Uber Freight alternative
Independent brokerage? Don't hand it to a platform.
Uber Freight runs a managed freight platform — large, capable, and a real fit for shippers who'd rather outsource truckload procurement than build it in-house. For independent brokerages who built their own carrier book and don't want to give it up, Uber Freight isn't a fit. Keelway is. We're software, not a platform — AI in your inbox, on your loads, with your carriers.
The platform / software split
Uber Freight is a platform: they broker the load, hold the shipper relationship, run the carrier network, take a margin. That's a real business model — for shippers who want to outsource and for some brokerages who want to participate in a large network.
Keelway is software: you keep your shippers, your carriers, your margin. We just make the inbox-side work — reading 40 carrier replies per posted load, ranking by trust and rate — vastly faster. No take-rate, no platform middleman, no surrender of your book.
Side by side
| Feature | Uber Freight | Keelway |
|---|---|---|
| Primary business | Managed freight + digital brokerage + shipper TMS | AI carrier-email triage software |
| Customer | Shippers + carriers (managed network) | Independent freight brokerages |
| Operates a brokerage / carrier network | Yes — flagship business | No — pure software |
| Pricing model | Custom — managed services + take-rate | $799/mo flat (everything included) |
| Where it operates | Uber Freight platform / app | Gmail |
| Inbox-side carrier reply triage | No — they handle their own carrier ops | Core product |
| TMS write-back to broker's TMS | Not the model — they are the platform | Yes — Tai, McLeod, Aljex, Revenova, Turvo, Rose Rocket |
| Independent broker fit | Limited — they compete with you | Built for independent brokers |
| Carrier network advantage | Yes — large network | No — you bring the carriers |
| Setup time | Onboarding to platform | Under 2 weeks integration |
| Best for | Shippers outsourcing freight | Brokerages keeping their book and fixing the inbox |
| Run alongside | Possible if you broker loads through them | Yes — Gmail-side, independent of source |
When Uber Freight is the right answer
- You're a shipper and freight isn't your core business; outsourcing to a managed brokerage makes sense.
- You want a single network partner across truckload, drayage, and managed transportation.
When Keelway is the right answer instead
- You're an independent brokerage; the carrier book is your asset and you have no intention of handing it to a platform.
- Inbound carrier reply triage is the actual time sink in your day.
- You want $799/mo AI software, not a take-rate brokerage relationship.
Frequently asked questions
What does Uber Freight actually do?+
Uber Freight is a managed freight platform — they operate as a digital freight brokerage with their own carrier network, plus a shipper-facing TMS, plus tools like Powerloop for power-only freight. After acquiring Transplace and various other businesses, they've become one of the largest 3PLs in the country. They sit at the intersection of brokerage, software, and asset operations.
Is Keelway an Uber Freight alternative?+
Indirectly. We're not a freight brokerage and we don't operate a carrier network. Keelway is software for the brokers who choose to remain independent — the ones who post their own loads, get their own carrier replies, and want AI to triage that inbox. If you're a shipper looking to outsource freight to a digital platform, Uber Freight is one option; Keelway has nothing for you. If you're an independent brokerage that wants to keep your own book and just needs better inbox triage, that's where we play.
Why might a broker shop an Uber Freight alternative?+
The most common pattern: independent brokerages don't want to be on a managed platform. They built carrier relationships, broker margins, and a book of business; they don't want to hand that to a digital brokerage that takes a cut. The 'Uber Freight alternative' search often comes from brokerages that want software, not a platform — and Keelway is the software, narrowed.
Does Keelway compete with Uber Freight's carrier network?+
No. We don't have a carrier network and we don't broker loads. Keelway is a tool. You bring the carriers (via DAT, Truckstop, your owned book, your inbox) and we triage the replies. Uber Freight competes with you for shipper relationships if you're a brokerage; we compete with no one — we just give you better tools to do the job you already do.
Can I run Keelway if I'm a Powerloop or Uber Freight partner?+
Sure. Keelway lives in Gmail and ranks inbound carrier replies. If you're a Powerloop partner or run loads through Uber Freight's network, those loads come in and out of your TMS the same way; Keelway operates on the email replies your own brokers handle. The two don't conflict.
How does pricing compare?+
Uber Freight's pricing model varies by product and customer — managed transportation deals are custom-quoted, brokerage take-rates apply on the freight side, and the software layer prices separately. Keelway is $799/mo flat, every feature included, 30-day free trial. The two aren't directly comparable because Uber Freight is a platform/brokerage and Keelway is a focused tool.
When should I just use Uber Freight?+
If you're a shipper who'd rather outsource truckload procurement to a digital brokerage than build it in-house, Uber Freight is a serious option. Keelway has nothing to offer you — we're broker software, not shipper software. We're built for independent brokerages that want to keep their book and need an AI inbox layer.
Keep your book. Add the inbox AI.