Published on May 15, 2020May 15, 2020

3 mins read

Black Owned Trucking Company Partners With Uber to Help Drivers Get Trucking Jobs

CloudTrucks is a Black owned trucking company that combines software engineering, and data science to help truck drivers keep more money in their pockets, faster and with fewer headaches.

They operate as a virtual trucking carrier that helps owner-operators maintain their independence while providing them with the back office support that is typically reserved for a large carrier.

On May 5th, the company announced a partnership with Uber Freight and COOP by Ryder to help qualifying rideshare drivers on the Uber platform break into the freight industry and keep essential goods moving across the country.

How it works:

Rideshare drivers on the Uber platform who have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL), will be able to earn with the support of CloudTrucks.

As a leased-on driver on CloudTrucks, they will be able to use the CloudTrucks app to search for and book loads from top freight brokers including Uber Freight. Drivers can apply at app.cloudtrucks.com and can learn more about Uber Freight here.

For truck drivers with their own equipment:

Drivers will be able to sign up for CloudTrucks and lease on to our authority. As a leased-on driver on CloudTrucks, they will get access to the CloudTrucks mobile app to manage and book loads from major brokers around the country, free instant payment from CloudTrucks, cheaper insurance options as well as other key features to run their business smoothly.

For truck drivers without their own equipment:

CloudTrucks has partnered with COOP by Ryder to enable drivers to lease a tractor and trailer. CloudTrucks will handle the deposit so drivers can get up and running quickly and easily.

“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, and communities are depending on them now more than ever,” says Laurent Hautefeuille, Head of Business Development and Strategy & Planning at Uber Freight. “Our objective at Uber Freight is to support all truck drivers whether they are industry veterans or just starting out, and we hope this partnership with CloudTrucks and COOP by Ryder will open up more opportunities for those already on the Uber platform.”

Founder/CEO Tobenna Arodiogbu commented, “Thank you to all of the truck drivers around the country who have continued to ensure that our supply chain continues to run smoothly during these difficult times. We are looking for more ways to help. Please let us know if you have ideas.”

If you are not a rideshare driver on the Uber platform and you are interested in CloudTrucks, you can sign up at their website

-Tony O. Lawson

Join our SHOPPE BLACK community on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!

Published on June 7, 2017November 8, 2017

4 mins read

Uber Hires Bozoma Saint John as Their Olivia Pope

Uber has image and corporate culture issues and they’ve hired Bozoma Saint John to help fix them. Bozoma is a former head of music and entertainment marketing at PepsiCo, where she inked its $50 million sponsorship deal with Beyoncé.

She joined Apple in 2014 after its acquisition of Beats by Dre.

“Boz” stepped onto the global stage a year ago at the Apple Worldwide Developers’ Conference, where she demonstrated Apple Music’s new user interface while getting the ~~lame~~ crowd to rap Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”

The Role

Bozoma has joined Uber as its first chief brand officer. “The beauty of a new role is sort of [my ability to] define it,” Saint John told Recode in an interview. “My background is in marketing.

That’s what I’m going to be focused on mostly. [But] I reserve the right to change it a little bit. The business is going to continue to grow and change and perhaps the needs for marketing and branding will change in six months.”

It’s a high profile position at a trying time for Uber, which is desperately working to improve its work culture and reputation.

The “Scandal”

At a staff meeting on Tuesday, Uber employees were notified that 215 harassment claims filed had been investigated.

The 215 claims included discrimination, unprofessional behavior and bullying — as well as sexual harassment, according to a source who attended the all hands meeting.

Uber told employees on Tuesday that it has fired 20 people after conducting an investigation into harassment at the company.

Bozoma Saint John To the Rescue

“Boz has a long track record of successfully creating emotional connections between people and the products they love,” Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in a statement Tuesday.

“Her creativity and deep understanding of consumers will allow us to build the same love and appreciation for Uber’s brand as we’ve built for Uber’s service.”

In an interview with Variety, Boz said, “I’m not going to deny that coming to Uber is a statement.

I have the full commitment of the leadership team to do my job and do it well regardless and outside of being a woman and a person of color.

The first and foremost thing is for me to do a good job as an executive, and I plan to do that. The benefit of being a woman and a person of color just adds to it.”

“I’ve always been part of the internal groups and advocacies for women and people of color at every company I’ve been at. This is not new to me — I plan to continue being an advocate for women and people of color everywhere.”

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson