Better Trucks was founded to build a faster, tech-first, and radically transparent last-mile delivery network. From the start, their engineering strategy aligned with Google Cloud and Google Maps Platform. Today, the Route Optimization API sits at the center of how they plan, price, and execute delivery routes across multiple markets.
Before full optimization, Better Trucks used the Routes API for single-vehicle routing. But as they scaled to hundreds of vehicles, they needed fleet-wide optimization. The Route Optimization API allowed them to consider real-world constraints like delivery density and vehicle capacity simultaneously.
But the real innovation was Checkpoint, an address validation service built using the Address Validation API combined with AI and human review. Bad addresses are the hardest problem in last-mile delivery, causing failed deliveries and wasted resources. Checkpoint catches issues after checkout but before packages go out for delivery.
The results: higher first-attempt delivery success, lower costs, and a fair, predictable pricing model for drivers. Duration estimates from Route Optimization directly inform how drivers are compensated, ensuring pay reflects actual workload. Better Trucks now covers approximately 68% of the U.S. population and partners with Uber Freight.
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