Freight network launches service for same- and next-day direct store delivery
Los Angeles-based WARP, a tech-powered freight network specializing in middle-mile solutions, has launched DirectFresh, a service enabling perishable shippers with same-day and next-day direct store delivery.
Founded in 2021 by entrepreneurs Daniel Sokolovsky and Troy Lester, WARP has a truck fleet that offer customers vehicle options for every load based on speed, price and service preferences, the company said.
The new DirectFresh service offers shippers an end-to-end solution for their fresh freight, including manufacturer to cold storage transfers and high-touch, in-store deliveries, according to a news release.
WARP’s DirectFresh service enables shippers to transfer product from cold storage directly to a store or a WARP Station (cross dock), depending on their inventory needs, within the same day without needing to work with a last-mile delivery service, the release said.
“A majority of freight providers don’t have the right technology to provide quality service to the sensitive temperature-controlled freight market,” Jake McPaul, head of refrigerated operations and product at WARP, said in the release. “The sensitivities associated with perishable shipping also almost always leave perishable shippers little to no consolidation solutions, making it challenging to manage costs. With technology that connects temperature-controlled cross docks and carriers, we’re bringing new and innovative solutions for perishable shippers across North America.”
As part of its new DirectFresh offering, WARP has partnered with ShipRec to provide real-time temperature monitoring of fresh freight in transit directly in the WARP platform, the release said. The partnership between WARP and ShipRec improves food safety and works to meet the strict requirements of FSMA regulations to prevent foodborne illness, the release said.
Users can receive notifications if a refrigerated or frozen product's temperature is outside of the optimal temperature zone, allowing drivers to investigate issues as needed and alert customers of any issues in advance, the release said. ShipRec’s tracking technology also applies to more than just fresh freight, giving WARP customers accurate, geographic locations for all their loads.
“We’re thrilled to partner with WARP to provide their customers with cutting-edge technology that will allow them to have better insight and control into their shipments,” Paul Vinuelas, ShipRec CEO and co-founder, said in the release. “ShipRec’s tracker signal is strong enough to go through cardboard, metal and even concrete, making it applicable to fresh shipments and everything in between.”
WARP provides more transparency at a lower cost by right-sizing capacity based on the pallet-level/piece count of shipments that day, time and place, the release said. WARP has partnerships with carriers that offer in-store delivery including unloading the trucks and delivering the final product inside the store, the release said. The service is now available in every major metro area in the U.S., Canada and select areas of Mexico, benefiting a range of perishable shippers such as fast casual restaurant chains, coffee shops, convenience stores, grocery stores, florists, ice cream shops and more, the release said.
The news comes on the heels of WARP’s recent announcement of an additional $5.7 million in funding to bring its total to $8.1 million for its first operational year in 2022, the release said.
