan. Follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and YouTube.
