Amitruck, connects traders to over 500 registered transport service providers who move their goods to different locations/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, SEPT 16 – In January 2019, two brothers came together to start a vehicle hailing company that connects traders to trucks, pick-ups and motorcycles to deliver their goods.
The startup by Mark Mwangi and Timothy Mwangi, Amitruck, connects traders to over 500 registered transport service providers who move their goods to different locations. The app also has 200 fleet owners on the platform.
According to Co-founder Timothy Mwangi the aim of the company is to help deliver goods on behalf of their customers safely.
“We are driven by a simple belief that connecting truckers and shippers in a transparent and efficient manner will greatly improve the freight market. Our aim is to connect every shipper with interested truckers and let them set their own terms,” Mwangi says.
How the app works:
A customer need only to book a delivery for their load using the Amitruck mobile app. The nearest trucks are informed, and their quotes are sent to the customer on the app. The customer then makes a quote and makes payment, which is held by the company while the vehicle is dispatched to make the delivery.
Payments are released to the driver once the load is delivered to preferred destination.
“Through our quotation process, the client is assured of receiving the most competitive rates for every delivery. We also improve on confidence by holding payment in escrow ensuring transactions are easy, transparent and secure,” Mwangi says.
To entice their customers, Amitruck goods transported using the truck app are insured at no cost for up to Sh500,000.
Before you join the app as a driver, you must be thoroughly vetted by the company to ensure security of customers’ goods.
“The benefit the truck owners and drivers derive from the app is that they have access to more business outside of their networks. It also gives them full control of their trucks and what jobs to engage in,” Mwangi says.
Mwangi says the app has been received well received in the Kenyan market adding that it shall be taken to other African markets at an unnamed date.
The uptake has however not been without problems. According to Mwangi, trust has been one of the key challenges as traders are not very receptive to new companies due to trust issues.
“We are working on ensuring each job we do sets a record for us so that we can sign more customers,” he says.
Amitruck joins other digital vehicle apps that are penetrating the Kenyan market following the successful launch and uptake of Uber, the San Franscisco based company, in major cities in the country.
