With Uber Freight, Travis Takes on Trucking

In its quest to dominate transportation, Uber dreams of the day when everyone gets around in flying cars and self-driving taxis. But its plan doesn't hinge entirely on a robo-revolution. Today, the delinquent decacorn of Silicon Valley announced Uber Freight, a bid to bring the ride hailing model to trucking. The service, which quietly launched in Texas late last year, connects truckers with stuff that needs trucking, much like the app connects drivers with people who need driving. And it gives the company a way into an industry that touches 70 percent of American goods. "We're going for that magical Uber experience," says Curtis Chambers, one of the company's highest-ranking engineers.