Start-up MANSIO plans to reinvent road transport with the help of AI. Longer transport routes are divided into legs on which regional transport companies operate and work together in a network with relay transports. Semi-trailers are handed over to the next driver at the relay locations. This is intended to solve numerous issues at once.
Could this principle not be applied to road transport too? Schürmeyer took this idea and founded the start-up MANSIO in 2022. He conducted studies, delved deep into the subject and conducted many interviews with truck drivers, managing directors and heads of shipping, as well as with employer associations, trade unions and lawyers. “Of course, I only interviewed people who wouldn’t steal the idea,” he emphasised.
Humble beginnings as a lean start-up
The founder did not have any financial support during this phase. “One problem was that it was such a big vision, for which you’d have to spend years developing a suitable product.” The lean start-up began by developing a small marketable component which digitalises existing relay transports using the first software component, initially focusing on medium-sized freight forwarding companies. Longer routes from hub to hub or from parcel centre to parcel centre, in particular, are a typical form of transport and are covered by CEP service providers, which efficiently organise the drivers and their own tractor units of medium-sized companies. “The scheduled procedure is the same every day, and the swap body belongs to the CEP company, which is ideal for multi-shift operation,” reported Schürmeyer.
Process optimisation as the first step
The complexity lies in communication, as many different parties, each with their own IT systems, are already involved in existing relay transports. For example, the dispatcher and the truck driver need to contact other carriers. If there are delays, the depot needs to be informed. “Not all communication processes are digitalised and automated. To start with, we focused our efforts exclusively on process optimisation,” explained the founder.
“Innovation then came in the second step. Once we realised how it works, we began to think about where relay transports could be created,” said Schürmeyer. “And not just for freight forwarding, but also as part of a network – in other words, with the corresponding temporal dynamics throughout the company.”
The MANSIO start-up currently has ten employees, who are committed to making road transport out of Aachen more efficient, social and eco-friendly.
The AI ultimately assesses potential locations for relay transports like these and links two or more suitable transport orders. “It’s not restricted to two-shipment relay transports, but could also include three or four shipments,” continued the CEO. “And a group exchange, comprising several vehicles, is also possible, with tractor units meeting at a specified location to switch trailers.”
The potential for MANSIO is threefold, the first being economical. “We can cut fixed costs in half with two-shift operation or generate double the sales with the same number of vehicles, which will be all the more important with the investment in clean vehicles increasing to around half a million euros,” highlighted Schürmeyer.
Rather than delaying the trip with a resting period of 14 hours, the trailer can be switched in 20 minutes and resume its journey. “As our matching eliminates the journey to pick up cargo for a return trip, we can also prevent empty runs.” Two connected routes – for example, to southern Spain – can be completed without being interrupted by resting periods, thereby also speeding up delivery.
Vehicle handover rather than a search for parking
There are also social benefits such as a better balance between family and career if the driver can exchange vehicles after four and a half hours and then turn back. “That will also make the career much more attractive to women, who now only account for two per cent of all drivers,” reckoned Schürmeyer. Moreover, drivers no longer need to search for a parking space, which is often difficult to find.
The concept also offers environmental benefits. Whilst many electric vehicles are used for the last mile, the charging infrastructure and range necessary for longer routes are insufficient. “But it will work if we transform longer routes into shorter ones,” stated the CEO.
“Routes between 300 and 1,500 kilometres are especially suitable,” he added. “And there shouldn’t be too many relays in a row.” That corresponds with actual transport volumes in European road transport. “The majority are short routes between 300 and 1,000 kilometres, which means the market is huge for us.”
Now financed through a mix of purely financial investors, a funding project and sales, the start-up has already won the Digital Logistics Award for its concept. MANSIO has been collaborating with the ELVIS transport network since summer 2023, and the pilot phase of the new cross-load network kicked off in January with 17 partners. The start-up has also been working with L.OS, the Bosch logistics platform, since December. The defined aim is to become Europe’s no. 1 in relay trucking. (cb)
Facts
Mansio
Founded: 2022
Location: Aachen
Area of business: Intelligent technology for road transport
Employees: 10
