Title: What effects would the concept of Uberization of trucking engender on fill rates in French distribution channels?

Authors: Alice Cazaux – Maxime Gouge – Diane Grabowski

Research questions: What effects would the concept of Uberization of trucking engender on fill rates in French distribution channels?

1. What is the current situation of a French distributor’s inbound transportation and booking processes within their Logistics Chain?

2. What would a French distributor’s inbound transportation and booking processeslook like after the exploration of the Uberization of trucking?

3. What impact would the Uberization of trucking have on fill rates, costs and perceived flexibility?

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to identify the effects that the implementation of the concept of Uberization of trucking will incite on fill rates in French distribution channels. The first objective is to define and analyze the current situation of the processes in transportation and booking of a French distribution company. Secondly, the effect the implementation of Uberization of trucking engenders on the transportation and booking processes of a French company will be studied. Finally, the repercussion of the latter on fill rates, costs and perceived flexibility on a French distribution company will be analyzed.

Methodology: This study employs a qualitative research strategy with a case study research design. The qualitative analysis will be pursued through semi-structured interviews from 2 companies. The authors use hermeneutics and positivism and the scientific approach can be designed as deductive. The scientific credibility was maintained by the usage of multiples sources.

Conclusion: The Uberization of trucking in particularly effective in the case of last minutes shipment orders, which helps French distribution channels reduce their fill rates by the decrease of shipment of unloaded trucks. This action gives to the companies the opportunity to lower their impact of the environment. Furthermore, the use of this concept helps companies ameliorate their flexibility. These two features are crucial for customer’s satisfaction. The use of Uberization of trucking increases the customer service as well as the fill rates of a company.